Hemmed in and battling congestion, Australian ports are in a state of flux, as Dave MacIntyre and Iain MacIntyre report.

Congestion nationwide, increased stevedoring competition in Sydney and Brisbane, and controversial channel deepening in Melbourne together add up to a challenging time for Australian ports.Many of the nation’s container ports face space constraints, not just in the areas for physical expansion but in realising that much port land could command exceptional prices when used for other purposes. While in the bulk trades, some Australian ports are struggling to keep pace with the queues of vessels, fuelled by Asian demand.