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The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (March 9) released statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the fourth quarter of 2008.
In the fourth quarter of 2008, total port cargo throughput decreased by 6% over a year earlier to 61.3 million tonnes. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo decreased by 6% and 5% over a year earlier to 34.4 million tonnes and 26.9 million tonnes respectively.
For 2008 as a whole, total port cargo throughput increased by 6% over a year earlier to 259.4 million tonnes. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo rose by 3% and 9% to 146.0 million tonnes and 113.4 million tonnes respectively.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput decreased by 10% in the fourth quarter of 2008. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo decreased by 8% and 12% 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 cargo decreased by 11% over a year earlier to 41.6 million tonnes, while river cargo rose by 8% to 19.7 million tonnes in the fourth quarter of 2008.
Within inward port cargo, imports and inward transhipment decreased by 5% and 8% in the fourth quarter of 2008 over a year earlier to 18.6 million tonnes and 15.8 million tonnes respectively. For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) recorded virtually no change over a year earlier to 10.7 million tonnes, while outward transhipment decreased by 8% to 16.2 million tonnes.
Within port cargo, seaborne and river cargo increased by 1% and 17% in 2008 over 2007 to 180.0 million tonnes and 79.4 million tonnes respectively.
Within inward port cargo, imports recorded virtually no change in 2008 over 2007 to 76.3 million tonnes, while inward transhipment rose by 7% to 69.7 million tonnes. For outward port cargo, exports and outward transhipment increased by 18% and 4% to 43.0 million tonnes and 70.4 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 fourth quarter of 2008 with the fourth quarter of 2007, double-digit changes were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Vietnam (+40%), Taiwan (-31%), Malaysia (-25%), Singapore (-17%) and Japan (-11%). Over the same period, double-digit changes were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Japan (+12%), Taiwan (-51%), Singapore (-26%), Thailand (-18%), Vietnam (-16%), Malaysia (-14%) and the United States of America (-12%).
Comparing 2008 with 2007, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Vietnam (+54%), Indonesia (+21%), the United States of America (+15%), Korea (+13%) and Thailand (+10%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Singapore (-29%), Malaysia (-17%) and Taiwan (-12%). 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 (+22%), the mainland of China (+21%) and Thailand (+13%).
The principal commodities for inward and outward port cargo are shown in Table 4 and Table 5.
Comparing the fourth quarter of 2008 with the fourth quarter of 2007, double-digit changes were recorded in inward port cargo of "petroleum, petroleum products and related materials; and coal, coke and briquettes" (+11%), "iron and steel" (-32%), "machinery" (-16%) and "artificial resins and plastic materials" (-13%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit changes were recorded for "live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products" (+75%), "stone, sand and gravel; metalliferous ores and metal scrap; and pulp and waste paper" (+19%), "iron and steel" (-21%) and "machinery" (-14%).
Comparing 2008 with 2007, double-digit changes were recorded in inward port cargo of "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+23%), "stone, sand and gravel; metalliferous ores and metal scrap; and pulp and waste paper" (+11%) and "iron and steel" (-15%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit changes were recorded for "live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products" (+67%), "stone, sand and gravel; metalliferous ores and metal scrap; and pulp and waste paper" (+58%), "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+10%) and "iron and steel" (-10%).
Containers
In the fourth quarter of 2008, the port of Hong Kong handled 5.8 million TEUs of containers, representing a decrease of 8% over a year earlier. Within this total, laden containers decreased by 10% to 4.7 million TEUs, while empty containers rose by 3% to 1.1 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward and outward containers decreased by 9% and 10% to 2.3 million TEUs and 2.4 million TEUs respectively.
In 2008, the port of Hong Kong handled 24.5 million TEUs of containers, representing an increase of 2% over 2007. Within this total, laden containers grew by 2% to 20.3 million TEUs, while empty containers also increased by 3% to 4.2 million TEUs. For laden containers, inward containers rose by 3% to 9.8 million TEUs, while outward containers recorded virtually no change to 10.4 million TEUs.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput decreased by 13% in the fourth quarter of 2008. Within this total, inward and outward laden containers decreased by 15% and 12% respectively.
Seaborne and river laden containers decreased by 9% and 10% in the fourth quarter of 2008 over a year earlier to 3.6 million TEUs and 1.2 million TEUs respectively.
Within inward laden containers, imports and inward transhipment decreased by 10% and 9% in the fourth quarter of 2008 over a year earlier to 0.8 million TEUs and 1.4 million TEUs respectively. For outward laden containers, exports and outward transhipment decreased by 15% and 7% to 0.9 million TEUs and 1.5 million TEUs respectively.
In 2008, seaborne and river laden containers increased by 1% and 3% over 2007 to 15.1 million TEUs and 5.2 million TEUs respectively.
Within inward laden containers, imports decreased by 2% in 2008 over 2007 to 3.5 million TEUs, while inward transhipment rose by 6% to 6.3 million TEUs. For outward laden containers, exports decreased by 5% to 3.9 million TEUs, while outward transhipment went up by 4% to 6.5 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 fourth quarter of 2008, the number of ocean vessel arrivals decreased by 8% over a year earlier to 8 630, with the total capacity decreasing by 1% to 96.8 million net registered tons. Over the same period, the number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 7% to 43 950, with the total capacity decreasing by 5% to 23.6 million net registered tons.
In 2008, the number of ocean vessel arrivals decreased by 3% over a year earlier to 35 850, with the total capacity increasing by 3% to 385.4 million net registered tons. Over the same period, the number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 4% over a year earlier to 181 510, with the total capacity decreasing by 5% to 97.6 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 October - December 2008 issue of the report, in download version, will be available by the end of March. 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 March. 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, March 9, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:32
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