Port of Tauranga posts strong financial start

An aerial view of Port of Tauranga. Supplied photo.

Port of Tauranga is reporting a strong start to the 2019 financial year, with increased cargo volumes contributing to a 4 per cent increase in Group Net Profit After Tax to $49 million.

Transhipment volumes, where containers are transferred from one service to another at Tauranga, continue to rise as the Port solidifies its role as an international hub.

It allows shippers from all over New Zealand to access fast and frequent connections to North Asia and South America, says a statement released by New Zealand's largest port today.

Transhipments made up more than a fifth of containers handled over the six month period.

Port of Tauranga Chair, David Pilkington, says the results are very pleasing.

'Group operating profit grew 4 per cent in the first half of the financial year. Tauranga is working very well as an international hub port for shippers looking to quickly and efficiently access large ship container services.

'Tauranga is the only New Zealand port that can easily accommodate these big ships and we are very pleased by the amount of transhipment occurring from other New Zealand locations as well as Australia.”

Bulk cargo volumes also continued to grow, driven largely by the increase in log exports but also increases in kiwifruit, meat and apple exports.

Port of Tauranga's inland freight hub, MetroPort Auckland, handled a 3.8 per cent increase in containers to set a new record in cargo transferred by rail to and from Auckland during the seasonal peak between October and December.

Port of Tauranga chief executive Mark Cairns says it's pleasing that KiwiRail had been able to gear up quickly to transfer shipments diverted to Tauranga due to operational issues in Auckland.

He says Port of Tauranga was continually assessing the future needs of importers and exporters to ensure we invest in a timely manner the meet the anticipated growth.

'It has been two and a half years since the successful completion of our expansion programme to accommodate larger ships,” says Mark.

'All evidence points to a continuing trend to larger vessels. Our strategy to create long term value for our shareholders is clearly working and we are now planning for the next stage of cargo growth.”

A ninth container crane has been ordered for delivery in 2020 and preparations are under way to extend the container terminal quay by up to 385 metres by converting port-owned land south of the existing 770-metre quay.

The Company is assessing options for increasing container storage and handling capacity.

Reconfiguration of existing wharf space is under way on both sides of the harbour to ensure efficient cargo handling.

'We also have the capacity to increase train frequency in future as required,” says Mark.

Rail is Port of Tauranga's preferred mode of cargo transfer due to its environmental benefits and to avoid contributing to road congestion, which is an ongoing concern for Tauranga residents due to the massive population growth in the region.

'Long term value creation for our shareholders is only possible if we keep up our efforts to enhance our environmental performance, our relationships with our employees, our suppliers and our community.”

In the six months to 31 January 2019, the Port's use of rail avoided the equivalent of more than 300,000 truck movements.

Port of Tauranga has renewed its long-term operating agreement with Oji Fibre Solutions, New Zealand's major manufacturer of market kraft pulps, container board and packaging products.

Oji has committed to consolidating the majority of its import and export cargo volumes through Port of Tauranga for the next decade.

Cargo trends Log exports remain buoyant on the back of strong demand from China and record international prices. Log volumes increased 11.7 per cent to 3.7 million tonnes for the six month period, while sawn timber volumes increased 9 per cent.

Kiwifruit volumes increased 30.2 per cent compared with the previous corresponding period, with the trend continuing towards refrigerated containerisation of kiwifruit exports.

Other produce exports also grew substantially, with volumes of frozen meat increasing 17.3 per cent and apples increasing 64.9 per cent compared with the same period last year.

Dairy product exports remained steady, with the volumes the same as the first half of the last financial year.

Imported oil products, fertilisers, chemicals and bulk liquids remained steady or decreased slightly.

Salt and grain imports increased 15.5 per cent and 7.3 per cent respectively.

Ship visits decreased 5.4 per cent to 842 in the six month period but their average length continues to increase.

Subsidiary/Associate Companies Quality Marshalling, which is 100 per cent owned by Port of Tauranga, continues to perform well with a refreshed portfolio of cargo and service contracts. Its earnings increased 36.4 per cent compared with the previous corresponding period.

Our Associate Companies' earnings declined compared with the previous six month period.

David says Port of Tauranga is pleased the Government have preserved the opt-out provisions of Multi-Employer Collective Agreements (MECA) in proposed employment legislation.

'However, we are concerned about the potential impacts of the recommendations from the Fair Pay Agreement Working Group and we will be watching developments closely.”

David says the likely outcome of the Government's Upper North Island Supply Chain Study was unclear at this stage.

'We have had brief contact with the working group to date and we await their report with interest.”

Outlook Port of Tauranga is on track to deliver a strong result for the full financial year, subject to any significant change in the global trading environment and the usual cyclical fluctuations in commodity cargo volumes.

'We expect our earnings to be at the upper end of the previous guidance of $96 to $101 million given at our Annual Meeting in October.”

Highlights

• Total trade increased 8.8 per cent to nearly 13.6 million tonnes

• Container volumes grew 5.1 per cent to 621,117 TEUs

• Group Net Profit After Tax increased 4 per cent, to $49.0 million for the six months to 31 December 2018

• Transhipment growth continued, with volumes increasing 18.9 per cent to 174,983 TEUs

• Imports increased 5.7 per cent from 4.7 million tonnes to almost 5 million tonnes

• Exports increased 10.8 per cent from 7.7 million tonnes to 8.6 million tonnes, with a significant increase in log exports (up 11.7 per cent)

• Interim dividend of 6 cents per share, up 5.3 per cent on the previous period's dividend.

Half year trade volumes at the country's busiest cargo gateway grew by 8.8 per cent overall.

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