Port of Brisbane leads eastern seaboard container trade race

The Port of Brisbane has outperformed both Sydney and Melbourne with an all-time high in container trade.

Transport Minister John Mickel said container trade hit an all-time high of 875,000 20-foot-equivalent units at the port last financial year, surpassing the growth of all east coast capital city port competitors.

"The Port of Brisbane now holds almost 20 per cent of the east-coast container market," he said.

Mr Mickel tabled the Port of Brisbane Corporation's annual report for the 2006-07 financial year in Queensland Parliament today.

Increases in motor vehicle and general retail product imports, metal manufacture exports and timber imports and exports compensated for a decrease in drought-affected agricultural exports.

Mr Mickel said the port's high rates of growth were expected to continue as investment in capital works at the port progressed to meet future demands.

This included construction of a seventh dedicated container berth due for completion in early 2008, construction of a new general purpose berth and terminal area and completion of two new car storage areas increasing storage capacity to 20,700 cars.

Fast facts from the Port of Brisbane Corporation Annual Report 2006-07:

• the Port of Brisbane Corporation (and its predecessor, The Port of Brisbane Authority) celebrated its 30th anniversary in November 2006
• 1100 container ships and 311 car carriers visited the Port of Brisbane during 2006-07
• the port averaged 658 ship arrivals per quarter during 2006-07
• motor vehicle imports increased by 15.8% to 200,392 units
• the Port of Brisbane now has 45 hectares dedicated to the motor vehicle industry
• as at 30 June 2007, the Port Of Brisbane Corporation employed 292 people.


Media contact: Chris Brown (07) 3237 1944 or Nathan Moir 3235 4060

November 14, 2007