Napier Port is reporting an increase in bulk cargo for its first quarter 2021 results, however container volumes are down due to global supply chain delays.
Bulk cargo trade volumes were up 8.2% year-on-year to 950,000 tonnes led by growth in log exports (up 4.3%) for the first quarter to December 31, 2020.
Total container volumes decreased by 3.9% to 57,000 TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units from 60,000 TEUs in the same period a year ago.
This was due to “lower empty container volume diluting the positive regional economic activity and overall growth in underlying containerised cargo volume shipped through Napier Port,” the company says.
Dry export cargo reduced by 3.1% to 18,000 TEUs from 19,000 TEUs in the same period a year ago. Wood pulp and timber fell due to exporters’ plant maintenance and shut downs reducing pulp volumes.
Reefer export cargo increased by 22.3% to 6000 TEUs from 5000 TEUs in the same period a year ago largely due to increased meat export volumes.
Imported empty containers decreased by 21.5% reflecting container supply chain issues with shipping and port congestion and general constrained availability of empty containers to export locations, the company says.
“The prior year period saw relatively early positioning of empty containers into the region in advance of the peak primary produce export season from Hawke’s Bay.
“Container vessel calls were down to 65 ships from 74 ships in the prior year due to continued shipping service schedule disruptions largely caused by continued supply chain congestion regionally and globally,” it says.
Napier Port chief executive Todd Dawson says the first quarter results “indicate the recovery is continuing across our regional primary sector trade base”.
“The bounce back we saw in log exports in the last quarter of our 2020 financial year has been sustained and complemented by strong quarterly volume in our other bulk cargo trades as a result of robust regional economic activity.
“Underlying containerised cargo volume, particularly increased meat exports, has also demonstrated growth in the quarter.
“Total container volumes are down and reflective of the current challenges with global supply chain movements and the availability of empty containers, which remains an area of focus as we approach our peak produce export season,” Dawson says.
