Trade contribution

The importance of the Port of Melbourne to Victoria can be appreciated when you realise that the state relies on sea transport for much of its trade.

Trade information
The financial year 2006-07 marked the sixteenth consecutive year of container trade growth through the Port of Melbourne with a 2.094 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit/container) throughput.

With more than 3500 commercial ship calls each year at the port, Melbourne provides access to more than 300 ports of call across the globe.

In 2006-07, the ten main containerised commodity exports, in decreasing quantity, were: miscellaneous manufactures, beverages, dairy products, cereal grains, meat, pulp and wastepaper, fruit and vegetables, stock feed, paper and newsprint, papeboards & fibreboards.

In 2006-07, the ten main containerised commodity imports, in decreasing quantity, were: miscellaneous manufactures, paper and newsprint, furniture, electrical equipment, fruit and vegetables, machinery, vehicle parts, metal manufactures, clothing, toys and sporting goods.

Per day, on average, the port handles 700 motor vehicles, 550 tonnes of tea and coffee, 750 tonnes of wood and timber, 1300 tonnes of chemicals, 2200 tonnes of fruit, vegetables and nuts, 2400 tonnes of dairy products, 5100 tonnes of cereals and 10,800 tonnes of petroleum, alongside many other raw materials and manufactured goods.

For more information, view Port of Melbourne Corporation's annual reports on this site.