๐ณ๏ธ ๐๐ค๐ง๐ฉ ๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ค๐ช๐ง๐ฃ๐ ๐ฅ๐ค๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ง๐๐๐ค๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ฃ ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ง ๐ซ๐ค๐ก๐ช๐ข๐๐จ ๐ณ๏ธ
Australia’s largest container port has done it again.
In FY2026 (July 2025โJune 2026), the Port of Melbourne handled a record 3.52 million TEU, up 3.8% on the previous year’s record of 3.39 million TEU. That’s the second consecutive financial year of record throughput, reinforcing Melbourne’s position as the country’s busiest container gateway and a critical node for southโeast Australia trade.
The port also reported a record trade value of around $171 billion for the year, underlining how much national import/export activity flows through this single facility.
Key themes from the Trade in Review FY2026 report include:
โข ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐๐ฟ๐๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ถ๐บ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐ด๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐บ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐๐บ
Alongside steady consumer goods, the port saw stronger volumes of industrial and building materials, including commodities like cement and gypsum signalling continued investment in infrastructure, warehousing, and manufacturing capacity in Victoria.
โข ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฒ๐
๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ต๐ผ๐น๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฝ
Agricultural exports remained a backbone, with notable growth in beef, paper/paperboard, and scrap metal, helping offset softer volumes in crops like cotton and wheat. This mix matters for reefer, dry, and breakbulk planners who balance seasonal peaks across different commodity lines.
โข ๐๐๐๐ผ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ
In a structural shift, China overtook Japan as the largest source of imported motor vehicles through Melbourne in FY2026. Over the past six years, China’s share of vehicle imports rose from about 1% (FY2020) to 28% (FY2026).
โข ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต ๐ด๐น๐ผ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ฟ๐๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
The result came despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, including US tariff policy shifts and supplyโchain impacts linked to instability around the Strait of Hormuz. Fuel supply chains adjusted sourcing patterns, while export demand stayed broadly diversified.
Melbourne’s record cements its longโheld lead in containerised trade…
โข ๐ ๐ฒ๐น๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ: ~3.52 million TEU (FY2025/26), up 3.8%
โข ๐ฃ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ (๐ฆ๐๐ฑ๐ป๐ฒ๐): around 2.8 million TEU in recent annual data, with about 19% rail share for NSW container
โข ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฒ: roughly 1.62 million TEU (FY2024/25 record), with trade valued at about $73.5 billion
While bulk ports like Port Hedland dominate by tonnage, Melbourne remains the clear leader by container volume and a primary barometer for Australian consumer and industrial demand.
๐ธ and reference Port of Melbourne