Transhipments and Empties Driving Port of Melbourne Container Trade

24 Nov Transhipments and Empties Driving Port of Melbourne Container Trade

The volume of container trade at the Port of Melbourne has risen slightly for the September 2025 quarter compared to the same period in 2024, with transhipments and empty container trade the biggest two contributors to this increase.

Total container trade reached 871,000 TEU for the financial year to date, up 3.6% compared to the three months to September 2024, while full exports over the same period, excluding Bass Strait trade, fell by 3.5% to 178,000 TEU, a fall of 6400 TEU.

The biggest growth contributors have been full transhipments, excluding Bass Strait trade (up 23% to 44,000 TEU), empty containers (up 10.8% to 243,000 TEU) and full imports (up 1.5% to 348,000 TEU). Full Bass Strait trade for the financial year to date compared to the three months to September 2024 was up 0.2% to 59,000 TEU.

The 2024-25 drought contributed to a slight fall of 1.9% fall in non-container trade, with 248,000 revenue tonnes of dry bulk recorded for the September quarter, down 14.3% compared to the three months to September 2024.

Over the same period, break bulk revenue tonnage fell by 13%, motor vehicles decreased by 5.3% whilst liquid bulk trade rose by 6.5 per cent.

FOLLOW US FOR THE LATEST NEWS!

Simply click here to follow our LinkedIn Company Page to stay up-to-date with the latest industry news that may impact your business.