Another record year for Port of Brisbane

Issued by Minister for Transport and Main Roads

22 September 2005

Unprecedented demand for export coal and meat products has contributed to another record year for the Port of Brisbane Corporation, with 26 million tonnes traded through the port in 2004-05.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Paul Lucas said both imports and exports had grown, with increases of 536,263 tonnes (3.8%) and 402,287 (3.7%) tonnes, respectively.

“Imports of cement and other building related products such as timber and steel have accounted for nearly half of the yearly increase in imports, reflecting the ongoing strength of the housing and building industry in South East Queensland,” Mr Lucas said.

“Exports of chemicals, fertilisers, cereals, cotton and cottonseed also rose significantly from last year’s figures, due to the agricultural industry’s partial recovery from drought.

“Nearly all of these commodities achieved record tonnage in 2004/2005,” he said.

These results led to another year of strong growth in container trade, which reached 726,145 teus (twenty-foot equivalent units), a rise of 86,575 or 13.5% from 2003/2004.

For the tenth year in a row, Brisbane’s share of the East Coast container trade market also increased, reaching 18.1%.

Coal exports through Brisbane rose 19.5%, as a result of the exceptional growth in China’s demand for energy products.

“Exports of meat through Brisbane rose 15.1%. This was largely due to soaring demand for Australian beef in Asian markets,” Mr Lucas said.

Strong growth in trade of imported motor vehicles through Brisbane led to an increase of 13.2% in this category, or a total of 180,072 vehicles.

Brisbane’s share of the East Coast car-import market has risen for the second year in a row reaching 26.3%, up 1.7% on the previous year. This reflects Queensland’s solid growth in motor vehicle sales compared to other eastern states.

“To cater for this growth and as part of its strategy to relocate motor vehicle stevedoring activities to the deepwater berths at the mouth of the Brisbane River, the Port of Brisbane Corporation is building several new purpose-built terminals and car storage and processing facilities,” Mr Lucas said.

Trade in imported cement rose 6.4% in 2004-05 to 1.6 million tonnes. Iron and steel imports reached record levels, rising 2.58% to 444,057 tonnes. Similarly, imports in building products increased by 4.7% to 423,402 tonnes.

Imports in retail products also grew, up 13.7% to over 1 million tonnes.

Cereal exports reached 947,372 tonnes in 2004-05, an increase of 45.3% from the previous year.

Exports of cottonseed also improved dramatically reaching 148,708 tonnes, up 44.02% from 2003-04.

Port of Brisbane Corporation Chairman David Harrison said 2004/2005 had been another year of impressive growth for the port, with record tonnages, continued expansion and the commencement of several key infrastructure projects.

“The Corporation is continuing to optimise trade growth and efficiencies for our customers, which will ensure our capacity for growth well into the future,” Mr Harrison said.

The Beattie Government is overseeing a massive expansion at the Port of Brisbane including the recently completed $90m seawall project. This project will eventually provide an additional 230 hectares of port land and an additional 1.8km of quay line

This project is notable for leading edge engineering and environmental planning and will result in the creation of an additional 1800+ full-time jobs.

With total infrastructure investment of more than $600 million over the past 25 years, the Port of Brisbane is a deep-water port providing container terminals and bulk cargo facilities for a diversified range of commodities 30 berths and nearly 7,500 metres of quay line.

Total trade through the port is currently around 26 million tonnes, and this is projected to increase to around 55 million tonnes by the year 2025.