Port of Tauranga Limited is named the top business operating in the international freight sector in the National Business Review's monthly Exciting Companies series.

This accolade comes from the company gaining a rating of 80.0 in a survey conducted by business strategy firm New River. This is ahead of freight and shipping specialists Oceanbridge 76.3, Mondiale 71.3 and Mainfreight 66.0.

The world's largest shipping line, Maersk, managed 59.0 and Tauranga's rival, Ports of Auckland, had a rating of 49.0.

According to Statistics NZ, Tauranga handled approximately 80 per cent more international cargo than Ports of Auckland, and three times the volume of exports.

The port's continued increase in earnings during the financial crisis and recession is attributed by PTL chief executive Mark Cairns to the port's recent acquisitions of related businesses.

Mark says expanding into new ventures that are reshaping the traditions of service delivery in the port sector is the key to the company's success.

In March 2010 the port bought Tapper Transport, a South Auckland based company, based adjacent to the port's MetroPort.

PTL is also involved in a joint venture with Northland Port Corporation (NZ) Ltd to develop a new deepwater port at Marsden Point.
PTL also has alliances with Australian leading infrastructure company Asciano and joint venture with C3 Limited.

Income from associated companies increased 62 per cent or 3.15 million on last year, largely driven by forestry-related exports on Northport and C3.