The Port handles approximately 250 000 twenty food equivalent units (TEU's) each year which is approximately 40% of the container trade of the South Island.  The excellent road, rail and coastal sea links which fan out from the port make for excellent distribution networks.

Exports

LPC handles
83 000 tonnes of fish
45 000 tonnes of meat
64 000 tonnes of wool
139 000 tonnes of dairy
144 000 tonnes of logs
Over 2.2 million tonnes of coal

Imports

39 700 new and used motor vehicles
1.1 billion litres of fuel
355 000 tonnes of fertiliser
119 000 tonnes of cement
70 000 tonnes of food and beverage

Cruise Ships

On top of this, LPC handles up to 60 cruise ships each season (November - March) bringing over 137 000 passengers and crew to the Canterbury region.  It is estimated that these passengers directly spend $14 million during their stay in Canterbury and sustain more than 335 full time jobs with indirect expenditure.

Information courtesy of Lyttelton Port of Christchurch brochure published by Lyttelton Port Company Limited.