SYDNEY's Port Botany container throughput rose in January by two per cent compared to the same period 2011 with imports leading at 85,700 TEU and full year volume up by two per cent to 621,000 TEU year on year.
    The port in the process of privatisation has recorded containerised exports of 33,870 TEU for the month of January and year-to-date of 266,770 TEU close to 2010 figures. Leading export commodities were cereals, machinery and transport equipment and chemicals, representing 31 per cent of total exports.
    Import commodities were manufactures, machinery, transport equipment and chemicals. Of the imported machinery and transport equipment, motor vehicle parts and accessories, agricultural and industrial machinery and equipment as well as electrical and non-electrical equipment were included.
    "Combined, these commodities represent over 57 per cent of total full containerised imports," said Sydney Ports CEO Grant Gilfillan, according to Sydney's Transport & Logistics News. Forty-four per cent of imports came from the Far East, Europe at 17.1 per cent accounting for 62 per cent of total container imports.

(source:shipping online)