ACCC 2025-26 Container Stevedoring Monitoring Report Survey - Have Your Say

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has advised Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) and the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) that it is now inviting stakeholder feedback as part of its ACCC 2025-26 Container Stevedoring Monitoring Report consultation process. This annual report evaluates pricing, competition, and performance across Australia's container ports — with a strong focus addressing market failures and the increasing burden due to issues and challenges affecting the container freight supply chain. Responses will help inform the upcoming 2025-26 Container Stevedoring Monitoring Report.

Why This Matters

The latest 2024–25 report (released in December 2025) reinforced long-standing industry concerns, including:

Record-high stevedore prices and profits despite significant spare terminal capacity, stable costs and limited productivity improvements;
Landside charges accounting for 49.5% of total stevedore revenue, compared to just 17% in 2016–17, demonstrating a significant shift in where stevedores derive their income;
Terminal Access Charges (TACs) generating more than $642 million in revenue during 2024–25 alone, with the ACCC reporting that stevedores have collected more than $3 billion in TACs since 2017–18; significantly, the ACCC observed that cumulative TAC revenue is approximately 2.5 times greater than the industry's total capital investment over the same period;
Evidence of ongoing market failure, with importers, exporters, transport operators and cargo owners facing unavoidable and largely incontestable charges, while having limited ability to negotiate pricing or influence service outcomes through normal competitive market forces.

The ACCC concluding that a government policy or regulatory response is likely required to address apparent market failures and improve Australia's container freight supply chain.

Survey

You can access the survey by clicking the button below, which will direct you to the ACCC's consultation website. This site also includes the ACCC's Information and Privacy Policies, as well as links to previous monitoring reports.

We kindly ask you to take a moment to complete the survey, which closes on Wednesday, 22 July 2026.

Link to Survey

Confidentiality

As outlined in the survey page and through the ACCC/AER Information Policy, responses will be treated confidentially. No identifying business information will be published without explicit consent. Most data is used in aggregate to inform the broader findings of the report.

FTA/APSA Ongoing Advocacy

FTA/APSA continue to lead the charge for meaningful reform of landside port pricing and regulation across the container logistics supply chain.

The ACCC's 2024–25 findings provide the strongest regulatory acknowledgement to date of concerns consistently raised by FTA/APSA and industry participants. With the Federal Government sharpening its focus on national productivity and supply chain efficiency, FTA/APSA will continue to work closely with government, regulators and industry stakeholders to pursue practical reforms that improve transparency, enhance competition and reduce the burden of uncontestable supply chain costs.

This advocacy now extends to broader national policy discussions, including the Federal Government's productivity agenda and forthcoming parliamentary examination of measures to improve Australia's economic performance, competitiveness and supply chain efficiency.

These issues will also be front and centre at the 2026 Australia & New Zealand Shipping & Logistics Conference:

2026 Australia & New Zealand Shipping & Logistics Conference
(27-28 August 2026 - Sydney)

Hosted by FTA, APSA and the New Zealand Cargo Owners Council (NZCOC), the Australia & New Zealand Shipping & Logistics Conference will bring together an exceptional line-up of international and domestic regulators, policymakers and industry leaders, including United States Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Commissioner Rebecca Dye.
Discussions will focus on productivity, supply chain reform, competition, and global approaches to regulatory oversight.
For further details and registration information, visit the Australia & New Zealand Shipping & Logistics Conference website.

FTA/APSA also continues to provide evidence to the ACCC highlighting the growing burden of unregulated charges on the supply chain. We strongly encourage members to contribute feedback to ensure these impacts are fully understood and reflected in the final report. FTA/APSA will also be responding to the survey directly, reinforcing the need for greater transparency and regulatory oversight.

For any questions or feedback, please don't hesitate to contact us directly via email.

Tom Jensen - General Manager Freight Policy & Operations - FTA / APSA