Ports of Auckland container volumes rise

Total container volumes travelling to and from the Ports of Auckland (POA) rose 5 per cent in August, compared to the same time last year.

Full import container volumes rose 10 per cent, while full export container volumes were up 5 per cent.

Total container volumes for the year ended August 2005 fell 4 per cent to 642,753 TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units) compared to the previous year. Full import container volumes for the year were up 2 per cent, while full export container volumes were unchanged.

POA said the lower total container volumes for the year were due to fewer empty and transhipment containers. The loss of a shipping service in February 2004 which represented 8 per cent of total volume at the time also had a negative impact.

Since then three new shipping services have added over 35,000 TEUs a year to Auckland's volume.

Breakbulk, or non-containerised volumes for the month of August were up 18 per cent on the same time last year, and were up 7 per cent to 5 million tonnes for the year ended August.

- NZPA