Import: 

• Ports of Auckland and Port of Tauranga are working on reintroducing container terminal berth windows, but vessel arrival times are being affected by delays in other ports. However, loading and discharge are largely working according to plan.
• Auckland’s container depot congestion has improved over the past fortnight, but underlying resourcing and capacity issues remain. Oak Road Container Park stopped receiving import empties with minimal notice last week, and local carriers are still unable to achieve pre-pandemic service level agreements for dehire turnaround, although the average timespan to dehire from empty notification has improved.
• The local congestion surcharge on less than container load shipments is being reduced starting from April 1st.
• MPI applications are still taking several days to be processed, and early submission of clearance documents is appreciated to help spread the workload.
• Some MPI import health standards are being revised, which has affected the imports of fish and wood products. The company is working with MPI to get clarification and will communicate directly with affected customers as more information becomes available.

Export:

• State Highway 5, which runs from Napier to Taupo, is now open, and services have resumed via this route. No further details or context were provided.