Record trade volumes at Brisbane

Container trade remained strong and Brisbane maintained its position as Australia’s fastest-growing container port in percentage terms, with compounded growth of 11% per annum over the past five years. Exports of full containers increased by 8.3% to 246,049 teu, while imports increased 9.9% to 321,397 teu. Total trade, including empty containers, reached 766,300 teu, 5.5% up from 2004/05.

“Forecasts … indicate that growth at the Port of Brisbane is set to continue at an average growth rate of between 7% and 9% during the next 20 years,” said Jeff Coleman, CEO of the Port of Brisbane Corporation.

To cope with this anticipated growth, the port has embarked on a number of major infrastructure projects. Construction of an additional container wharf is scheduled for completion in early 2008, while in 2005 a 4.5km seawall was completed that will allow the reclamation of additional land at the mouth of the Brisbane River.