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Stevedoring Services in Australia - Market Research Report (2013-2028)

Nicholas Schroeder Nicholas Schroeder Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: August 2023 ANZSIC I5211

Revenue

$1.9bn

2023-24

$1.9bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

4,369

Businesses

124

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Stevedoring Services in Australia industry analysis

Operators in the Stevedoring Services industry load and unload goods from ships at Australia's ports, primarily handling general and containerised cargo. Stevedoring companies also operate sophisticated machinery and systems and handle hazardous goods. Stevedores are a vital link in the supply chain between shippers, importers and exporters. As a result, the industry's performance depends on trends in Australian international trade. Domestic coastal trade activity does not significantly affect the industry, as it is minor compared with international sea trade.Stevedoring companies have faced mixed trading conditions in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic led to altered trade patterns and supply chain issues, which have increased port congestion and significantly affected global freight shipping, particularly in 2019-20 and 2020-21. Rises in industry participation and capacity expansion by existing operators have further lifted internal competition, driving price-based competition in quayside charges. Operators have responded by increasing landside charges, supporting strong revenue and profit growth in recent years. Overall, industry-wide revenue is expected to grow at an average annualised 1.7% over the five years through 2023-24 to $1.9 billion, when revenue is anticipated to fall by 4.5%.Over the coming years, the industry is poised to benefit from growth in international trade volumes, improving consumer sentiment and forecast growth in discretionary incomes, as the economy recovers from the negative effects of the pandemic and, more recently, soaring inflation. These trends will likely boost demand for stevedoring services, bolstering industry revenue. Growing import volumes will require stevedoring firms to invest more in port facilities, and state and federal governments to invest in the surrounding transport infrastructure. The most recent entries of Hutchison Ports Australia and Victoria International Container Terminal Limited into the industry are projected to continue intensifying industry competition, reducing profit margins over the period. Industry revenue is forecast to grow at an annualised 0.8% over the five years through 2028-29 to total $2.0 billion.

Trends and Insights

  • Growing landside charges has supported strong revenue and profit growth in recent years. However, very high average profit margins recently mean that stevedoring firms will likely come under increased regulatory scrutiny from the ACCC over the coming years.
  • The Stevedoring Services industry can be broadly segmented into quayside and landside services. Landside services are growing as a share of industry revenue due to climbing terminal access charges.
  • Capital city general cargo ports are home to a particularly high concentration of industry establishments. The largest of these are the Port of Melbourne, Sydney Ports and the Port of Brisbane.
  • A high level of competition characterises the Stevedoring Services industry. Rival operators compete for market share based on price, quality, additional services and customer service.

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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2013-2028)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.7 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $1.9bn in 2023.

Trends and Insights

Growing landside charges has driven up industry revenue and profitability

  • The industry's major players have introduced and expanded terminal access charges in recent years.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Stevedoring Services in Australia
Revenue (2013-2028)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Price competition is set to intensify as newer operators look to expand

  • The ongoing expansion of HPA and VICT will significantly alter the industry's structure and competitive environment.

Biggest companies in the Stevedoring Services in Australia

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Qube
669.0
Hutchison Ports Australia
155.9
Flinders Port
94.8

To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Stevedoring Services in Australia
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Containerised stevedoring, General cargo stevedoring and Landside services. Containerised stevedoring is the largest segment of the Stevedoring Services in Australia.

Trends and Insights

Global supply chain issues have hampered containerised stevedoring

  • Containerised stevedoring involves unloading and loading containerised cargo on ships using heavy machinery and semi-automated equipment.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Industry firms primarily load and unload containerised and automotive cargo from ships.

What's included in this industry?

Containerised stevedoringGeneral cargo stevedoringLandside services

Companies

QubeHutchison Ports AustraliaFlinders Port

Purchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

GENERAL CARGOBULK CARGOBREAK-BULK CARGOTERMINAL ACCESS CHARGESTEU

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 5211 - Stevedoring Services in Australia

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Growing landside charges has supported strong revenue and profit growth in recent years. However, very high average profit margins recently mean that stevedoring firms will l...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Employees, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Businesses, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Profit, including historical (2013-2023)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

The Stevedoring Services industry can be broadly segmented into quayside and landside services. Landside services are growing as a share of industry revenue due to climbing t...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2023
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2023
  • Major market segmentation in 2023

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Capital city general cargo ports are home to a particularly high concentration of industry establishments. The largest of these are the Port of Melbourne, Sydney Ports and th...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2023

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2023
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2023
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2023
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2023

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

A high level of competition characterises the Stevedoring Services industry. Rival operators compete for market share based on price, quality, additional services and custome...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2018-2023
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Qube’s Patrick Terminals and DP World Australia dominate the industry. These stevedoring companies operate in all three of Australia's largest ports at Brisbane, Melbourne an...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2019 through 2023
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2023
  • Overview of Qube's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2017 through 2023
  • Overview of Hutchison Ports Australia's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2017 through 2023
  • Overview of Flinders Port's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2017 through 2023
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Qube, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Hutchison Ports Australia, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Flinders Port, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The Stevedoring Services industry receives little assistance. However, the reduction of general tariffs indirectly benefits the industry by stimulating trade between Australi...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2013-2028) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2013-2028) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a sharp rise in industry-wide profitability due to constrained price competition and high demand. Growing scrutiny from the ACCC is poised to dri...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2023
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2023
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2013-2028)
  • Revenue per Employee (2013-2028)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2013-2028)
  • Employees per Establishment (2013-2028)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2013-2028)
  • Average Wage (2013-2028)
  • Wages/Revenue (2013-2028)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2013-2028)
  • IVA/Revenue (2013-2028)
  • Imports/Demand (2013-2028)
  • Exports/Revenue (2013-2028)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2013-2028)
  • IVA (2013-2028)
  • Establishments (2013-2028)
  • Enterprises (2013-2028)
  • Employment (2013-2028)
  • Exports (2013-2028)
  • Imports (2013-2028)
  • Wages (2013-2028)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Stevedoring Services industry in Australia in 2024?

The market size of the Stevedoring Services industry in Australia is $1.9bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Stevedoring Services in Australia industry in 2023?

There are 124 businesses in the Stevedoring Services industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 3.6 % between 2018 and 2023.

Has the Stevedoring Services industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Stevedoring Services industry in Australia has been growing at a CAGR of 1.7 % between 2018 and 2023.

What is the forecast growth of the Stevedoring Services industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Stevedoring Services industry in Australia is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Stevedoring Services market in Australia?

The biggest companies operating in the Stevedoring Services market in Australia are Qube, Hutchison Ports Australia and Flinders Port

What does the Stevedoring Services in Australia include?

Containerised stevedoring and General cargo stevedoring are part of the Stevedoring Services industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Stevedoring Services in Australia?

The company holding the most market share in Australia is Qube.

How competitive is the Stevedoring Services industry in Australia?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Stevedoring Services industry in Australia.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • There are no industries to display.

Complementors

  • Road Freight Forwarding in Australia
  • Customs Agency Services in Australia

International industries

  • Stevedoring & Marine Cargo Handling in the US
  • Stevedoring and Water Transport Support Services in New Zealand

View all industries in Australia

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Australia include:

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics
  • Australian Taxation Office
  • Australian Securities & Investments Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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