Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu and the Minister for Ports Dr Denis Napthine announced a record trade surge of 9.1 per cent in overall container and general cargo volumes through the Port of Melbourne in 2011-12.
According to Premier Baillieu, the 2011-12 financial year total port trade grew to 87 million revenue tonnes up from 79.7 million revenue tonnes in the previous year.
The summary of trade figures at the Port of Melbourne includes total container throughput rising 7.8 percent to 2.58 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU), up from 2.39 million TEU the previous year; with full container exports up 9.8 per cent and full container imports up 7.1 per cent. Meanwhile, the motor vehicle trade also rose by 4.5 per cent.
Premier Baillieu said the figures supported the Victorian Coalition Government’s decision to approve a $1.6 billion major expansion of the port including the development of a third container terminal and a purpose built automotive facility at Webb Dock. “This massive and continuing increase in trade reaffirm the Coalition Government’s decision to bring forward the development of the Port of Hastings to address medium to long term container capacity for Victoria and Australia,” he said.
Dr. Napthine said the Port Expansion Project would ensure the Port of Melbourne continued to be a key economic asset for the state for many decades to come.
“The Port of Melbourne is an absolutely critical component of the Victorian economy, directly supporting about 14,000 jobs and many more indirect jobs throughout the state. Every business and household in Victoria relies upon an efficient and competitive port to export or import their products and supplies,” he said. “The Coalition Government has responded to Victoria’s rising trade requirements with a sound strategy to deliver the short to long-term capacity our state clearly needs.”