Port maintains cargo

Press, 8 November 1980, Page 25

Port maintains cargo

Cargo handled at the Pert of Lyttelton in the year ended September 30 was down Only slightly from the previous year’s total, according to figures compiled by the general manager of the Lyttelton Harbour Board (Mr J. A. McPhail). In spite of a considerable decline in coastal tonnage, increases in overseas imports and exports brought the cargo total to 1,849,083 tonnes, only 1459 tonnes below the 1978- figure and well in excess of 1977-78’s 1,761,038 tonnes. Imports handled through the port fell 56,400 tonnes during the year, and exports increased 54,941 tonnes over the previous vear. But coastal imports at 434,618 tonnes in the 1979- year declined 67,695 tonnes. Coastal exports fared even worse, being 16.6 per cent, or 29,022 tonnes, below the previous year’s total. Overseas imports showed an increase of 11,295 tonnes for the year, or 1.3 per cent, totalling 882,704 tonnes. But overseas exports rose 83,963 tonnes, or nearly 30 per cent, above last year’s total to reach 385,433 tonnes.

The month of September greatly assisted in bringing the year-end totals to a better level than expected. The total quantity

of cargo handled in the month was 161,674 tonnes — an increase of 20.601 tonnes, or 14.6 per cent, above September, 1979. in terms of tonnages of commodities handled, coal and coke were up 37,515 tonnes, primarily because of the Buller coal exports to Japan; grain was up tonnes; gypsum imports rose 6280 tonnes; textiles, mainly imports, were up 7583 tonnes; and wool showed an increase of 11,213 tonnes.

The increase in wool tonnage can be attributed mainly to substantial regular shipments to China, Japan, Korea and the Soviet Union.

On the other hand, tonnages of fertiliser handled at the port during the 12

months showed a decline of 14,691 tonnes from the year before; timber was down 18,450 tonnes; and, most significantly, the handling of petroleum products, mainly imports, was down 36,774 tonnes, nearly offsetting the increase shown by the other energy commodities, coal and coke.

The board is deeply concerned about the sustained drop in coastal tonnages. In the roll-on category alone, tonnage between Lyttelton and Auckland — basically that carried by the Coastal Trader — was down 24,197 tonnes from the year before. In the case of Wellington there was an 18,292-tonnes decline from the 1978-79 year, and 5942 tonnes less

roll-on cargo was handled between Lyttelton and Dun edim

Total coastal cargo handled, including container goods and liquid bulk (down 53,872 tonnes), was 580,946 tonnes, compared with 677,663 tonnes the previous year — a decline of 96,717 tonnes, or 14.3 per cent The trend towards con* tainers was again evident as the load-on container tonnage handled at Cashin Quay increased 26,159 tonnes and that handled in the inner harbour rose 1541 tonnes. In fact, all cargoes handled at Cashin Quay showed increases while all but the containers showed losses in the inner harbour.