Port of Tauranga boosts container services

File photo

Port of Tauranga, the country's biggest export hub, says it expects to service an extra 130 vessels per year after three international shipping lines announced they were expanding their container services to include the port.

The shares were unchanged at a record high.

Singapore- based Pacific International Lines has included the port on its Pacific shipping route, which calls in on Melbourne, Sydney, and now Tauranga, before heading back to Brisbane, Taiwan and China.

The service begins in July.

Mediterranean Shipping Company has included the Tauranga port to its Noumea service as of June, which will sail between Australia, New Zealand and the capital of New Caledonia.

The two additions follow news earlier in the week that Maersk Line, the world's biggest shipping line, will be expanding its NZ1 service from August to include Tauranga on its international rotation to Port Kelang and Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia.

The weekly service will replace the smaller Pacific Island service that currently calls at Tauranga on a fortnightly basis.

Port of Tauranga shares were unchanged today $8.90, the record high reached yesterday, and have gained 18 per cent so far this year.