The ACCC’s container stevedoring monitoring program is undertaken under a direction from the Federal Treasurer pursuant to Part VIIA of the Competition and Consumer Act (2010). The ACCC is required to monitor prices, costs and profits of container terminal operator companies at the ports of Adelaide, Brisbane, Burnie, Fremantle, Melbourne and Sydney. Container stevedoring involves lifting containers on and off ships.

In fulfilling its monitoring responsibility, the ACCC produces and publishes annual container stevedoring monitoring reports. On 1 November 2012, the ACCC released its 14th annual monitoring report. The report highlights some of the positive developments in the stevedoring industry since reforms to Australia's waterfront in 1998. Since that time, container volumes have more than doubled, while real costs of providing stevedoring services have decreased by 45 per cent. Much of this cost saving has been passed on to service users, with unit revenues (a proxy for stevedoring prices) falling by 38 per cent since 1998.

However, the report also identifies some remaining challenges in moving towards a more competitive and productive industry. For example, industrial disputes, including strike action and reported 'go-slow' strategies, disrupted stevedoring performance in 2011-12. The report notes that if this sort of disruption were to continue, it could undermine expected future gains from greater capacity and competition.

The entry of a third stevedore and plans for capacity expansion are welcome developments in the Australian stevedoring industry. They are expected to result in greater competition and improvements in productivity in the future. However, the report also notes that new entry and greater capacity will likely increase the complexity of land-side arrangements at ports. Planning and united action from stevedores, ports, governments and other operators will therefore be required.

The Productivity Commission has also published research papers into international benchmarking of container stevedoring. See the PC’s website for copies of these research papers.

All publications relating to the Container stevedoring monitoring reports are located at Publications: Waterfront and shipping.