Record Chinese car sales behind surge in biosecurity risks, delays at Australian ports

Wait times for new cars are being extended because a record number of motor vehicles – primarily from China – are causing biosecurity bottlenecks at ports around Australia and delaying shipments of uncontaminated cars, exclusive data has revealed.

The Federal Government has for the first time released detailed information that shows the source countries of the biggest biosecurity threats in the automotive sector – and new motor vehicles from China top the list.

Data originally published by The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald – which, as with Drive, are part of the Nine media group – shows almost 11,000 cars arriving from China last year required decontamination from biosecurity risks such as exotic snails, seeds and stink bugs.

This is more than double the number of cars from the next highest source of pests on the list, Thailand (4200), which is where most utes sold in Australia – such as the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max, Mazda BT-50, Mitsubishi Triton and Nissan Navara – are manufactured.

Spain (3900) and Japan (3700) were the next highest sources of biosecurity hazards on new motor vehicles last year, according to Federal Government data. 

However, Chinese cars had the highest likelihood of biosecurity hazards among the Top Five source countries for new motor vehicles in Australia.

The most recent Federal Government data shows 1 per cent of new cars from Japan (Australia’s largest source of motor vehicles) required decontamination on arrival at local ports, compared to 1.7 per cent of new cars from Thailand (Australia’s second-largest source of motor vehicles), and 7.3 per cent of new cars from China (Australia’s fourth-largest source of motor vehicles).

The third-largest source of motor vehicles in Australia – South Korea, where Hyundai and Kia cars are made – was not listed on the Federal Government biosecurity charts.

Five years ago, Chinese cars accounted for 1 per cent of new motor vehicle sales in Australia. Last year, Chinese cars accounted for 11.3 per cent of new motor vehicle deliveries locally.

Chinese-manufactured cars currently being shipped to Australia include vehicles from MG, Great Wall Motors Haval, LDV, BYD, Tesla and Polestar, the Chinese-owned offshoot of Volvo.

Although the Federal Government did not outline each affected automotive brand, at least one major Chinese manufacturer, MG, last year took the extra-ordinary step of reloading cars onto a ship and sending them back to China to be treated for pests – before the same vehicles returned to Australia at a later date.  

As exclusively reported by Drive earlier this year – even though the crisis has only recently gained mainstream media attention – new-car wait times have been further delayed by shipping bottlenecks caused by a spike in the number of vehicles arriving with biosecurity risks.

While it takes about 24 hours – working around the clock – to unload a ship carrying approximately 3000 vehicles, decontamination is a slow process.

Stevedores have told Drive each decontamination station can only process a maximum of six to nine vehicles per hour – about 150 to 220 cars in a 24-hour period.

Contrary to perception, only affected vehicles – and those parked near them on the ship – require decontamination.

However, uncontaminated shipments of new cars are being forced to wait offshore until there is enough time and space to unload them on the docks.

It means clean cars and without biosecurity risks – whose manufacturers have taken extra precautions to clean vehicles before being loaded onto a ship bound for Australia – are being caught up in the latest delays at ports around Australia.

The ongoing crisis has prompted Federal Agriculture Minister, Murray Watt, to urge car companies “to start ensuring vehicles are cleaned before they are put on ships bound for Australia.”

Minister Watt told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald the car industry needed to do more to avoid a repeat of the “explosion in the number of contaminated cars”.

“We obviously can’t let contaminated cars in, it’s a biosecurity risk,” Minister Watt told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.

“Frankly, this problem could stop tomorrow if car makers do their job and make sure that they’re presenting clean (vehicles) at the borders.

“I’d certainly hope that over this calendar year, we can make some real improvements.”

The number of new cars requiring decontamination rose by a staggering 88 per cent over the past year, from 17,700 detections in 2021 to 33,300 biosecurity risks in 2022, The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald reported, citing Federal Government data.

Echoing information unearthed by Drive earlier this year, Minister Watt said the spike in pests on imported cars could be attributed to new motor vehicles sitting in paddocks and other outdoor areas overseas “picking up all sorts of things” while waiting to be loaded onto ships bound for Australia.

Minister Watt said: “I think all of us have been a little surprised by the sheer number of contaminated vehicles that have started arriving, but I wouldn’t say unprepared.”

The Minister also noted Australia’s biosecurity system was under pressure because of the “explosion in the number of risks that we’re seeing”.

“Governments have a responsibility but risk creators, such as (vehicle) importers, also have a responsibility to do the right thing,” said Minister Watt.

A statement from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries – the peak Canberra-based lobby group for car manufacturers – said: “Car makers are aware customers are impacted, which is why all participants – government, port authorities, terminal operators, and car makers – are continuing to work together to move vehicles as quickly as possible while ensuring Australia’s biosecurity borders remain protected.”