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The Census and Statistics Department today (December 9) released statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the third quarter of 2005.
In the third quarter of 2005, total port cargo throughput increased by 7% over a year earlier to 59.0 million tonnes. Within this total, inward port cargo rose by 7% to 35.8 million tonnes, and outward port cargo went up by 8% to 23.2 million tonnes.
For the first nine months of 2005 as a whole, total port cargo throughput recorded an increase of 3% to 171.0 million tonnes. Within this total, both inward and outward port cargo increased by 3% to 105.1 million tonnes and 65.9 million tonnes respectively.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput rose by 2% in the third quarter of 2005. Within this total, inward port cargo and outward port cargo increased by 3% and 2% 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 and river cargo increased by 4% and 15% over a year earlier to 41.7 million tonnes and 17.3 million tonnes respectively in the third quarter of 2005.
Within inward port cargo, imports increased by 6% over a year earlier to 21.2 million tonnes in the third quarter of 2005, and inward transhipment also went up by 7% to 14.6 million tonnes. For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) and outward transhipment increased by 6% and 10% to 9.7 million tonnes and 13.5 million tonnes respectively.
Within port cargo, seaborne cargo increased by 1% in the first nine months of 2005 over a year earlier to 120.8 million tonnes, while river cargo increased by 9% to 50.2 million tonnes.
Within inward port cargo, imports increased by 1% in the first nine months of 2005 over a year earlier to 63.2 million tonnes, while inward transhipment went up by 6% to 41.9 million tonnes. For outward port cargo, exports increased by 1% to 26.8 million tonnes, while outward transhipment rose by 6% to 39.1 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 2005 with the third quarter of 2004, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Malaysia (+31%), Singapore (+25%), the United States of America (+18%) and the mainland of China (the Mainland) (+11%). On the other hand, a double-digit decrease was recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in the Republic of Korea (-20%). Over the same period, double-digit increases were registered in the tonnage of outward port cargo for discharge in Macao (+93%), Vietnam (+83%), Taiwan (+36%), Japan (+24%), the Mainland (+16%), the Philippines (+14%) and Thailand (+12%). On the other hand, a double-digit decrease was recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in the United States of America (-11%).
Comparing the first nine months of 2005 with the same period in 2004, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Singapore (+25%), Indonesia (+20%), and the Mainland (+10%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Australia (-35%), the Republic of Korea (-28%) and Taiwan (-12%). Over the same period, double-digit increases were registered in the tonnage of outward port cargo for discharge in Macao (+63%), Vietnam (+40%), Thailand (+32%), Japan (+21%), Taiwan (+20%) and the Philippines (+14%).
The principal commodities for inward and outward port cargo are shown in Table 4 and Table 5.
Comparing the third quarter of 2005 with the third quarter of 2004, double-digit increases were recorded in inward port cargo of "metalliferous ores and metal scrap" (+74%), "pulp and waste paper" (+52%), "stone, sand and gravel" (+42%), "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+21%), "coal, coke and briquettes" (+19%) and "iron and steel" (+14%). On the other hand, a double-digit decrease was recorded for "paper and paper products" (-15%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit increases were recorded for "pulp and waste paper" (+66%), "metalliferous ores and metal scrap" (+44%), "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+30%), "artificial resins and plastic materials" (+20%) and "iron and steel" (+11%).
Comparing the first nine months of 2005 with the same period in 2004, double-digit increases were recorded in inward port cargo of "pulp and waste paper" (+51%) ,"bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+24%), "stone, sand and gravel" (+22%), "coal, coke and briquettes" (+16%) and "metalliferous ores and metal scrap" (+13%). On the other hand, a double-digit decrease was recorded for "paper and paper products" (-19%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit increases were recorded for "pulp and waste paper" (+49%), "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+18%) and "metalliferous ores and metal scrap" (+11%). On the other hand, a double-digit decrease was recorded for "paper and paper products" (-14%).
