automation

Current Digital Gap in Bulk Sector

The bulk handling industry continues to trail behind container terminals when it comes to digitalisation. While container facilities have rapidly adopted advanced systems and automation, bulk terminals remain slower in integrating digital tools into their operations.

Reasons Behind Slow Adoption

1. Current Situation & Motivation
Napier Port, located on the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island, currently uses reachstackers and forklift trucks (FLTs) to move containers between quay and yard.This system is diesel-intensive and, according to the port, inefficient as throughput has been growing (230,000 TEU in FY 2024, with a 13.9% increase in container volume in the first half of 2025).