The 10th Port Authorities Roundtable was held in Osaka, Japan last week, bringing together port representatives from around the world.
Under the theme ‘Navigating the VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity) landscape together: building future-ready ports’, Australian ports such as the Port of Melbourne represented the local industry.
The three day event saw port executives discuss decarbonisation, digital transformation and innovation, as well as the challenges posed by uncertain external factors.
Port of Melbourne executive general manager of commercial Shaun Mooney spoke about adapting to larger vessels, capacity expansion, enhancing supply chains, strengthening inland transport and hinterland development.
“External factors, such as the increasing size of vessels, capacity constraints, and landside connectivity, bring unique challenges to the operating environment. To adapt to these changes and keep trade moving at Port of Melbourne, we have invested more than $810 million over the last eight years in major projects such as the Swanson Dock West Remediation Project, which will extend the design life of the asset and accommodate for larger ships,” he says.
“As for the current geopolitical landscape, we continue to monitor trade shifts. So far, Port of Melbourne has had limited direct exposure to US tariffs, as the US makes up only around six per cent of our total full container exports.
“Additionally, we expect that Australian exports will continue to be in strong demand, both in the US and in alternative markets around the world.”
With Japan being a critical trade partner for the Port of Melbourne, sitting as its third-largest container export destination and 11th largest container import partner, the event was a crucial one for the local port.
According to Port of Melbourne’s 2024 full-year data, Japan accounted for seven per cent, or 46,000 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units, of container exports from the port, which was up 19.2 per cent on the year prior.
Major exports to Japan include agricultural products like hay, chaff, fodder, meats, butter and cheese, while container imports include new cars and vehicle-related goods.
Last week, the Port of Melbourne convened with the Port of Osaka and HAROPA Port for the Sister Ports conference, hosted at the Australia Pavilion at Expo 2025.
“Sister port partnerships are incredibly valuable to Port of Melbourne. They strengthen international trade and economic prosperity, encourage bilateral investment, and promote expertise sharing, particularly around port planning and development, sustainability, and technology,” Port of Melbourne executive general manager of corporate relations Sarah Browne says.
Among Port of Melbourne’s global port partnerships is its sister-port relationship with Port of Osaka, which began nearly 51 years ago, on October 9, 1974. Port of Melbourne also fosters global port partnerships with Port of Yokohama, Port of Oakland, Tianjin Port and Shanghai Port.
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