Thursday 23 September 2004

Ports of Auckland Volumes Index Update www.poal.co.nz

Total container volumes* for the 12 months to end-August 2004 were up 2% to 668,180 TEUs (as compared to the 12 months to end-August 2003) with volumes for the month down 7% on August 2003.

Full import container volumes rose 3% and full export container volumes were unchanged for the 12 months to end-August 2004. For the month of August 2004, full import container volumes were down 2% and full export container volumes were up 3% on August 2003.

Transhipment** volumes were up 4% for the 12 months to end-August 2004 and down 21% for the month of August 2004.

Total empty container volumes were down on August 2003, consequent on the high empty volumes handled in July 2004.

Containers comprise approximately 70% of Ports of Auckland’s throughput and about 85% of business activity.

Breakbulk (non-containerised) volumes were up 4% to 4.7 million tonnes for the 12 months to end-August 2004. August volumes were up 23% on August 2003.

* Container volumes are measured in TEUs (20-foot equivalent units – or the size of a standard 20-foot container). ** Transhipment containers are discharged at Auckland and reshipped on another vessel to international or other New Zealand destinations.

ENDS