Not for the first time charges levied by terminal operators in Australia are under the spotlight.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has recently published its Container Stevedore Monitoring report, in which it states infrastructure taxes imposed by DP World and Patrick raise “a number of issues for the port supply chain”.
“It is concerning that truck and rail operators face these higher charges but are limited in their ability to take their business elsewhere,” the ACCC stated.
DP World and Patrick announced new surcharges earlier this year citing increases in rent, land tax and rates as rationale for the extra levies.
The ACCC said it will follow closely whether these new infrastructure charges are used to improve land-side facilities beyond “business-as-usual levels”.
