South Port sets cargo record as containers surge 19%

Thursday, 03 September 2026

New Zealand’s South Port has posted record cargo volumes for FY26, with throughput at its Bluff gateway climbing 11.5% to 3.96m tonnes and container traffic reaching an all-time high of 62,000 teu.

Container volumes jumped 18.5% over the year, while bulk cargo rose 9.7% to 3.3m tonnes and volumes linked to the Tiwai aluminium smelter increased 16.1% to 942,000 tonnes. The port attributed the growth to stronger agricultural activity, improved smelter throughput and wind farm project cargo.

South Port also acquired the Bluff Freight Centre during the year, adding storage capacity to support growing dairy exports.

Revenue rose 14% to NZ$71.8m, while after-tax profit increased 21% to a record NZ$16.1m.

The port expects FY27 trade volumes to remain broadly in line with the record year, although wind farm project cargo is not expected to repeat.