Boston, MA -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/02/2013 -- This year is set to be a trying one for Australia's shipping sector. Global economic headwinds that proved hard to traverse in 2012 are set to continue in 2013, reflected in our poor forecasts for the country's main ports both this year and over the new forecast period to 2017. The Port of Brisbane will lead the way in terms of tonnage and container throughput annual growth this year (3.92% and 3.50% respectively), and will once again take the crown for overall tonnage - 38.67mn tonnes compared with the port of Melbourne's 34.35mn and Sydney's 31.43mn tonnes.