Ports of Auckland has released its half year results and says against expectations freight volumes were up across all areas.
Container volumes rose 3% against an expectation that volumes would fall as a result of the loss of a significant service (to Port of Tauranga) and given the impact from congestion at overseas ports.
A new truck facility has been built to speed up container handling and rail services to the inland port at Wiri have been quadrupled, resulting in 3000 fewer truck movements a month to and from the terminal.
The port saw 490,723 TEU across the wharves compared to 476,349 TEU in the same period last year.
It also says that break-bulk volumes were up 7.7% to 3.08m tonnes compared to 2.86m tonnes for the same period last year.
According to Ports of Auckland, car volumes were up 19% to 118,765 units compared to 99,710 units for the same period last year.
It reports that net profit after tax has increased but earnings before tax have fallen due to repairs and maintenance and the flow-on effect of off-schedule ships due to overseas port congestion. It has reported a net profit after tax (unaudited) of $28.9m compared to $26.4m for the same period last year.
Earnings before tax (unaudited) are reported to be $33.6m against $36.1m for the same period last year. An interim dividend of $25.5m will be paid to Auckland Council Investments Limited, for the benefit of ratepayers.
The port says Fergusson container wharf is being extended to cater for longer ships.
“The port is making significant investments in rail and the off-port supply chain – at Wiri and Longburn intermodal freight hubs – and we continue to relocate activities off-site which do not need to be at the sea port,” says Chief executive officer Tony Gibson.
“Our aim is to use our land more efficiently by only undertaking essential activities on the waterfront,” he says.
The Multi-Cargo business has grown rapidly and cement imports will roughly double in 2016.
More freight and longer ships are putting pressure on the berths in this part of the port, so Ports of Auckland will extend two berths on Bledisloe Multi-Purpose
Terminal to provide sufficient capacity for future growth. Construction will start in April and be completed by late 2016.
Later this year work will start on a new tug berth to the west of Jellicoe wharf. The existing berth will be vacated which will create the potential to open the area up for public access once it is no longer needed for tugs and freight.
