For the eighth consecutive month, Port Botany has experienced record trade growth, which is reportedly due largely to growing China-Australia trade.
Ports and Waterways minister Paul McLeay has released statistics showing trade performance for the financial year to May 2009/10 was 1.755 million TEUs, up 5.6% on the same period last year.
In May 2010, Sydney Ports reached over 152,500 TEUs, said to be an increase of 7.9% on the same month last year.
“China represented over 60% of all volume into and out of the port and new services are being established by companies eager to capitalise on this surging demand between Australia and China,” McLeay said.
He claims the recent arrival of COSCO's largest new container vessel, the Tian Jin He, and the Yang Ming shipping line’s YM Antwerp were further demonstration of the strong trade relationships.
“Another new line PO Shipping (POS) is entering the Australian market offering a fixed weekly schedule, marketed as the China Australia Express.
Full imports in May 2010 were up 11.4% on the same period last year, while full containerised exports in May were down 11.3% on last year.