Surge in car numbers at port

Ports of Auckland Ltd has announced a 70 per cent increase in its half-year profit with rising productivity attracting more customers. Unaudited net profit after tax increased to $26.4 million for the six months ending December 31 compared to $15.5m for the same period last year. An interim dividend of $20.94m will be paid to Auckland Council Investments Ltd. This compares to $11.56m for the same period last year. Car numbers were up 29.3 per cent to 99,710 units from 77,122 in the same period last year. Volumes of break-bulk cargo – non-containerised, including vehicles – were up 41.9 per cent to 2.87m tonnes compared to 2.02m in the same period last year. Total container volumes for the six-month period were up 15.1 per cent to 476,333 TEU from 413,884, full import containers were 19.9 per cent higher and full exports went up by 12.9 per cent. Port operating costs, excluding depreciation, were up by 4.6 per cent to $56.8m as freight volumes lifted across the board, with a record number of containers handled in the six months to December 31. “This year has started well with volumes holding up and we announced new investment – a larger tug to handle bigger ships and two straddle carriers for rising container numbers,” says Tony Gibson, chief executive officer. “Our productivity has gradually improved since we started restructuring in 2011. As we’ve delivered more of what our customers want, they’ve rewarded us with more business. In effect, restructuring has enabled us to take advantage of an improving economy and Auckland’s growth.”