2024 marked 10 years since Port Authority's formation as one of the most important NSW publicly owned businesses. To celebrate this important milestone, we reflected on the critical services and benefits we deliver, while continuing to return revenue to the NSW Government for the people of NSW.
Ten year quick facts
Our impact
In an environment where 99% of all NSW trade arrives or leaves by sea, we stand as a linchpin driving economic growth, supporting the construction sector, facilitating the housing market.
Through the movement of around 6,000 vessels in and out of the State’s ports every year, we facilitate around $140 billion worth of trade annually, supporting NSW industries and businesses and tens of thousands of jobs. Whether it’s supporting our farmers to get their goods out to world markets, the movement of major mineral commodities, to bringing in essential items for every NSW business and home – all travel through a NSW port, navigated in and out by us. Over the past decade we have moved almost a trillion dollars of trade for NSW.
Bays Port is essential in the supply of the majority of Sydney’s food-grade sugar to major food and beverage manufacturers in Sydney, supporting jobs across the supply chain and reducing inflationary and cost of living pressures.
We're not just bringing in goods; we're also helping to build the homes NSW needs. In Sydney alone, Port Authority brings in over 405,000 tonnes of gypsum to Glebe Island every year, providing the equivalent gypsum, used to make plasterboard, for about 50,000 new homes annually.
Through the same port, about 90% of the cement used in Sydney's major construction projects is brought straight to the heart of Sydney.
By facilitating the importation of building materials at competitive rates, we support cost-effective construction activities, mitigate housing shortages, and promote affordable housing initiatives.
Our commitment to sustainable practices further enhances our impact on all facets of the maritime industry.
Initiatives such as green logistics, shore power, and renewable energy integration not only align with global sustainable development goals but also inspire innovation within the industry, driving towards more eco-friendly and resilient built environments.
Over the last 10 years, we:
- Kept our ports safe, secure and open to the world, 365 days of the year, 24 hours a day – driving the economy and keeping NSW’s industries and businesses moving.
- Facilitated 99% of the State’s trade worth $1trillion by ensuring the safe arrival of 56,000 commercial vessels.
- Ensured NSW primary producers delivered over 32 million tonnes of wheat out to market from Newcastle and Port Kembla, supporting our farmers and sustaining global food supply chains.
- Hosted well over 2,000 cruise ship visits to NSW, contributing up to $3.5 billion annually to the State’s economy and supporting an ecosystem of suppliers, hospitality businesses and tourism.
- Transported over 4 million tonnes of gypsum through Sydney’s Glebe Island, providing the equivalent gypsum, used to make plasterboard, for around half a million homes for NSW, critical during a period of housing shortages.
- Received more than 4 million tonnes of cement through Glebe Island, critical to building and maintaining the city, including delivering the State’s major construction projects – the equivalent volume required to build a freeway from Melbourne to Sydney and back.
- Enabled the arrival of almost 2.5 million vehicles through Port Kembla - 100% of motor vehicle imports to NSW.
- Prevention of more than three quarters of a million truck movements and almost a quarter of a million tonnes of C02 emissions via successful pilotage of trade vessels through Sydney Harbour.
- Led the State’s on-water emergency response to pollution incidents to ensure the safety of maritime workers, passengers and crew, and the protection of our marine environment.
- Paved the way for the maritime industry to put sustainability at the heart of their activities and committed to delivering a world first shore powered precinct at Bays Port.
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The following reports and data sources were used to collate our 10 year statistics.
- ABS, Port Kembla Import and Export Commodity Volumes (March 2020)
- BITRE, Australian Sea Freight 2020-21 (January 2023)
- Cruise Lines International Association, The Value of Cruise Tourism (2022/23)
- CSIRO, A Concrete Step Forward (2023)
- Freight Australia, National Freight Export Data (2014-2022)
- NSW Ports, Trade Reports (2017-2024)
- Port Authority New South Wales, Annual Reports (2014/15 to 2022/23)
- Port of Newcastle, Yearly Trade Reports 2014-2023
- Video image at 33s courtesy of City of Sydney Archives.
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