Containers
In the third quarter of 2005, the port of Hong Kong handled 6.0 million TEUs of containers, representing an increase of 4% over a year earlier. Within this total, laden containers went up by 6% to 4.9 million TEUs, while empty containers decreased by 3% to 1.1 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward and outward containers were up by 7% and 4% in the third quarter of 2005 over a year earlier to 2.3 million TEUs and 2.5 million TEUs respectively.
In the first nine months of 2005, the port of Hong Kong handled 16.7 million TEUs of containers, representing an increase of 2% over the same period in 2004. Within this total, both laden and empty containers increased by 2% to 13.7 million TEUs and 3.1 million TEUs respectively. For laden containers, inward containers increased by 4% over a year earlier to 6.7 million TEUs, while outward containers recorded virtually no change over a year earlier to 7.0 million TEUs in the first nine months of 2005.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput went up by 4% in the third quarter of 2005. Within this total, inward laden containers and outward laden containers increased by 5% and 4% respectively.
Seaborne laden containers increased by 2% in the third quarter of 2005 over a year earlier to 3.6 million TEUs, while river laden containers surged by 19% to 1.3 million TEUs.
Within inward laden containers, imports increased by 2% to 1.0 million TEUs, while inward transhipment went up by 11% to 1.4 million TEUs in the third quarter of 2005 over a year earlier. For outward laden containers, exports decreased slightly by 2% to 1.3 million TEUs, while outward transhipment rose by 11% to 1.3 million TEUs.
In the first nine months of 2005 over the same period in 2004, seaborne laden containers decreased slightly by 1% to 10.1 million TEUs, while river laden containers rose by 11% to 3.6 million TEUs.
Within inward laden containers, imports decreased by 3% in the first nine months of 2005 over the same period in 2004 to 2.8 million TEUs, while inward transhipment went up by 10% to 3.9 million TEUs. For outward laden containers, exports decreased by 5% to 3.4 million TEUs, while outward transhipment increased by 5% to 3.6 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 or agents to the Census and Statistics Department.
Vessel arrivals
In the third quarter of 2005, the number of ocean vessel arrivals went up by 15% over a year earlier to 10 210, with the total capacity increasing by 8% to 82.6 million net registered tons. Over the same period, the number of river vessel arrivals rose by 2% to 49 480, with the total capacity increasing by 11% to 26.2 million net registered tons.
In the first nine months of 2005, the number of ocean vessel arrivals was up by 10% over a year earlier to 29 180, with the total capacity increasing by 4% to 239.9 million net registered tons. Over the same period, the number of river vessel arrivals increased by 1% over a year earlier to 142 900, with the total capacity increasing by 9% to 74.1 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 or authorized shipping agents. Pleasure vessels and fishing vessels plying exclusively within the river trade limits are excluded.
Further information
More detailed statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers are contained in the bilingual quarterly report "Hong Kong Shipping Statistics".
The July-September 2005 issue of the report will be on sale by the end of December, at HK$49. Both print version and download version of the publication can be purchased online at the "Statistical Bookstore, Hong Kong" (http://www.statisticalbookstore.gov.hk). Download version of the publication can be purchased at 75% of its original price exclusively at the online Statistical Bookstore. Print version if purchased online is also offered a discount, at 85% of its original price at the Statistical Bookstore as well as the Government Bookstore (http://www.isd.gov.hk/eng/bookorder.htm).
For purchase of print version, this can be done through mail order by returning a completed order form which can be downloaded from the C&SD's website (http://www.censtatd.gov.hk/eng/prod_serv/forms_index.html). Purchase can also be made in person at the Publications Unit of the C&SD (Address : 19/F Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai; Tel.: 2582 3025).
Enquiries on port cargo and container statistics may be directed to the Shipping and Cargo Statistics Section of the Census and Statistics Department at 2582 4889. For enquiries about vessel statistics, readers may contact the Statistics Section, Planning, Development and Port Security Branch of the Marine Department at 2852 3661.
Ends/Friday, December 9, 2005
Issued at HKT 16:19
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