Container trade through the Port of Melbourne increased in May, driven by stronger import, export and transhipment volumes, according to the port’s latest trade update.
Total container throughput reached 300,000 TEU in May, up 2.4% year-on-year. Full imports climbed 7.5% to 119,000 TEU, while full exports increased 9.7% to 60,000 TEU. Transhipment volumes recorded the strongest growth, rising 22% to 20,000 TEU. Bass Strait container traffic also edged up 5.1% to 22,000 TEU. Empty container movements, however, declined 12.4% to 79,000 TEU.
During the first 11 months of FY2026, total container trade reached 3.22 million TEU, representing a 3.5% increase compared with the same period a year earlier. Imports rose 3.7% to 1.284 million TEU, while Bass Strait traffic increased 3.5% to 228,000 TEU. Export volumes remained broadly stable, slipping 0.3%, while transhipment volumes fell 6.4%. Empty container movements grew 8.2% to 911,000 TEU.
The port also reported stronger non-container cargo activity in May. Total non-container trade reached 2.32 million revenue tonnes, up 14.5% year-on-year. Motor vehicle volumes increased 23.9% to 982,000 revenue tonnes, while liquid bulk cargo jumped 46.4% to 468,000 revenue tonnes. Break bulk cargo declined 4.9% to 86,000 revenue tonnes, and dry bulk volumes fell 9.9% to 427,000 revenue tonnes. Other cargo increased 2.5% to 361,000 revenue tonnes.
