Port of Fremantle’s relationship with Japan forges ahead

Date: 20/1/2023

Western Australia’s strong trading relationship with Japan was reaffirmed this week with a visit to Fremantle Ports by Japan’s Consul-General to Western Australia, Mr NAITO Yasushi. 

Japan is a key trading partner for Australia and Western Australia, with Fremantle Ports central to that success as a facilitator of trade.   

A range of trade and shipping-related topics were discussed, including opportunities for further development of trade through the port, which is twinned with Japan’s Port of Nagoya.  

Located in south-central Japan, Nagoya is ideally situated between the major cities of Tokyo and Osaka, and is the country’s largest and busiest port, the source of Toyota Motor Corporation’s exports of cars to the world.  

The past month again saw strong imports of vehicles through Fremantle, requiring the port to optimise vessel arrivals and landside operations. During December, 9,107 new vehicles (from all destinations) were imported through Fremantle,17.7% higher than the same month in the previous year. A high proportion of those imported vehicles (passenger, commercial and industrial) come from Japan. 

Fremantle is also an important port of call for Japanese research vessels, with the Consul-General’s visit coinciding this week with the presence of the Tokyo University of Marine Sciences and Technology’s research vessel, Umitaka Maru. In March, Fremantle will see the return visit of the large Japanese icebreaker, Shirase. 

This year also marks the 40^thanniversary of the sister-port relationship between the Port of Fremantle and the Port of Nagoya. 

Fremantle Ports’ trade with Japan - Highlights 

Japan is Fremantle Ports’ second largest export market overall at 10% (1.45m mass tonnes), and sixth largest market for total container trade (imports and exports), totalling 39,342 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units). Japan is also our fifth largest source of shipped imports. 

Containerised hay is the port’s largest container commodity by volume overall, accounting for 44,171 TEU last financial year, and exports to Japan accounted for 55% of that total. The quality of Western Australian hay is highly regarded in Japan and used in its dairy and horse racing industries. 

A total of 15% of Japan’s wheat imports come from Western Australia and comprise a highly valued source of quality grain for the country’s udon noodle production. 

Relationship reinvigorated 

The visit comes at an important time in the bilateral relationship when two-way economic and diplomatic ties are re-invigorating, post-pandemic.  

Earlier this week ANA (All Nippon Airways) announced direct flights between Perth and Tokyo would resume, which will herald a resurgence in tourism numbers. Pre-2019, 40,000 Japanese visitors per year visited Western Australia injecting around $71 million into our economy. Many visit Rottnest Island, departing from Victoria Quay. 

 Premier Mark McGowan this week announced a visit to Japan and South Korea later this month, to reaffirm Western Australia’s strong relationship with North Asia and discuss further trade opportunities.  

Fremantle Ports CEO Michael Parker said Fremantle Ports stood ready to support further trade development. 

 “Western Australia has few relationships more valued and trusted than the one with Japan and we, as Fremantle Ports, are excited to explore how we can contribute to building it further,” he said. 

“At its heart, our role is as a facilitator of this vital trade relationship, helping our local businesses deliver their goods to international markets and bringing in the products, equipment and other inputs they need to grow locally,” Mr Parker said. 

Pictured: Consul General of Japan to Western Australia Mr NAITO Yasushi and Fremantle Ports' Harbour Master, Mr Savio Fernandes, AFNI