Australia on course

21 August 1995 00:00  [Source: ACN]

AUSTRALIA'S chemical shipping activity increased marginally by about 5%, as total imports, exports and cross-trading cargoes went up by 1.1m gross weight tonne (GWT) to 18.4m GWT in 1993/94, according to the Australian Shipowners Association (ASA). 'We do not have a big chemical shipping industry, but it is showing signs of growth,' said a source at ASA.

Compared with 1991/92, annual imports, exports, and cross trades of Australian shipping in 1993/94 increased 103%, 25% and 158% respectively. The proportion of the Australian international maritime task transported for in-house purposes continued to rise, equating to 34% in 1993/94, compared to 3% in 1992/93.

The growing domestic economy contributed partly to the 1993/94 coastal task, being 2.3m GWT or 6% greater than 1992/93. The increase in domestic transport task was characterised by an 11% growth in the dry bulk trades and a 1% increase in tanker trades. There was a 18% decline in the smaller container/general cargo trades.

Port reforms contributed to a reduction in port related costs incurred by Australian shipowners. Payments to Australian port authorities and port service providers dropped 4% to Aus$112.9m (US$83.6m).

International freight earnings rose 2% to Aus$589.2m following a 16% increase in the previous year. Larger export revenue, predominantly due to increased throughput, accounted for the majority of the increase.

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