Lyttelton Port Company has delivered a record financial result in the first half of the financial year.
For Lyttelton Port Company, revenue, profit, and earnings all reached their highest levels, showing strong improvement over the previous year. The result highlighted the strong growth in bulk imports and exports in the first half underpinned by disciplined cost management.
LPC’s half-year results showed a strong lift in financial performance, with the port continuing to deliver higher returns in support of its future development.
Total revenue was NZD 108.5m for the six months from 1 July 2025 to 31 December 2025. This represents an increase of NZD 7.7m (up 7.6 percent) compared with the same period last year.
Bulk cargo delivered a strong performance in the first six months of the financial year, up 13 percent year on year and well ahead of previous results.
CEO Graeme Sumner said these results are another step on the road towards a financially sustainable organisation.
“This growth demonstrates the ongoing resilience of our bulk operations and the important role the port continues to play in supporting Canterbury’s and the South Island economy,” said CEO Graeme Sumner.
Refrigerated exports continue to grow despite a slower dairy season, and full import container volumes also rose slightly. Overall, container numbers were slightly down to 208,829 TEU (Twenty foot Equivalent Unit), four per cent less than the same six-month period last year. Sumner noted, however, that second-half TEU volumes are expected to be significantly higher, on the back of a busy export season.
Total expenses for the period were NZD 72.7m, an increase of NZD 2.9m (4.2 percent). The main drivers were payroll changes following the restructuring of container terminal operations and planned investment in digital projects.
“Our cost base remains carefully managed and aligned with the future needs of the organisation,” said Graeme Sumner.
LPC paid a final dividend of NZD 7.69 million in November 2025 to Christchurch City Holdings Limited (CCHL), the 100 percent owner of LPC, the wholly owned investment arm of the Christchurch City Council. This brought the total dividends paid for the 30 June 2025 year to NZD 11.49 million. LPC paid a total dividend of NZD 12.5m in the previous financial year.
There were no significant health and safety events in the six months to the end of December 2025.
“There has also been a pleasing reduction in Lost-time injury frequency rates (LTIFR) down to 2.36 (3.35 FY25), and Total recordable injury frequency rate (TRIFR) down to 2.87 (3.69 FY25).
“I would also like to acknowledge and thank all our people for their professionalism and commitment.
Their work continues to underpin our safety, success and strengthen the future of the port,” said Sumner.
More news here.
