The Port of Melbourne has observed a consistent reduction in its breakbulk cargo volumes, which now represent a mere one percent of the port's overall trade in the calendar year 2025. This downturn is detailed in the port's inaugural "Trade in Review" report. The total breakbulk handled in 2025 amounted to approximately 1.0 million revenue tonnes, marking a significant decrease from the roughly 1.8 million tonnes recorded in 2022. This trend indicates a clear, multi-year structural shift away from breakbulk operations at the port.
For freight forwarders and operations managers, this sustained decline in breakbulk volumes at Melbourne suggests a reduced availability of specialized services and infrastructure for project cargo and oversized shipments. Forwarders might need to explore alternative ports in the region for breakbulk operations or anticipate potentially higher costs for handling such cargo due to lower economies of scale at Melbourne. It also highlights a broader market shift towards containerization or other logistics solutions for goods previously moved as breakbulk.
