Lyttelton Port Company delivers record revenue and profit in the first half of the financial year

Lyttelton Port Company has delivered a record financial result in the first half of the financial year. Revenue, profit, and earnings all reached their highest levels, showing strong improvement on the previous year. The result highlighted the strong growth in bulk imports and exports in the first half underpinned by disciplined cost management.

Key numbers

• Total Revenue – $108.5m up $7.7m, up 7.6%
• NPAT – $14.6m up $2.3m, up 19.2%
• EBITDA – $35.8m up $4.8m, up 15.4%
• Expenses – $72.7m up $2.9m

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 $108.5m for the six months from 1 July 2025 to 31 December 2025. This represents an increase of $7.7m (up 7.6%) compared with the same period last year.

Bulk cargo delivered a strong performance in the first six months of the financial year, up 13% 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 $72.7m, an increase of $2.9m (4.2%). 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 $7.69 million in November 2025 to Christchurch City Holdings Limited (CCHL), the 100% 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 $11.49 million. LPC paid a total dividend of $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.