Listed port companies at either end end of the country have booked record cargo or container volumes across their wharves.
Port of Tauranga's (POT) 22.2million tonnes of cargo handled towered over South Port's 3.05million tonnes, but both partly credited dairy sector exports for the boost.
POT notched up a New Zealand record, handling 1.08million 20-foot-equivalent units (TEUs) in the year to June, while South Port in Bluff handled a record 3.05million tonnes of cargo during the same period.
POT container handling was the first exceeding 1million units by a New Zealand port in a year, while growth was also booked in log and dairy exports and oil imports. Almost a quarter of the containers had been transshipped.
POT's final dividend for the year was 16.2c, which included a 5c special dividend, and South Port's dividend was 26c per share.
POT's revenue grew 4.2% to $255.9million, earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (ebitda) rose 6.4% to $152.4million and after-tax profit was up 7.9% at $83.4million.
POT handled a total of 22.2million tonnes of cargo, comprising 14.2million tonnes of exports last year, an 8% rise on last year, and 8million tonnes of imports, a 13.7% increase.
POT chairman David Pilkington said the result was the culmination of the port's $350million expansion programme, which included major dredging to widen and deepen its channel and increasing ship sizes from those carrying 45000 TEUs to 7500 and 11,500-TEU ships, which visited weekly.
Port Otago will present its full-year results to 100% owner the Otago Regional Council about mid-September.
