************************************************************
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (September 6) released statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the second quarter of 2011.
In the second quarter of 2011, total port cargo throughput increased by 9% over a year earlier to 73.4 million tonnes. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo rose by 8% and 11% to 42.5 million tonnes and 30.9 million tonnes respectively.
For the first half of 2011, total port cargo throughput increased by 5% over a year earlier to 136.1 million tonnes. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo rose by 4% and 5% to 78.4 million tonnes and 57.7 million tonnes respectively.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput increased by 10% in the second quarter of 2011. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo went up by 11% and 8% 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 11% over a year earlier to 51.3 million tonnes, while river cargo also rose by 5% to 22.1 million tonnes in the second quarter of 2011.
Within inward port cargo, imports and inward transhipment increased by 3% and 13% in the second quarter of 2011 over a year earlier to 20.7 million tonnes and 21.8 million tonnes respectively. For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) and outward transhipment also increased by 18% and 7% over a year earlier to 10.8 million tonnes and 20.1 million tonnes respectively.
Within port cargo, seaborne cargo increased by 7% in the first half of 2011 over a year earlier to 94.5 million tonnes, while river cargo recorded virtually no change at 41.6 million tonnes.
Within inward port cargo, imports and inward transhipment increased by 1% and 7% in the first half of 2011 over a year earlier to 39.0 million tonnes and 39.4 million tonnes respectively. For outward port cargo, exports and outward transhipment also increased by 7% and 5% to 20.0 million tonnes and 37.7 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 2011 with the second quarter of 2010, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Vietnam (+41%), Indonesia (+24%), Korea (+24%) and the United States of America (+12%). On the other hand, a double-digit decrease was recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Thailand (-19%). Over the same period, increases were registered in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in most main countries/territories of discharge, with the four most significant increases recorded for Indonesia (+55%), Thailand (+40%), Vietnam (+33%) and Korea (+33%).
Comparing the first half of 2011 with the same period in 2010, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Vietnam (+28%), Indonesia (+21%) and Korea (+19%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Singapore (-11%) and Thailand (-11%). 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 (+58%), Vietnam (+23%) and the Philippines (+22%).
The principal commodities for inward and outward port cargo are shown in Table 4 and Table 5.
Comparing the second quarter of 2011 with the second quarter of 2010, double-digit increases were recorded in inward port cargo of "stone, sand and gravel; metalliferous ores and metal scrap; and pulp and waste paper" (+13%) and "petroleum, petroleum products and related materials; and coal, coke and briquettes" (+10%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit increases were recorded for "stone, sand and gravel; metalliferous ores and metal scrap; and pulp and waste paper" (+28%), "artificial resins and plastic materials" (+18%) and "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+10%).
Comparing the first half of 2011 with the same period in 2010, double-digit increases were recorded in outward port cargo of "live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products" (+17%) and "stone, sand and gravel; metalliferous ores and metal scrap; and pulp and waste paper" (+12%).
Containers
In the second quarter of 2011, the port of Hong Kong handled 6.4 million TEUs of containers, representing an increase of 7% over a year earlier. Within this total, laden containers increased by 8% to 5.5 million TEUs, while empty containers also rose by 2% to 0.9 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward containers increased by 10% to 2.8 million TEUs, while outward containers also rose by 6% to 2.7 million TEUs.
In the first half of 2011, the port of Hong Kong handled 11.9 million TEUs of containers, representing an increase of 4% over the same period in 2010. Within this total, laden containers went up by 4% to 10.0 million TEUs, while empty containers also increased by 3% to 1.8 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward containers increased by 5% to 5.1 million TEUs, while outward containers also rose by 3% to 4.9 million TEUs.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput increased by 8% in the second quarter of 2011. Within this total, inward and outward laden containers rose by 11% and 5% respectively.
Seaborne and river laden containers increased by 10% and 2% in the second quarter of 2011 over a year earlier to 4.1 million TEUs and 1.4 million TEUs respectively.
Within inward laden containers, imports decreased by 1% in the second quarter of 2011 over a year earlier to 0.9 million TEUs, while inward transhipment increased by 15% to 1.9 million TEUs. For outward laden containers, exports and outward transhipment increased by 3% and 8% to 0.9 million TEUs and 1.8 million TEUs respectively.
In the first half of 2011, seaborne and river laden containers increased by 5% and 1% over the same period in 2010 to 7.4 million TEUs and 2.6 million TEUs respectively.
Within inward laden containers, imports decreased by 3% in the first half of 2011 over a year earlier to 1.6 million TEUs, while inward transhipment increased by 10% to 3.5 million TEUs. For outward laden containers, exports decreased by 1% to 1.6 million TEUs, while outward transhipment increased by 5% to 3.3 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 2011, the number of ocean vessel arrivals increased by 1% over a year earlier to 8 090, with the total capacity also increasing by 6% to 104.4 million net registered tons. Over the same period, the number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 1% over a year earlier to 43 880, with the total capacity increasing by 5% to 28.3 million net registered tons.
In the first half of 2011, the number of ocean vessel arrivals increased by 1% over a year earlier to 16 120, with the total capacity also increasing by 8% to 206.5 million net registered tons. Over the same period, the number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 1% over a year earlier to 87 050, with the total capacity increasing by 3% to 54.3 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 2011 issue of the report 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/statistical_report/external_trade/index_cd_B1020008_dt_detail.jsp).
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, September 6, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:31
NNNN
