*********************************************************
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (December 7) released statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the third quarter of 2010.
In the third quarter of 2010, total port cargo throughput increased by 5% over a year earlier to 67.8 million tonnes. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo rose by 8% and 2% to 39.1 million tonnes and 28.7 million tonnes respectively.
For the first nine months of 2010, total port cargo throughput increased by 11% over a year earlier to 197.8 million tonnes. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo rose by 12% and 10% to 114.4 million tonnes and 83.4 million tonnes respectively.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput increased by 1% in the third quarter of 2010. Within this total, both inward and outward port cargo went up 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 cargo increased by 8% over a year earlier to 46.6 million tonnes, while river cargo recorded virtually no change at 21.2 million tonnes in the third quarter of 2010.
Within inward port cargo, imports and inward transhipment increased by 3% and 13% in the third quarter of 2010 over a year earlier to 20.1 million tonnes and 19.0 million tonnes respectively. For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) decreased by 9% over a year earlier to 9.4 million tonnes, while outward transhipment rose by 9% to 19.3 million tonnes.
Within port cargo, seaborne and river cargo increased by 13% and 6% in the first nine months of 2010 over a year earlier to 135.0 million tonnes and 62.9 million tonnes respectively.
Within inward port cargo, imports and inward transhipment increased by 5% and 20% in the first nine months of 2010 over a year earlier to 58.8 million tonnes and 55.6 million tonnes respectively. For outward port cargo, exports decreased by 3% to 28.0 million tonnes, while outward transhipment increased by 18% to 55.4 million tonnes.
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 third quarter of 2010 with the third quarter of 2009, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Japan (+25%), the mainland of China (+23%) and Malaysia (+13%). On the other hand, a double-digit decrease was recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Vietnam (-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 Indonesia (+66%), Korea (+54%) and Malaysia (+45%).
Comparing the first nine months of 2010 with the same period in 2009, double-digit increases were registered in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in the mainland of China (+30%), Japan (+28%), Malaysia (+16%) and Vietnam (+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 Thailand (+57%), Indonesia (+54%) and Malaysia (+51%).
The principal commodities for inward and outward port cargo are shown in Table 4 and Table 5.
Comparing the third quarter of 2010 with the third quarter of 2009, double-digit increases were recorded in inward port cargo of "machinery" (+39%) and "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+25%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit changes were recorded for "machinery" (+31%), "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+28%), "live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products" (+26%), "stone, sand and gravel; metalliferous ores and metal scrap; and pulp and waste paper" (-21%) and "artificial resins and plastic materials" (-15%).
Comparing the first nine months of 2010 with the same period in 2009, double-digit increases were recorded in inward port cargo of "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+44%), "machinery" (+35%) and "iron and steel" (+29%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit changes were recorded for "live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products" (+36%), "machinery" (+31%), "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+31%), "iron and steel" (+28%) and "stone, sand and gravel; metalliferous ores and metal scrap; and pulp and waste paper" (-12%).
Containers
In the third quarter of 2010, the port of Hong Kong handled 6.2 million TEUs of containers, representing an increase of 11% over a year earlier. Within this total, laden containers increased by 9% to 5.2 million TEUs, while empty containers also rose by 19% to 1.0 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward containers increased by 10% to 2.5 million TEUs, while outward containers also rose by 8% to 2.7 million TEUs.
In the first nine months of 2010, the port of Hong Kong handled 17.6 million TEUs of containers, representing an increase of 14% over the same period in 2009. Within this total, laden containers went up by 14% to 14.9 million TEUs, while empty containers also increased by 15% to 2.8 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward containers increased by 15% to 7.4 million TEUs, while outward containers also rose by 13% to 7.5 million TEUs.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput decreased by 2% in the third quarter of 2010. Within this total, inward laden containers dropped by 3%, while outward laden containers recorded virtually no change.
Both seaborne and river laden containers increased by 9% in the third quarter of 2010 over a year earlier to 3.8 million TEUs and 1.4 million TEUs respectively.
Within inward laden containers, imports and inward transhipment increased by 4% and 14% in the third quarter of 2010 over a year earlier to 0.9 million TEUs and 1.7 million TEUs respectively. For outward laden containers, exports and outward transhipment increased by 6% and 10% to 0.9 million TEUs and 1.8 million TEUs respectively.
In the first nine months of 2010, seaborne and river laden containers increased by 15% and 10% over the same period in 2009 to 10.8 million TEUs and 4.0 million TEUs respectively.
Within inward laden containers, imports and inward transhipment increased by 8% and 18% in the first nine months of 2010 over a year earlier to 2.5 million TEUs and 4.9 million TEUs respectively. For outward laden containers, exports and outward transhipment increased by 8% and 16% to 2.5 million TEUs and 5.0 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 third quarter of 2010, the number of ocean vessel arrivals decreased by 6% over a year earlier to 8 220, with the total capacity increasing by 12% to 105.2 million net registered tons. Over the same period, the number of river vessel arrivals increased by 4% over a year earlier to 45 790, with the total capacity increasing by 15% to 28.6 million net registered tons.
In the first nine months of 2010, the number of ocean vessel arrivals decreased by 2% over a year earlier to 24 230, with the total capacity increasing by 4% to 296.1 million net registered tons. Over the same period, the number of river vessel arrivals increased by 4% over a year earlier to 133 340, with the total capacity increasing by 12% to 81.1 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 July – September 2010 issue of the report, in download version, will be available by the end of December. 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 December. 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/Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:35
NNNN
