*********************************************************
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (June 7) released statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the first quarter of 2010.
In the first quarter of 2010, total port cargo throughput increased by 20% over a year earlier to 62.8 million tonnes. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo rose by 18% and 23% to 36.0 million tonnes and 26.7 million tonnes respectively.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput increased by 3% in the first quarter of 2010. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo went up by 2% and 5% 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 increased by 21% over a year earlier to 42.1 million tonnes, while river cargo also rose by 18% to 20.6 million tonnes in the first quarter of 2010.
Within inward port cargo, imports and inward transhipment increased by 8% and 32% in the first quarter of 2010 over a year earlier to 18.6 million tonnes and 17.4 million tonnes respectively. For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) and outward transhipment also increased by 8% and 33% over a year earlier to 9.5 million tonnes and 17.3 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 2010 with the first quarter of 2009, 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 Vietnam (+49%), the United States of America (+35%) and the mainland of China (+27%). Over the same period, increases were registered in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in all main countries/territories of discharge, with the three most significant increases recorded for Taiwan (+117%), Thailand (+108%) and Korea (+68%).
The principal commodities for inward and outward port cargo are shown in Table 4 and Table 5.
Comparing the first quarter of 2010 with the first quarter of 2009, double-digit increases were recorded in inward port cargo of "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+64%), "iron and steel" (+45%), "machinery" (+31%), "stone, sand and gravel; metalliferous ores and metal scrap; and pulp and waste paper" (+19%) and "artificial resins and plastic materials" (+12%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit increases were recorded for "iron and steel" (+56%), "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+50%), "machinery" (+31%), "live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products" (+25%) and "artificial resins and plastic materials" (+14%).
Containers
In the first quarter of 2010, the port of Hong Kong handled 5.4 million TEUs of containers, representing an increase of 17% over a year earlier. Within this total, laden containers increased by 20% to 4.6 million TEUs, while empty containers also rose by 4% to 0.9 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward containers increased by 21% to 2.3 million TEUs, while outward containers also increased by 20% to 2.3 million TEUs.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput increased by 9% in the first quarter of 2010. Within this total, inward and outward laden containers rose by 10% and 8% respectively.
Seaborne and river laden containers increased by 22% and 16% in the first quarter of 2010 over a year earlier to 3.3 million TEUs and 1.2 million TEUs respectively.
Within inward laden containers, imports and inward transhipment increased by 14% and 25% in the first quarter of 2010 over a year earlier to 0.8 million TEUs and 1.5 million TEUs respectively. For outward laden containers, exports and outward transhipment increased by 11% and 24% to 0.8 million TEUs and 1.5 million TEUs respectively.
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 2010, the number of ocean vessel arrivals increased by 6% over a year earlier to 7 990, with the total capacity decreasing by 2% to 92.6 million net registered tons. Over the same period, the number of river vessel arrivals increased by 4% over a year earlier to 43 020, with the total capacity increasing by 12% to 25.5 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 January - March 2010 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/statistical_report/external_trade/index.jsp).
Print version of this publication will also be available for sale at HK$75 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/Monday, June 7, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:30
NNNN
