Port of Melbourne - Industry Update - June 2025

Monday, June 2, 2025

Message from the CEO

As we move into the second half of 2025, I want to reflect on the crucial role we all play in the broader supply chain and Victoria's economic landscape. With the State Budget delivered, I want to reiterate the importance of industry collaboration as we navigate this next chapter together.

We recently had the opportunity to participate in the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Melbourne Press Club's State Budget Lunch, where I spoke about the Port's role in Victoria's economy and the importance of strong policy settings to support investment and growth. As such, we welcome the direction set out in the Victorian Government's recent Economic Growth Statement. The focus on cutting red tape and enabling private sector investment is essential to futureproofing the economy.

At Port of Melbourne, we stand ready to play our part — and with your support, we can do so much more for Victoria and beyond. We look forward to continuing our work together to ensure our state remains strong, connected and competitive.

Best regards
Saul Cannon

Trade & Supply Chain Update

In the first four months of Calendar Year 2025 (CY2025), total container trade experienced a slight decline compared to the same period in the previous year.

Full container exports performed strongly in the calendar year-to-date against the prior year period. This growth was supported by higher volumes in key commodities such as timber, meat, pulp, and waste. Full imports, however, showed a marginal decline year-on-year. Empty container movements also declined.

In contrast, non-container trade in the calendar year recorded an increase year-on-year, with growth seen in motor vehicle imports, along with gains in both liquid and dry bulk cargoes.

Click here to read more.

Port Infrastructure Update

Major Project Progress and Milestones Achieved

In May 2025, we achieved several significant milestones including completion of Stage One Swanson Dock West (SDW) Remediation and the Yarra River Services Protection project. Works associated with the services, located south of the West Gate Bridge, covered an area of over 400m2. With the project having reached practical completion, shipping operations will no longer be operating around diving windows.

More recently, PoM's Dredging and Sweeping Maintenance campaign was delivered as part of our long-term strategic initiative to ensure that approx. 2,600 ships per year can safely navigate to their destination. Our landside port users will also have noticed road safety works were rolled out in the Swanson Dock precinct.

Steel piles located at the southern end of Swanson Dock West:

a total of 212 new steel piles replacing original timber piles in Berth 1

Diving works undertaken almost daily in approx. six-hour windows since September 2024

A total of 29 beacon piles will be replaced throughout Stage One of the project without disruption to shipping operations (image taken in the South Channel)

Our next steps and focus for the coming months include preparing for Stage Two of the SDW Remediation project, wrapping up Stage One of the Beacon Pile Replacement Program and continuing the roll out of the $21 million roads program over a five-year period.

Thank you to all of our stakeholders that collaborated with us to implement effective mitigations and successfully reach these milestones throughout the Port and its precincts.

Latest Developments

2025-26 Reference Tariff Schedule and Tariff Compliance Statement

At the start of our five-year regulatory period (1 July 2023 to 30 June 2028) we committed to a capital expenditure program of over $700m to deliver projects that are in the long-term interests of Victorian consumers and the economy.

Last week we provided updates on our progress to the Essential Services Commission having submitted the 2025-26 Tariff Compliance Statement (TCS) available on our website:?Regulatory Quick Links

This TCS includes details on tariffs for 2025-26 and provides updates on stakeholder engagement, major projects, sustainability and our trade and expenditure.

This is the third year of our established five-year regulatory period. We set a price path for the five-year regulatory period of CPI – 0 percent for each of the five years (that is, price levels will not increase in real terms for the length of the five-year regulatory period).?

Port of Melbourne also published the 2025-26 Reference Tariff Schedule (RTS) available here: Port Pricing.

In each TCS we demonstrate how tariffs for the upcoming financial year comply with the Pricing Order, a regulatory instrument issued by the Governor in Council under section 49A of the Port Management Act 1995 (PMA).

The 2025-26 RTS and TCS are available at Regulatory Quick Links.

Draft 2055 Port Development Strategy Released for Public Engagement

Port of Melbourne's Draft 2055 Port Development Strategy (Draft 2055 PDS) was released for public engagement on 14 April 2025 (Stage 3).

This stage of the 2055 PDS engagement program is open until 5pm on 6 June 2025 and has been designed to provide stakeholders with opportunities to make submissions to provide feedback about the Draft 2055 PDS.

Port of Melbourne will publish a final 2055 PDS in December 2025.

Should you have any questions or require further information to make a submission, please email pds@portofmelbourne.com or see the PDS webpage at 2055 Port Development Strategy.

Feasibility Study on Low Carbon Methanol Bunkering

In March 2023, Port of Melbourne signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with industry partners Maersk, ANL (part of the CMA CGM Group), Svitzer, Stolthaven Terminals, HAMR Energy and ABEL Energy to explore the commercial feasibility of establishing a Low Carbon Methanol (LCM) bunkering hub at the Port of Melbourne.

A feasibility study released in April 2025 found that, while the port has the necessary infrastructure to receive and store methanol, there are present-day barriers and emerging future scenarios across the wider LCM supply chain that need to develop to support long-term commercially viability of LCM bunkering in Melbourne. Further engagement and collaboration with industry and government will be essential to understand how these factors may develop and be addressed in the long term.

For more information, click here to view a summary of the study.

Government and Industry Engagement

Upcoming Industry Boat Tour

We're delighted to offer the wider industry the opportunity to attend a boat tour of Australia's largest container and general cargo port.

Date: 12 August 2025 (Tuesday)

Time: 10am – 12pm

Location: Docklands

A portion of the ticket sales will be donated to our community partners, Mission to Seafarers Victoria and Stella Maris Seafarers' Centre Melbourne. Places are limited - book yours here.

VCCI and Melbourne Press Club State Budget Lunch

Port of Melbourne was delighted to be a major sponsor of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Melbourne Press Club State Budget Lunch on 21 May, where we heard the Treasurer's reflections on the State Budget.

In his speech, Port of Melbourne CEO Saul Cannon highlighted the enormous potential of Victoria, stating: "We have a resilient economy, a dynamic business community, and the infrastructure to support growth. As Australia's largest container and general cargo port, Port of Melbourne is proud to support this system."

Congratulations, to the Victorian Chamber and Melbourne Press Club for an incredibly successful event!

Property Council of Australia's Addressing Victoria's Industrial Future Breakfast

The Property Council of Australia's Addressing Victoria's Industrial Future breakfast brought together more than 150 industry professionals to explore the new Plan for Victoria, the demand for industrial and employment land, and key topics pertinent to the state's industrial property landscape.

Port of Melbourne EGM, Strategy and Planning Caryn Anderson participated in a panel discussion on strategic freight planning for the long term, mode shift and decarbonisation, and ensuring coordinated efforts between government and industry.

Community Engagement

South East Local Learning and Employment Network (LLEN) Expo

We're proud to have joined forces with Svitzer Australia at the South East Local Learning and Employment Network (SELLEN) Expo.

It was a fantastic opportunity to introduce students to the diverse careers available across the port supply chain — from maritime operations to trade and logistics.

Thanks to SELLEN for bringing the next generation of talent closer to the world of ports and shipping!

To learn more about our Port Education Program, visit Port Education Program.