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The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (June 6) released statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the first quarter of 2013.
In the first quarter of 2013, total port cargo throughput decreased by 3% compared with a year earlier to 62.5 million tonnes. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo dropped by 1% and 6% to 35.6 million tonnes and 26.9 million tonnes respectively.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput increased by 2% in the first quarter of 2013. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo increased by 1% and 4% 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 5% compared with a year earlier to 42.4 million tonnes, while river cargo increased by 2% to 20.1 million tonnes in the first quarter of 2013.
Within inward port cargo, imports increased by 2% in the first quarter of 2013 compared with a year earlier to 16.9 million tonnes, while inward transhipment decreased by 3% to 18.7 million tonnes. For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) and outward transhipment decreased by 2% and 8% compared with a year earlier to 9.1 million tonnes and 17.8 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 2013 with the first quarter of 2012, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Thailand (+16%) and Vietnam (+12%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Korea (-24%), Japan (-15%), Singapore (-11%) and Indonesia (-10%). For outward port cargo, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage discharged in Thailand (-17%), the United States of America (-13%) and Vietnam (-10%).
The principal commodities for inward and outward port cargo are shown in Table 4 and Table 5 respectively.
Comparing the first quarter of 2013 with the first quarter of 2012, a double-digit increase was recorded in inward port cargo of "iron and steel" (+11%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit changes were recorded for "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+11%), "iron and steel" (-12%), "live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products" (-13%) and "artificial resins and plastic materials" (-14%).
Containers
In the first quarter of 2013, the port of Hong Kong handled 5.3 million TEUs of containers, representing a decrease of 8% compared with a year earlier. Within this total, laden containers decreased by 8% to 4.5 million TEUs, while empty containers also decreased by 7% to 0.8 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward containers decreased by 5% to 2.3 million TEUs, while outward containers also dropped by 10% to 2.2 million TEUs.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput increased by 2% in the first quarter of 2013. Within this total, inward and outward laden containers increased by 1% and 3% respectively.
Seaborne and river laden containers decreased by 8% and 7% in the first quarter of 2013 compared with a year earlier to 3.4 million TEUs and 1.1 million TEUs respectively.
Within inward laden containers, imports and inward transhipment decreased by 7% and 5% in the first quarter of 2013 compared with a year earlier to 0.6 million TEUs and 1.7 million TEUs respectively. For outward laden containers, exports and outward transhipment decreased by 9% and 10% to 0.6 million TEUs and 1.6 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
Comparing the first quarter of 2013 with the first quarter of 2012, the number of ocean vessel arrivals increased by 1% to 7 470, with the total capacity decreasing by 3% to 101.4 million net registered tons. The number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 3% to 38 120, with the total capacity increasing by 1% to 25.4 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 2013 issue of the report 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/hkstat/sub/sp130.jsp?productCode=B1020008).
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/Thursday, June 6, 2013
Issued at HKT 16:30
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