Increase in container volumes seen in December

December 2021 was an improved month for total container throughput (full and empty) with a total of 275,459 TEU, 4.0% above the previous year.

Total container imports increased 3.4% on December 2020. Containerised imports of paperboards, clothing and raw plastics were all up on December 2020 volumes.

Total container exports increased 4.5% on December 2020.  Containerised exports of milk (dried), milk (processed), hay, chaff and fodder, scrap metal and wine were all up on December 2020 volumes.

Overall December 2021 container trade results compared with December 2020 were as follows:

• full overseas container imports 0.7% above December 2020 with year to date volumes down 4.2%;
• full overseas container exports 8.3% above December 2020 with year to date volumes down 4.3%;
• full container transhipments were 3.0% below December 2020 with year to date volumes down 14.3%;
• full container trade between Melbourne and Tasmania (excluding transhipments) declined 3.5% on December 2020 to total 18,558 TEU with year to date volumes down 0.3%; and
• total empty container movements were 11.1% above December 2020 totalling 77,303 TEU with year to date volumes up 9.3%.
• motor vehicle imports increased 33.5% (+7,928 units) on December 2020, with year to date volumes up 14.6%
• dry bulk trade was down 4.3% over December 2020, with year to date volumes up 25.2%.
• break bulk trade was up 3.2% over December 2020, with year to date volumes up 37.2%.
• liquid bulk trade was down 1.5% over December 2020, with year to date volumes down 2.9%.

Trade outlook

Container trade for early January 2022 is tracking below the comparative month in 2021 with congestion continuing for Melbourne.

Supply chain

Global freight demand remains high in the lead up to the Chinese New Year festival which begins on 1 February 2022, with all efforts by shipping lines to regain schedule integrity continuing to be impacted by delays associated with COVID-19 outbreaks.

Australian ports continue to see shipping lines revising schedules and advising of port omissions as they attempt to recover time.  Locally, with the outbreak of the Omicron variant impacting labour allocations throughout the terminals and across the wider supply chain, due to required isolation periods, delays and congestion continue to place strain on the supply chain.

Industrial relations

At this time there is nothing further to report.

Please call your Port of Melbourne contact or email us at information@portofmelbourne.com if you have any queries.

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