Trade performance
Summary of the Port of Melbourne’s trade performance in 2024-25
| Cargo type | Throughput 2024-25 | % change on 2023-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Total trade | 113.6 million revenue tonnes | +1.1% |
| Containers (TEU) | 3.39 million TEU | +3.7% |
| New motor vehicles | 5.7 million revenue tonnes (386,402 units) | -10.7% |
| Liquid bulk | 5.4 million revenue tonnes | -8.8% |
| Dry bulk | 5.7 million revenue tonnes | +0.8% |
| Breakbulk | 9.7 million revenue tonnes | -4.0% |
More detail for 2024-25
Total trade
Total trade through the Port of Melbourne for FY25 increased by 1.1% over the previous financial year to a record 113.6 million revenue tonnes. Total imports increased 0.2% to 62.8 million revenue tonnes and total exports increased by 2.3% to 50.7 million revenue tonnes.
Overseas imports increased 1.7% to 51.4 million revenue tonnes and overseas exports increased by 3.3% to 39.3 million revenue tonnes. Coastal imports decreased by 6.0% to 11.4 million revenue tonnes and coastal exports also declined 1.1% to 11.4 million revenue tonnes.
Container trade
Total container throughput for the 2024-25 financial year was 3.39 million TEU which was 3.7% above the 3.26 million TEU recorded in FY24. Full containers increased by 4.7% with imports and exports up 4.3% and 5.5% respectively, while empty container movements increased by 1.1% to 919,000 TEU. The increase in full container throughput was primarily attributable to the 4.3% increase in imports as inflationary pressures eased and interest rate reductions in the latter part of the financial year improved household spending. In addition, higher volumes of timber, meat and stockfeed, were the main contributors to the increase in FY25 full container exports
New motor vehicles
New motor vehicle trade declined 10.7% in FY25 to 5.7 million revenue tonnes, which equated to 386,402 units. Imports fell 14.0% while exports gained 17.4%.
Liquid bulk
Total liquid bulk trade decreased by 8.8% to 5.4 million revenue tonnes (4.3 million mass tonnes), with petroleum product imports accounting for 88% of the FY25 total. This decline was primarily due to tank maintenance at the petroleum terminals during the first half of the year which reduced storage capacity resulting in a reduction in petroleum product import volumes.
Dry bulk
FY25 dry bulk trade increased by just 0.8% to 5.7 million revenue tonnes (5.2 million mass tonnes). This modest increase was entirely attributable to the export sector which gained 15.4% to 2.2 million revenue tonnes with increases in volumes of canola, wheat, lentils and chickpeas. The increase in exports was almost entirely offset by a 6.8% decline in imports, particularly a reduction in volumes of cement and gypsum.