Officials from Osaka’s Port of Sakai-Semboku returned to Australia early November to keep updated on vehicle shipping issues.
The port exported 42.1% of Australia’s used vehicles in 2018.
Kyota Higashino from the port’s business management and promotion division says after Australia stopped manufacturing vehicles domestically in 2017, the port visited Sydney and Melbourne, hoping to do business.
JEVIC New Zealand chief executive Euan Philpot assisted with the tour in New Zealand and went with the Japanese team to Canberra for the Australian promotion leg.
“The port of Sakai-Semboku has successfully completed a round of meetings with the Australian government and the Japanese embassy,” Philpot says.
“The delegation spent two days in Canberra presenting its case for used vehicle trade liberalisation to key decision makers.”
The director general of the Port and Harbour Bureau of Osaka Prefectural Government of Japan, Junta Fukui, led the latest delegation, visiting the department of infrastructure, transport, cities and regional development, department of agriculture and water resources, and the trade, tourism and investment division.
They met with the Japanese ambassador, Reiichiro Takahashi, and briefed him on Australia’s restrictive motor vehicle import practices.
On November 6, the delegation met senior officials from the department of infrastructure transport, cities and regional development, who are in charge of Australia’s motor vehicle regulation, and the department of agriculture.
Philpot says both discussions were productive and addressed concerns related to restrictive regulation and port handling matters.
Higashino from the Port of Sakai-Semboku business management and promotion division says the port learnt about the new Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018.
“The port keenly wants to increase volume export to Australia,” Higashino says.
“The port will make any efforts to meet the demands of market and contribution to fulfilling car-life.”
Higashino says the delegation did not understand why imported used vehicles were not being accepted in Australia as they meet the six categories, such as performance and environment.
“Even though they are “used,” people already know they are functional and structurally safe.
Australia imports new vehicles, and they also become “used” in years, the same as imported used vehicles.”
The delegation visited the most senior advisor to the minister for trade tourism and investment, senator Simon Birmingham.
Fukui presented the Port’s concerns regarding inability to access the Australian used vehicle market and extended an invitation to Birmingham to visit their port and see the used vehicle stock that could be made available to consumers if the Government lifted its restrictions on used vehicle imports.
Philpot calls these discussions with Birmingham and the office “productive” and “fruitful”.
The port will have more capacity and potential, planning to expand the land into the Shiomi-Oki district in a few years, Higashino says.
The port exports Japan’s third largest number of used cars at 158,000 units, but it is exporting only 1% to Australia.
This compares to 17% of the vehicles being exported to New Zealand, which is only one sixth of Australia’s population.
Kenya and Sri Lanka are two other main destinations.
About 2051 used vehicles were exported to Australia from the Port of Sakai-Semboku in 2018 – 42.1% of all units.
This sits well above Yokohama Port, with 24.1%.
The Port of Sakai-Semboku hope to do more trade with Australia and hope that the Australian government lifts its restrictions on used vehicle imports.
It is strengthening its facilities for used vehicles.
From April this year, its storage yard totalled 720,000 square metres.
New heat-treatment facilities have been added in the Shiomi and Sukematsu yards, which have specialised facilities for vehicle inspection and machinery.
“The delegation has now returned to Japan, satisfied that it has put its case for trade liberalisation effectively and clearly,” Philpot says.
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