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Stockwells logistics news report

Friday 12th December, 2025

In this news report:

ACCC releases findings from Container Stevedore Monitoring Report 2024-25

Notice of Electronic Processing Fee - December 8th

Upcoming tolling changes for heavy vehicles - West Gate Tunnels & West Gate Freeway

Stockwells Holiday Operating Hours

Shipping Charges & Fees

ACCC releases findings from Container Stevedore Monitoring Report 2024-25

Over recent months, the increasing container costs, specifically wharf infrastructure and empty container park fees have led to a ACCC investigation. Stockwells has broken down the report into its key points:

The report notes that stevedores:

Are now charging the highest real price per container in 27 years of ACCC monitoring.
Recorded operating profits rising for the fifth consecutive year, reaching an historic high of $808.6 million.
Have increased profit margins by 14.5 percentage points over five years, climbing to 34.8% in 2024–25 — higher than transport sector comparators across the board.
Are operating terminals with significant spare capacity, which under normal market conditions should place downward pressure on pricing.

Critically, landside charges — including the Terminal Access Charges (infrastructure surcharge) that transport operators must pay to collect containers — have shifted from being a minor cost component to the single largest driver of stevedoring profitability.

The ACCC confirms:

49.5% of all stevedore revenue in 2024–25 ($1.15 billion) came from landside charges.
Of that, $642 million came from Terminal Access Charges alone.
Since 2017–18, stevedores have collected more than $3 billion in TACs — approximately 2.5 times their total capital investment over the same period.

The ACCC warns:

“These unavoidable costs land first on trucking companies, who then pass them on to importers and exporters — who have no real way to avoid or negotiate them.”

To read the full report: Container stevedoring monitoring report 2024-25 | ACCC

Notice of Electronic Processing Fee

As of December 1st, we were advised that CargoWise updated its billing process for the EDI Fee with only 1 weeks' notice. CargoWise, the cloud-based logistics management platform used by Stockwells, is widely recognised for streamlining operations and enhancing visibility across global logistics networks.

The EDI fee will now be costed to every job produced in CargoWise in USD which is then converted to AUD for all jobs. CargoWise automatically applies an exchange rate reflective of the market, which will fluctuate. To mitigate ongoing fluctuations, Stockwells has opted to pass this fee on at a flat rate. This fee will now appear on all jobs as the "ELECTRONIC PROCESSING FEE" replacing the current EDI fees. The increase is due to the new USD to AUD conversion rate.

This updated charge will start appearing on your invoices as of December 8th.

ELECTRONIC PROCESSING FEE (replacing EDI Fee)

ELECTRONIC PROCESSING FEE - FREIGHT - FCL || $35 LCL/AIR || $25

ELECTRONIC PROCESSING FEE - BROKERAGE - FCL, LCL/AIR || $25 (IMPORT & EXPORT)

It has also been announced that further charges will be added in the coming months for ELECTRONIC PROCESSING FEE transport and warehouse. We will keep you updated regarding the charges as they are notified.

Upcoming Tolling Changes for Heavy Vehicles – West Gate Tunnel & West Gate Freeway

We would like to inform you of the toll changes for heavy vehicles traveling on the West Gate Freeway and the new West Gate Tunnel coming into effect Monday 15th December. Please note this notice was only provided to Stockwells today, Friday 12th December 2025.

Key Details:

New Toll Structure: A new toll will apply to heavy vehicles using the upgraded West Gate Freeway, new tunnels, and connecting ramps for travel to/from the west of Melbourne.
Coverage: This includes the West Gate Tunnel and West Gate Bridge. If your current route already incurs a toll, the new structure will replace the existing charge.
Implementation Date: Expected early December. We will confirm the exact date shortly.

Impacted Suburbs:
The toll will affect suburbs west of Melbourne, including:
Altona, Altona Meadows, Ardeer, Avalon, Bacchus Marsh, Ballarat, Braybrook, Brooklyn, Deer Park, Delahey, Derrimut, Geelong, Hoppers Crossing, Lara, Laverton, Laverton North, Melton, Ravenhall, Seaholme, Werribee, Williamstown, Wyndham Vale.

Empty Container Collection/Return:
If empty container movements require travel through the toll route to designated empty parks (e.g., Container Space, VCM, Greater Fortune, Allied, Westlink, ANL, OCS, MCP), the toll will apply. Previously, these routes could avoid toll roads, but new restrictions on the M1 corridor make this unavoidable.

Total round trip cost || $65

Stockwell Yard and Office Hours | Holiday Period

Please note the below dates and times of our yard and office closures over the holiday period:

Brisbane

24th December | Open until 12 Noon

25th December | Closed