# Port Lyttelton (NZ LYT)

**UN/LOCODE:** NZ LYT  
**Country:** New Zealand  
**Water Body:** South Pacific Ocean  
**Harbor Size:** Large  
**Harbor Type:** Coastal (Breakwater)  
**GPS:** -43.6000, 172.7167

Four container berths backed by some 580 metres of crane rail make Lyttelton (NZ LYT) the largest container operation in New Zealand's South Island, serving Christchurch and the wider Canterbury region. It handled about 432,000 TEU in financial year 2025, down 3.7% year on year, against a capacity raised to roughly 620,000 TEU by the Eastern Development Project completed in 2023. Lyttelton also runs the country's largest coal export facility, with a stockpile of up to 335,000 tonnes; coal shipments fell about a third in FY2025 to around 369,000 tonnes. Alongside boxes and coal it handles bulk cargo, motor vehicles, breakbulk and a growing cruise trade. The port is operated by the Lyttelton Port Company (LPC), which posted a record financial result in 2025 and cut ship turnaround time sharply to 34.8 hours. Hinterland links to Christchurch run by both road and rail, including dedicated rail haulage for coal. For shippers, Lyttelton is the principal deep-sea access point for Canterbury. Regional alternatives include PrimePort Timaru and Port Chalmers (Port Otago) near Dunedin.

## Transit Times & Routes

- [Auckland → Shanghai](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/transit-time/auckland-shanghai)
- [Auckland → Shenzhen](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/transit-time/auckland-shenzhen)
- [Auckland → Guangzhou](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/transit-time/auckland-guangzhou)
- [Auckland → Hong Kong](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/transit-time/auckland-hong-kong)
- [Auckland → Tokyo](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/transit-time/auckland-tokyo)
- [Auckland → Busan](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/transit-time/auckland-busan)

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*Freight Academy — Seaport Profile: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/port-lyttelton-port-nz-lyt](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/port-lyttelton-port-nz-lyt)*

*Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/seaports/en/port-lyttelton-port-nz-lyt](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/seaports/en/port-lyttelton-port-nz-lyt)*

*LLM-Summary (JSON): https://www.freight-academy.com/api/v1/seaports/port-lyttelton-port-nz-lyt/llm-summary?lang=en*