The port is dominated by trade in containerised manufactured products and, to a lesser extent, bulk liquid imports including petroleum and natural gas.

With the advent of containerisation in the late 1950s it became clear that Sydney would require additional port facilities to cater for new cargo types.

[8] The Government of New South Wales endorsed the proposal in 1969 and in 1971 an Atkinson International / Leighton Holdings joint venture commenced work on two container terminals to the north, and a bulk liquid wharf and storage area to the south..[9] The bulk liquid terminal was completed in 1979 as a common-user facility for the import of natural gas, oil, petroleum and chemicals.

The A$515 million project included the reclamation of 63 hectares (160 acres) of land with the construction of 1.85 kilometres (1.15 mi) of shipping wharves which will berth five vessels.

The expansion catered for continued growth in demand for imports by intermodal containers and to provide space for a third stevedore for Sydney.

The commission's recommendation proposed that increased demand could be catered for by the two existing stevedores via improvements in technology and logistics.