While there was a significant increase in the TEU throughput of Sydney Ports in the 2012-13 financial year, most of the increase was accounted for by empty containers.
June 2013 total container trade reached over 172,600 TEU, up by 12.6% compared to same month last year. YTD June 2012/13 total container trade reached over 2,126,270 TEU, up by 4.4% compared to the same period last year.
The key drivers for this increase were empty container exports, which are up by 10.1%, and import full containers, which are up 4.6% when compared to the same month last year.
Import full containers reached over 1,063,940 TEU, the leading full import regions were dominated by East Asia (46.4%), Europe (16.3%) and South East Asia (15.3%), which combined account for almost 78.0% of total full container imports through the ports of Sydney.
Full container exports for YTD June 2012/13 reached almost 442,870 TEU, down by 2.7% on the same period last year. Exports of empty containers for YTD June 2012/13 increased by 10.1% compared to the same period last year reaching almost 609,110 TEU. East Asia represented 49.4%, and South East Asia represented 26.1% out of total empty exports.
Containerised commodities
The top imported commodities for YTD June 2012/13 were headed by miscellaneous manufactured articles, such as furniture, apparel and clothing; machinery and transport equipment, such as electrical items, industrial machinery and equipment; and chemical products, such as plastic materials and artificial resins, essential oils and perfumes. These combined represented 57.5% of all full containerised goods imported through Sydney’s ports.
The leading containerised exports through the ports of Sydney for YTD June 2012/13 were machinery and transport equipment, cereals and chemicals, which combined together represented 28.8% of all full exported goods.
Non-containerised trade
Non-containerised imports for YTD June 2012/13 reached 12,759,169 mass tonnes, which is a decrease of 3.5% when compared to same period last year. Dry bulk import at SPC berths has reached 1,108,925 mass tonnes, a decrease of 6.1% when compared to same period last year, mainly due to cement and gypsum.
Oil at private berths for YTD June 2012/13 reached 8,923,586 mass tonnes which is a decrease of 9.1% when compared to the same period last year, however, refined oil volume has increased. Non-containerised exports reached 891,239 mass tonnes for YTD June 2012/13, a decrease of 12.7% when compared to the same period last year.
This decrease was mainly attributed to a decrease in exported oil, however, bulk liquid and gas volume, in particular chemicals and propane, has increased.
Total trade
Total trade for YTD June 2012/13 was over 29.6 million mass tonnes, a decrease of 1.5% when compared to the same period last year. Non-containerised trade was over 13.6 million mass tonnes (representing 46.1% of total trade in mass tonnes). Containerised trade was almost 13.5 million mass tonnes (49.7% of total trade in mass tonnes). Total empties in mass tonnes YTD June 2012/13 was 1,237,574 mass tonnes, which represents 4.2% of the total trade in mass tonnes.
NB. Total trade in mass tonnes terms comprises non-containerised trade and containerised trade (including empty containers) through Sydney’s ports.
