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The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (June 6) released statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the first quarter of 2008.
In the first quarter of 2008, total port cargo throughput increased by 14% over a year earlier to 62.6 million tonnes. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo went up by 12% and 17% over a year earlier to 36.3 million tonnes and 26.3 million tonnes respectively.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput increased by 4% in the first quarter of 2008. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo rose by 2% and 7% respectively. The seasonally adjusted series enables more meaningful shorter-term comparison to be made for discerning possible variations in trends.
Port cargo
Within port cargo, seaborne and river cargo grew by 15% and 12% over a year earlier to 45.0 million tonnes and 17.6 million tonnes respectively in the first quarter of 2008.
Within inward port cargo, imports and inward transhipment increased by 10% and 14% over a year earlier to 19.1 million tonnes and 17.1 million tonnes in the first quarter of 2008. For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) and outward transhipment went up by 22% and 14% over a year earlier to 9.3 million tonnes and 17.0 million tonnes respectively.
The detailed port cargo statistics are summarised in Table 1.
The main countries/territories of loading for inward port cargo and countries/territories of discharge for outward port cargo are shown in Table 2 and Table 3 respectively.
Comparing the first quarter of 2008 with the first quarter of 2007, increases were registered in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in most main countries/territories of loading, with the three most significant increases recorded for Indonesia (+133%), the United States of America (+26%) and Thailand (+20%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Singapore (-27%) and Malaysia (-18%). Over the same period, increases were registered in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in all main countries/territories of discharge except the United States of America, with the three most significant increases recorded for Vietnam (+50%), Thailand (+49%) and Malaysia (+44%).
The principal commodities for inward and outward port cargo are shown in Table 4 and Table 5.
Comparing the first quarter of 2008 with the first quarter of 2007, increases were registered in the tonnage of inward port cargo of all principal commodities except ¡§artificial resins and plastic materials¡¨. The three principal commodities having the most significant increases were ¡§live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products¡¨ (+40%), ¡§bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials¡¨ (+37%) and ¡§petroleum, petroleum products and related materials; and coal, coke and briquettes¡¨ (+29%). Over the same period, increases were also registered in the tonnage of outward port cargo of most principal commodities, with those recorded for ¡§stone, sand and gravel; metalliferous ores and metal scrap; and pulp and waste paper¡¨ (+77%), ¡§live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products¡¨ (+40%) and ¡§bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials¡¨ (+22%), being the most substantial.
Containers
In the first quarter of 2008, the port of Hong Kong handled 5.8 million TEUs of containers, representing an increase of 7% over a year earlier. Within this total, laden containers rose by 8% to 4.8 million TEUs, while empty containers recorded virtually no change to 0.9 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward and outward containers grew by 9% and 7% to 2.4 million TEUs and 2.5 million TEUs respectively.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput increased by 1% in the first quarter of 2008. Within this total, inward laden containers recorded virtually no change, while outward laden containers increased by 3%.
Seaborne laden containers grew by 10% in the first quarter of 2008 over a year earlier to 3.6 million TEUs, while river laden containers increased by 4% to 1.2 million TEUs.
Within inward laden containers, imports decreased by 1% in the first quarter of 2008 over a year earlier to 0.8 million TEUs, while inward transhipment increased by 15% to 1.5 million TEUs. For outward laden containers, exports decreased by 4% to 0.9 million TEUs, while outward transhipment went up by 15% to 1.6 million TEUs.
The detailed container statistics are summarised in Table 6.
Port cargo and laden container statistics are compiled from a sample of consignments listed in the cargo manifests supplied by shipping companies and agents to the C&SD.
Vessel arrivals
In the first quarter of 2008, the number of ocean vessel arrivals recorded virtually no change over a year earlier to 9 490, with the total capacity increasing by 14% to 99.7 million net registered tons. Over the same period, the number of river vessel arrivals increased by 2% to 46 360, with the total capacity decreasing by 8% to 25.0 million net registered tons.
The statistics on vessel arrivals in Hong Kong are given in Table 7.
Vessel statistics are compiled by the Marine Department primarily from general declarations submitted by ship masters and authorised shipping agents. Pleasure vessels and fishing vessels plying exclusively within the river trade limits are excluded.
Further information
Starting from the first quarter of 2008, seasonal adjustment of port cargo throughput and laden container throughput is performed using the X-12 ARIMA method to replace the previous X-11 ARIMA method. The seasonally adjusted figures on port cargo throughput and laden container throughput since the first quarter of 2005 have also been revised using the new method. The X-12 ARIMA method is an update to the X-11 ARIMA method with enhanced modelling and diagnostic capabilities. The X-12 ARIMA method has now been a standard method used by statistical offices for performing seasonal adjustment of statistical series in many countries/territories.
More detailed statistics on port cargo, containers and vessels are contained in the quarterly report ¡§Hong Kong Shipping Statistics¡¨.
The January - March 2008 issue of the report, in download version, will be available by the end of June. Users can download this publication free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/products_and_services/products/publications/index.jsp).
Print version of this publication will also be available for sale at HK$61 per issue by the end of June. Purchase can be done in person at the Publications Unit of the C&SD (Address: 19/F Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai; Tel : 2582 3025) or through mail order by returning a completed order form which can be downloaded from the C&SD¡¦s website (www.censtatd.gov.hk/products_and_services/other_services/provision_of_stat/mail_ordering_of_publications/index.jsp). Print version of this publication is also available for sale online at the Government Bookstore of the Information Services Department (www.bookstore.gov.hk).
Enquiries on port cargo and container statistics may be directed to the Shipping and Cargo Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 4889 or email : shipping@censtatd.gov.hk). For enquiries about vessel statistics, readers may contact the Statistics Section under the Planning, Development and Port Security Branch of the Marine Department (Tel: 2852 3661 or email : st-sec@mardep.gov.hk).
Ends/Friday, June 6, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:15
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