Boosted by strong growth in containers, total trade through the Port of Melbourne has now drawn level with pre-financial crisis volumes, down just 0.1 percent for the financial year to date.
The Port of Melbourne recorded a significant increase in total trade in February – up 24.6 percent on the same month the previous year when the global financial crisis impacted trade volumes.
In keeping with an upward trend apparent since August 2009, total container throughput jumped 23.6 percent in February to a total of 188,000 TEUs. The Port of Melbourne has now handled over 2.14 million TEUs in the 12 months to the end of February 2010.
Full container exports continued to be a strong contributor to the positive result, increasing 9.3 percent over February last year to post an overall increase of 6.1 percent for the financial year to date.
Empty container movements increased significantly by 41.8 percent but are still down 13.8 percent for the year to date.
"We are delighted to see trade bounce back so strongly but these monthly figures need to be seen in context. By February 2009 we were seeing the full brunt of the global financial crisis impact on trade volumes so the strong monthly trade growth comparison is perhaps not surprising", said chief executive Stephen Bradford.
"The fact that trade through the Port of Melbourne has almost drawn level with its pre-global financial crisis volumes is a good indicator that the Victorian economy is robust with forecast growth ahead."
The Port of Melbourne recorded a significant increase in total trade in February – up 24.6 percent on the same month the previous year when the global financial crisis impacted trade volumes.
In keeping with an upward trend apparent since August 2009, total container throughput jumped 23.6 percent in February to a total of 188,000 TEUs. The Port of Melbourne has now handled over 2.14 million TEUs in the 12 months to the end of February 2010.
Full container exports continued to be a strong contributor to the positive result, increasing 9.3 percent over February last year to post an overall increase of 6.1 percent for the financial year to date.
Empty container movements increased significantly by 41.8 percent but are still down 13.8 percent for the year to date.
"We are delighted to see trade bounce back so strongly but these monthly figures need to be seen in context. By February 2009 we were seeing the full brunt of the global financial crisis impact on trade volumes so the strong monthly trade growth comparison is perhaps not surprising", said chief executive Stephen Bradford.
"The fact that trade through the Port of Melbourne has almost drawn level with its pre-global financial crisis volumes is a good indicator that the Victorian economy is robust with forecast growth ahead."