Ports of Auckland Volumes Index Update

Tuesday 20 April 2004

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

Total container volumes* for the 12 months to end-March 2004 were up 4% to 662,707 TEUs (as compared to the 12 months to end-March 2003) and down 1% on March 2003.

Full import container volumes rose 2% and full export container volumes were down 1% for the 12 months to end-March 2004. For the month of March 2004, full import and full export container volumes were down 7% and 12% respectively on March 2003. This drop in volume is mainly due to the loss of a shipping service to a competing port.

Transhipment** volumes were up 35% for the month of March and up 9% for the 12 months to end-March 2004.

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

Breakbulk (non-containerised) volumes were up 3% to 4.6 million tonnes for the 12 months to end-March 2004. March volumes were up 22% on March 2003, due primarily to a record month for imported vehicles.

Quarterly Volumes Index

Total container volumes were up 2% for the first quarter (January to March 2004) to 157,892 TEUs as compared to the first quarter in 2003 (154,717 TEUs).

Full import container volumes rose 2% and full export container volumes were down 3% on the first quarter in 2003.

Transhipment volumes were up 28% and breakbulk volumes were unchanged on the first quarter in 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

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