Cargo Weight and Values Rise

Cargo Weight and Values Rise

For the year ended June 2002, the weight of cargo loaded for export at New Zealand ports rose by 9.2 percent and the value of cargo loaded rose by 0.4 percent, according to Statistics New Zealand. The weight of cargo loaded has increased in nine of the 10 previous June years, with a decrease occurring in 1998, when the weight of cargo was affected by the economic downturn in Asia.

Logs, wood and wood articles showed the largest rise in weight loaded (up 1,487 thousand tonnes), mainly due to increased log exports. The next largest increase in weight loaded was wood pulp and waste paper, which increased 103 thousand tonnes. Dairy products showed the third highest increase in weight loaded with an increase of 101 thousand tonnes. The main contributor to the rise in the weight of dairy products loaded for export was milk powder, especially skim milk powder. Ores, slag and ash showed the most significant fall in weight loaded, down 132 thousand tonnes, due to a decrease in demand for iron ore.

For the year ended June 2002, the weight of overseas cargo unloaded at New Zealand ports increased by 9.7 percent compared with the year ended June 2001. The increase in the dollar value of cargo unloaded was 0.2 percent. The annual weights and values for unloaded cargo have both increased since the year ended June 1997. The increase in weight unloaded for the year ended June 2002 is the largest percentage increase since the year ended June 1994.

Salt, earths, stone, lime and cement recorded the largest increase in weight unloaded, up 317 thousand tonnes compared with the year ended June 2001. The main contributors to this increase were gypsum (used in cement and wall boards), cement clinkers and natural calcium phosphates (used in fertilizer). The next largest increases in weight unloaded were mineral fuels (excluding pitch) which increased 260 thousand tonnes, and fertilizer which increased 217 thousand tonnes.

This rise in imports of fertilizer and natural calcium phosphates reflects the improvement in the agricultural sector in 2001.

Brian Pink Government Statistician

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