Container movements rose 15per cent to 590,506 TEUs (20-foot equivalents), from 511,343. At the Auckland inland MetroPort, container traffic increased 20 per cent to 138,000 TEUs, from 115,000 in 2010.
Mr Parker said strong demand for New Zealand's commodity exports, particularly from Asia, and rising confidence in the dairy sector boosted bulk cargo volumes. Log exports rose from 3.8 million to 4.4 million tonnes, up 14.5 per cent, fertiliser imports jumped 64 per cent from 324,000 tonnes to 530,000 tonnes and grain and dairy food supplement shipments increased 26 per cent from 849,000 tonnes to 1.1 million tonnes. Total exports were 10.2million tonnes and imports 5.2million tonnes. The port company is paying a final dividend of 21 cents a share, on top of the interim dividend of 10c - an increase of 6.9 per cent on the previous year's payout.
Port company chief executive Mark Cairns said new services calling at Tauranga should increase container volumes. The shipping reorganisation has resulted in five new weekly services, operated by Mediterranean Shipping Company, Pacific International Lines, Maersk Line, CMA CGM and a new consortium, AUSPAC (Swire, Neptune, PFL, and PDL).
"Along with some consolidation in other services, we expect a net 180 additional vessel visits to Tauranga annually," Mr Cairns said.
Although kiwifruit cargo held up during the year - 757,000 tonnes - the Psa bacterial vine disease would likely weigh on export volumes as it begins to harm plant productivity. Log exports continued to strengthen and the demand for commodities, particularly from China and India, looked to be robust, he said.