Ports of Auckland container volumes up 5 percent

By NZPA

Wednesday 17th July 2002

New Zealand's biggest port company, Ports of Auckland, saw a 5 percent rise in container volumes for the year ended June, despite disruptions to international trade.

Container volume growth to 593,000 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) was "pleasing in a year that was heavily impacted by the events of September 11", Ports of Auckland chief executive Geoff Vazey said in a statement today.

"The world crisis that resulted radically curtailed container volumes in other parts of the globe. But Auckland continued to perform steadily in container trade, along with other Australasian ports, as it did during the so-called Asian crisis.

"The good news for Auckland is that the port has continued to contribute significantly to the regional economy."

Containers make up about 70 percent of the port's volume throughput and about 90 percent of business activity.

Full import container volumes rose 4 percent to 213,000 and full export container volumes rose 2 percent to 174,000.

Transhipments -- containers landed at Auckland and reshipped on another vessel to international or domestic destinations -- saw the biggest growth, of 30 percent during the year.

During the year non-containerised or breakbulk volumes at Ports of Auckland's conventional wharves grew by 12 percent to 4.8 tonnes, due primarily to ongoing increases in imported vehicles, Mr Vazey said.

The port handled a total of 2212 ship calls compared with 2173 in the previous financial year, including 1831 on the Waitemata Harbour.

Two of P&O Nedlloyd's new massive "Albatross-class" containerships, which have capacity for 4100 TEUs, paid four calls to the port during the year.

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