Aerial view of Newcastle Port.
Cargo throughput volumes at NSW ports have showed strong growth in the 2007-08 fiscal year, Port Minister Joe Tripodi has announced.
Port Botany has recorded its seventh consecutive year of growth, with the rate of container movement increasing nearly 10 per cent to over 1.78 million TEU during the period.
“While trade in containerised goods is increasing, so is that of bulk liquids and gases. This trade increased by 18.1 per cent over last year,” Mr Tripodi said.
“The future of trade through Sydney’s ports is in containerised trade and bulk liquids, which is why we have started construction of a five-berth expansion of Port Botany and have approved plans for a new bulk liquids berth to cater for this growth.”
The $1 billion port expansion project underway is expected to double its capacity from 2010.
According to Mr Tripodi, Newcastle Port also showed robust performance in cargo throughput, with imports and exports passing through the port increasing by 7.7 million tonnes to 93 million tonnes, worth over $10 billion.
The increased result came despite the impact of chronic drought on the grain transport market, with coal continuing to be the port’s main export.
“Rural drought conditions have significantly impacted on grain movements through Newcastle for the past few years, but this was offset slightly this year by import of fertiliser products,” he said.
Along with these two ports, Port Kembla recorded positive grains throughput.
Port Kembla will soon become the state’s vehicle importing hub after the relocation of car import facilities from Sydney’s Glebe Island.