PORT of Melbourne reported a decrease in container volumes in December 2023 compared with the same month in 2022, but full import and export containers increased.
The port handled a total of 254,635 TEU last month, which was a 2.7% decrease on TEU handled in December 2022.
Full container imports (excluding Bass Strait) volumes in November 2023 were up 3.5% against the same month in the previous year.
Furniture, metal manufactures, domestic appliances and paperboard were all above last year’s volumes.
Full container exports (excluding Bass Strait) volumes were up 5.3% against volumes reported in 2022, with wheat, hay, chaff and fodder, wool and barley were all above last year’s volumes.
Total empty container movements were down 14.6% in December 2023 compared with figures reported in December 2022.
Full Bass Strait trade volumes were down 7.1% and full transhipments were down 7.7%.
In non-container trades, motor vehicle units were down 9%, dry bulk trade was down 15.1%, liquid bulk trade down 4.9% and break bulk trade down 4.1%.
