How AustralianSuper invests in the infrastructure behind everyday life

26 October 2026

From pantry supplies to the car in the driveway, many of the goods that millions of Australians rely on have something in common: they have passed through NSW Ports. NSW Ports operates Port Botany and Port Kembla, the primary trade gateways for NSW and critical links in Australia's supply chain.

Most people will never see a container unloaded from a ship, watch grain move through a bulk terminal or follow a vehicle from port to the dealership. Yet goods moving through NSW Ports become part of everyday life in homes, businesses and communities across the country.

Port Botany, Australia’s second largest container terminal, handles almost all container trade into and out of NSW, making it one of Australia's most important trade gateways.

In a typical Sydney household, an estimated 42% of goods have passed through Port Botany alone.¹

Containers arriving at the port carry goods destined for supermarket shelves, distribution centres, retailers, workplaces and homes. Other containers begin the journey in the opposite direction, carrying Australian products to overseas markets. 

Key facts

• Port Botany handles almost all container trade into and out of NSW.
• Around 42% of goods in a typical Sydney household have passed through Port Botany.
• NSW Ports handles around three million containers and 31 million tonnes of bulk goods each year.
• AustralianSuper has been invested in NSW Ports since 2013.

Find out more about what we invest in here

More connected to daily life than you might think

A supermarket delivery may contain goods that arrived through Port Botany. A new appliance may have travelled from the wharf to a distribution centre before reaching a retailer. A car collected from a dealership may have begun its Australian journey at Port Kembla.

Much of that journey happens out of sight. Products move from ship to port, then to warehouses, businesses and retailers before reaching the people who use them.

Port Botany’s terminals connect shipping services with road and rail networks, allowing cargo to move onwards across Sydney and regional NSW. Rail plays a key role in moving freight efficiently to and from the ports, and Port Botany is the only container port in Australia with on-dock rail at every container terminal.

NSW Ports also operates two intermodal terminals in Sydney’s inner west. These terminals act as hubs where cargo is transferred from one mode of transport to another, supporting the movement of freight between the port and destinations across NSW.

Together, the ports, rail connections, intermodal terminals and logistics assets help move goods from ships to destinations across NSW and beyond. Their importance is not limited to what happens at the wharf. It can also be seen in the businesses, industries and supply chains that depend on those connections every day.

Port Kembla is NSW's vehicle import hub and a major gateway for imports and exports of grain and other bulk commodities.

Many imported vehicles first enter NSW through Port Kembla before moving to dealerships and driveways across the country. The port also supports Australia’s agricultural producers and other industries by connecting them with domestic and global markets.

NSW Ports has a diversified revenue base that spans container trade, the movement of bulk commodities and vehicles, and property assets.

Keeping Australia moving

The essential role NSW Ports plays in the economy is reflected in its scale and reach. It handles around three million containers and 31 million tonnes of bulk goods every year.¹

This contribution extends well beyond the waterfront. NSW Ports estimates that its operations contribute $13.6 billion to the NSW economy each year and support around 65,000 jobs.¹

Port Botany and Port Kembla are a key part of a supply chain that includes importers and exporters retailers, manufacturers and producers. While most people may never see the infrastructure behind the movement of goods, they experience its impact every day through the products they buy.

Trade through Port Botany and Port Kembla supports businesses across transport, logistics, retail, manufacturing and agriculture. These industries depend on reliable connections between producers, suppliers, distribution networks and domestic and international markets.

NSW Ports strongly performance in FY26was supported by higher container volumes, increased property lease revenues and disciplined cost management. Container volumes grew by more than 6%, while the volume of non-container goods moving through Port Botany increased by almost 9%. Dry bulk imports through Port Kembla grew by more than 7%.²

With continuing population growth in NSW and increasing levels of trade, the company is investing in infrastructure and logistics capacity to support future growth. Projects underway include expanding rail capacity, developing further logistics infrastructure and progressing long-term property initiatives across the port estate.

Together, the ports, rail connections, intermodal terminals and logistics assets help move goods to and from ships to destinations across NSW and beyond.

Investing beyond what people can see

AustralianSuper has been invested in NSW Ports since 2013. In FY26, NSW Ports ranked among the top-performing infrastructure assets (real assets) in AustralianSuper's portfolio.

Infrastructure assets such as ports provide services that households, businesses and industries rely on every day. AustralianSuper's investment in NSW Ports is an example of how the Fund can invest in essential infrastructure that supports long-term economic activity and deliver strong long-term returns to members.

Most people won’t think about ports when they unpack groceries, set up a new appliance, furnish a home or collect a car. But NSW Ports helps make those everyday moments possible by connecting goods, businesses and markets.

For AustralianSuper members, the investment in NSW Ports demonstrates how the Fund's scale and long-term investment approach can provide access to essential infrastructure assets that serve communities today and create value into the future.

Read more about AustralianSuper's approach to investing in the Annual Report.