Rising port turnover sign of buoyant times

By PAM GRAHAM

The Auckland economy is performing well if what is happening down at the port is anything to go by.

Container volumes at Ports of Auckland were up 11 per cent in December from a year ago and 11 per cent in the six months between July and December from the same period a year ago.

The nation's busiest port puts the increase down to a strong economy bolstering imports, and says it is probably winning business from elsewhere because trans-shipments, movements on to other carriers, rose 15 per cent in the December month and the year to December.

P&O Nedlloyd chose the port for a new weekly service to Europe using new, large container ships.

"The increase is related to the buoyant Auckland economy," said Sandy Gibson, the chief of the port's container-handling business.

"The imports have been the dominant factor in recording the increase. It has been apparent from July-August through to December that the Auckland economy has been really performing well," he said.

The choice of Auckland for the P&O service was helping and the increase in trans-shipments was part of an international hubbing process.

These are containers that come into Auckland and are put on other ships to other parts of New Zealand, Australia or the Pacific Islands.

The figures also suggest that tighter security on exports to the United States are not affecting volumes at the port.