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Statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the third quarter of 2011
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     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (December 6) released statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the third quarter of 2011.

     In the third quarter of 2011, total port cargo throughput increased by 4% over a year earlier to 70.8 million tonnes.  Within this total, inward and outward port cargo rose by 4% and 6% to 40.4 million tonnes and 30.4 million tonnes respectively.

     For the first nine months of 2011, total port cargo throughput increased by 5% over a year earlier to 206.9 million tonnes.  Within this total, inward and outward port cargo went up by 4% and 6% to 118.9 million tonnes and 88.0 million tonnes respectively.

     On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput decreased by 3% in the third quarter of 2011.  Within this total, both inward and outward port cargo dropped by 3%.  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 9% over a year earlier to 50.9 million tonnes, while river cargo decreased by 6% to 19.9 million tonnes in the third quarter of 2011.

     Within inward port cargo, imports increased by 1% in the third quarter of 2011 over a year earlier to 20.2 million tonnes, while inward transhipment also rose by 7% to 20.2 million tonnes.  For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) and outward transhipment increased by 1% and 8% over a year earlier to 9.5 million tonnes and 20.9 million tonnes respectively.

     Within port cargo, seaborne cargo increased by 8% in the first nine months of 2011 over a year earlier to 145.4 million tonnes, while river cargo decreased by 2% to 61.5 million tonnes.

     Within inward port cargo, imports and inward transhipment increased by 1% and 7% in the first nine months of 2011 over a year earlier to 59.2 million tonnes and 59.6 million tonnes respectively.  For outward port cargo, exports and outward transhipment also increased by 5% and 6% to 29.4 million tonnes and 58.6 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 third quarter of 2011 with the third quarter of 2010, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Vietnam (+49%), Indonesia (+24%), Malaysia (+19%), Japan (+16%) and Korea (+10%).  On the other hand, a double-digit decrease was recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Singapore (-11%).  Over the same period, double-digit increases were registered in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Vietnam (+39%), Thailand (+37%), the Philippines (+26%), Indonesia (+24%) and Taiwan (+22%).  On the other hand, a double-digit decrease was recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in the United States of America (-12%).

     Comparing the first nine months of 2011 with the same period in 2010, double-digit increases were registered in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Vietnam (+34%), Indonesia (+22%), Korea (+16%) and Malaysia (+12%).  On the other hand, a double-digit decrease was recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Singapore (-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 (+44%), Vietnam (+28%) and Thailand (+24%).

     The principal commodities for inward and outward port cargo are shown in Table 4 and Table 5.

     Comparing the third quarter of 2011 with the third quarter of 2010, double-digit changes were recorded in inward port cargo of "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+11%) and "iron and steel" (-12%).  As for outward port cargo, double-digit increases were recorded for "live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products" (+12%) and "stone, sand and gravel; metalliferous ores and metal scrap; and pulp and waste paper" (+10%).

     Comparing the first nine months 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" (+16%) and "stone, sand and gravel; metalliferous ores and metal scrap; and pulp and waste paper" (+12%).

Containers

     In the third quarter of 2011, the port of Hong Kong handled 6.4 million TEUs of containers, representing an increase of 2% over a year earlier.  Within this total, laden containers increased by 4% to 5.4 million TEUs, while empty containers decreased by 5% to 1.0 million TEUs.  Among laden containers, inward containers increased by 4% to 2.6 million TEUs, while outward containers also rose by 3% to 2.8 million TEUs.

     In the first nine months of 2011, the port of Hong Kong handled 18.2 million TEUs of containers, representing an increase of 3% over the same period in 2010.  Within this total, laden containers went up by 4% to 15.4 million TEUs, while empty containers recorded virtually no change at 2.8 million TEUs.  Among laden containers, inward containers increased by 5% to 7.7 million TEUs, while outward containers also rose by 3% to 7.7 million TEUs.

     On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput decreased by 5% in the third quarter of 2011.  Within this total, inward and outward laden containers decreased by 7% and 2% respectively.

     Seaborne laden containers increased by 9% in the third quarter of 2011 over a year earlier to 4.1 million TEUs, while river laden containers decreased by 11% to 1.3 million TEUs.

     Within inward laden containers, imports decreased by 4% in the third quarter of 2011 over a year earlier to 0.8 million TEUs, while inward transhipment increased by 8% to 1.8 million TEUs.  For outward laden containers, exports decreased by 8% to 0.9 million TEUs, while outward transhipment increased by 9% to 1.9 million TEUs.

     In the first nine months of 2011, seaborne laden containers increased by 7% over the same period in 2010 to 11.6 million TEUs, while river laden containers decreased by 3% to 3.9 million TEUs.

     Within inward laden containers, imports decreased by 4% in the first nine months of 2011 over a year earlier to 2.4 million TEUs, while inward transhipment increased by 9% to 5.3 million TEUs.  For outward laden containers, exports decreased by 3% to 2.4 million TEUs, while outward transhipment increased by 6% to 5.3 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 third quarter of 2011, the number of ocean vessel arrivals recorded virtually no change over a year earlier at 8 260, with the total capacity increasing by 3% to 108.9 million net registered tons.  Over the same period, the number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 6% over a year earlier to 42 850, with the total capacity also decreasing by 6% to 26.9 million net registered tons.

     In the first nine months of 2011, the number of ocean vessel arrivals increased by 1% over a year earlier to 24 370, with the total capacity also increasing by 7% to 315.4 million net registered tons.  Over the same period, the number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 3% over a year earlier to 129 900, with the total capacity recording virtually no change at 81.2 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 2011 issue of the report 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_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 e-mail: 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 e-mail: st-sec@mardep.gov.hk).

Ends/Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:34

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