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The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (September 8) released statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the second quarter of 2008.
In the second quarter of 2008, total port cargo throughput increased by 7% over a year earlier to 68.2 million tonnes. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo went up by 2% and 13% over a year earlier to 38.1 million tonnes and 30.1 million tonnes respectively.
For the first half of 2008, total port cargo throughput increased by 10% over a year earlier to 130.8 million tonnes. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo rose by 7% and 15% to 74.4 million tonnes and 56.4 million tonnes respectively.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput increased by 1% in the second quarter of 2008. Within this total, inward port cargo recorded virtually no change, while outward port cargo rose by 1%. 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 2% and 21% over a year earlier to 47.1 million tonnes and 21.1 million tonnes respectively in the second quarter of 2008.
Within inward port cargo, imports decreased by 5% over a year earlier to 19.9 million tonnes, while inward transhipment increased by 12% to 18.2 million tonnes in the second quarter of 2008. For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) and outward transhipment went up by 35% and 3% over a year earlier to 11.8 million tonnes and 18.2 million tonnes respectively.
Within port cargo, seaborne and river cargo increased by 8% and 17% in the first half of 2008 over a year earlier to 92.1 million tonnes and 38.7 million tonnes respectively.
Within inward port cargo, imports increased by 1% in the first half of 2008 over a year earlier to 39.0 million tonnes, while inward transhipment rose by 13% to 35.4 million tonnes. For outward port cargo, exports and outward transhipment increased by 29% and 8% to 21.2 million tonnes and 35.2 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 second quarter of 2008 with the second quarter of 2007, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Korea (+33%) and Thailand (+16%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Singapore (-30%), Indonesia (-12%), Malaysia (-12%) and the Philippines (-10%). Over the same period, increases were registered in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in most main countries/territories of discharge, with the three most significant increases recorded for Malaysia (+48%), the mainland of China (+30%) and Taiwan (+30%).
Comparing the first half of 2008 with the same period in 2007, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Indonesia (+29%), Korea (+19%), Thailand (+18%) and the United States of America (+17%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Singapore (-28%) and Malaysia (-15%). Over the same period, increases were registered in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in almost all main countries/territories of discharge, with the three most significant increases recorded for Malaysia (+46%), Vietnam (+36%) and Taiwan (+34%).
The principal commodities for inward and outward port cargo are shown in Table 4 and Table 5.
Comparing the second quarter of 2008 with the second quarter of 2007, double-digit changes were recorded in inward port cargo of ¡§live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products¡¨ (+57%), ¡§bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials¡¨ (+18%), ¡§vegetables and fruit¡¨ (+14%), ¡§iron and steel¡¨ (-19%) and ¡§tools, cutlery, metal household ware and manufactures¡¨ (-11%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit changes were recorded for ¡§live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products¡¨ (+99%), ¡§stone, sand and gravel; metalliferous ores and metal scrap; and pulp and waste paper¡¨ (+79%), ¡§artificial resins and plastic materials¡¨ (+12%) and ¡§iron and steel¡¨ (-14%).
Comparing the first half of 2008 with the same period in 2007, double-digit changes were recorded in inward port cargo of ¡§live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products¡¨ (+49%) and ¡§bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials¡¨ (+26%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit changes were recorded for ¡§stone, sand and gravel; metalliferous ores and metal scrap; and pulp and waste paper¡¨ (+78%), ¡§live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products¡¨ (+72%), ¡§bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials¡¨ (+13%) and ¡§iron and steel¡¨ (-10%).
Containers
In the second quarter of 2008, the port of Hong Kong handled 6.3 million TEUs of containers, representing an increase of 2% over a year earlier. Within this total, laden and empty containers rose by 3% and 1% to 5.2 million TEUs and 1.0 million TEUs respectively. Among laden containers, inward and outward containers grew by 5% and 1% to 2.6 million TEUs and 2.7 million TEUs respectively.
In the first half of 2008, the port of Hong Kong handled 12.0 million TEUs of containers, representing an increase of 4% over the same period in 2007. Within this total, laden containers grew by 5% to 10.1 million TEUs, while empty containers recorded virtually no change at 2.0 million TEUs. For laden containers, inward and outward containers rose by 7% and 4% to 4.9 million TEUs and 5.1 million TEUs respectively.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput recorded virtually no change in the second quarter of 2008. Within this total, inward laden containers increased by 3%, while outward laden containers decreased by 3%.
Seaborne and river laden containers grew by 2% and 5% in the second quarter of 2008 over a year earlier to 3.8 million TEUs and 1.4 million TEUs respectively.
Within inward laden containers, imports decreased by 3% in the second quarter of 2008 over a year earlier to 0.9 million TEUs, while inward transhipment increased by 10% to 1.6 million TEUs. For outward laden containers, exports decreased by 1% to 1.0 million TEUs, while outward transhipment rose by 2% to 1.7 million TEUs.
In the first half of 2008, seaborne and river laden containers increased by 6% and 4% over the same period in 2007 to 7.5 million TEUs and 2.6 million TEUs respectively.
Within inward laden containers, imports decreased by 2% in the first half of 2008 over a year earlier to 1.8 million TEUs, while inward transhipment rose by 13% to 3.2 million TEUs. For outward laden containers, exports decreased by 3% to 1.9 million TEUs, while outward transhipment went up by 8% to 3.2 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 second quarter of 2008, the number of ocean vessel arrivals decreased by 3% over a year earlier to 8 900, with the total capacity increasing by 4% to 95.4 million net registered tons. Over the same period, the number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 5% to 45 570, with the total capacity decreasing by 4% to 24.4 million net registered tons.
In the first half of 2008, the number of ocean vessel arrivals decreased by 1% over a year earlier to 18 390, with the total capacity increasing by 8% to 195.1 million net registered tons. Over the same period, the number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 2% over a year earlier to 91 930, with the total capacity decreasing by 6% to 49.4 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
More detailed statistics on port cargo, containers and vessels are contained in the quarterly report ¡§Hong Kong Shipping Statistics¡¨.
The April - June 2008 issue of the report, in download version, will be available by the end of September. 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 September. 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/Monday, September 8, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:15
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