Monthly Archives: February 2014

VIC Government announces Webb winners

The Victorian government has revealed the successful bidders for one of the major Webb Dock redevelopments comprising Melbourne’s $1.6bn Port Capacity Project (PCP). Ports Minister, David Hodgett, announced that the contracts for operation of the port’s new automotive pre-delivery and inspection (PDI) hub had been awarded to Asciano’s Patrick AutoCare and the Toll-K Line/QUBE joint […]

Freight forwarder advertising may be misleading, Customs warns

Advertising by freight forwarders, which offers customs broking services when those forwarders are themselves unlicensed, may be misleading, the Australian Customs & Border Protection Service has said. “This practice is of concern and may contravene the prohibitions on false and misleading representation that are set out in Australian consumer law,” Customs said. It added that […]

Think tank urges scrapping of coastal shipping laws

Australia’s new coastal shipping laws are “anti-competitive” and are “hurting Australian producers” the Institute of Public Affairs has warned and has urged the Abbott government to repeal them. “Coastal shipping has become less competitive due to the Labor government’s 2009 changes that imposed Australian award wages on foreign vessels employing foreign crews,” said Aaron Lane, […]

China accounts for 22% of the value of Australia’s 2013 imports

Australia’s top three import sources accounted for 38.8% of the $21,784m worth of international trade goods received in November 2013, with China sending almost a quarter followed by the US at 9.5% and Japan at 7.3%, according to recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Specific trends in the value from countries of […]

IATA notes continued stagnant cargo demand

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), cargo demand remains largely stagnant. Airlines are expected to have carried 51.6 million tonnes of cargo in 2013, a figure likely to increase to 52.5 million tonnes in 2014. This modest increase in demand is expected to be offset by a decline in yields (forecast to fall 2.1% […]

Government welcomes Cathay direct flights to Adelaide

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Warren Truss, has welcomed Cathay Pacific’s decision to introduce direct flights between Adelaide and Hong Kong, facilitating same day connections to China and other Asian cities. The Tourism and Transport Forum estimates there will be a direct economic benefit to tourism in South Australia of […]

Airline profits on rise

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced an upward revision to its industry financial outlook. For 2013 airlines are expected to return a global net profit of US$12.9 billion. This is expected to improve to a net profit of US$19.7 billion in 2014. Both are improvements on the September forecast which anticipated an industry […]

First stage of Port of Newcastle transaction concludes

NSW Treasurer, Mike Baird, is pleased with the response from potential bidders for the long-term lease of the Port of Newcastle following the close of Expressions of Interest. Mr Baird said suitably qualified parties would now be invited to participate in a competitive bidding process for the Port, which is expected to conclude by mid-2014. […]

EOI sought to build and operate Moorebank

Federal and NSW governments have called for expressions of interest (EoI) from the private sector to build and operate Moorebank Intermodal Terminal. However, it should be noted, according to official figures, Moorebank already cannot accommodate the current and expected trade growth. EoI for Moorebank will be accepted until 26 February 2014. “The Australian and NSW […]

Boxship fleet to show 5.9% growth for 2013

Delivery of container tonnage over the last 12 months looks set to match increases in demand growth, according to BIMCO. In its latest research circular, the shipping association says the inflow of new tonnage in 2013 is set to become the second-largest on record, with the total fleet increasing by 1.4m teu. Demolition activity is […]