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The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (June 7) released statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the first quarter of 2007.
In the first quarter of 2007, total port cargo throughput decreased by 2% over a year earlier to 54.9 million tonnes. Within this total, inward port cargo decreased by 7% over a year earlier to 32.4 million tonnes, while outward port cargo rose by 6% to 22.5 million tonnes.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput decreased by 5% in the first quarter of 2007. Within this total, inward port cargo and outward port cargo decreased by 9% and 1% 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 1% over a year earlier to 39.3 million tonnes, while river cargo decreased by 9% to 15.7 million tonnes in the first quarter of 2007.
Within inward port cargo, imports decreased by 16% over a year earlier to 17.4 million tonnes, while inward transhipment increased by 5% to 15.0 million tonnes in the first quarter of 2007. For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) decreased by 11% over a year earlier to 7.7 million tonnes, while outward transhipment went up by 18% to 14.9 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 first quarter of 2007 with the first quarter of 2006, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Australia (+16%), Malaysia (+12%) and Singapore (+10%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Indonesia (-49%) and Thailand (-15%). Over the same period, substantial increases were registered in the tonnage of outward port cargo for discharge in Vietnam (+101%), the Philippines (+50%), the Netherlands (+41%), Malaysia (+39%), Thailand (+24%), Japan (+19%) and Germany (+15%). On the other hand, a double-digit decrease was recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in the United States (-19%).
The principal commodities for inward and outward port cargo are shown in Table 4 and Table 5.
Comparing the first quarter of 2007 with the first quarter of 2006, double-digit increases were recorded in inward port cargo of "metalliferous ores and metal scrap" (+24%) and "petroleum, petroleum products and related materials" (+10%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded for "coal, coke and briquettes" (-63%), "stone, sand and gravel" (-31%), "pulp and waste paper" (-11%) and "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (-11%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit increases were recorded for "vegetables and fruit" (+67%), "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+24%), "iron and steel" (+19%) and "articles of apparel and clothing accessories" (+18%). On the other hand, a double-digit decrease was recorded for "metalliferous ores and metal scrap" (-18%).
Containers
In the first quarter of 2007, the port of Hong Kong handled 5.4 million TEUs of containers, recorded virtually no change over a year earlier. Within this total, laden containers rose by 1% to 4.5 million TEUs, while empty containers decreased by 5% to 0.9 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward containers decreased by 2% over a year earlier to 2.2 million TEUs, while outward containers grew by 5% to 2.3 million TEUs.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput decreased by 5% in the first quarter of 2007, comprising decreases of 9% and 2% respectively for inward and outward laden containers.
Seaborne laden containers rose by 4% over a year earlier to 3.3 million TEUs in the first quarter of 2007, while river laden containers decreased by 6% to 1.2 million TEUs.
Within inward laden containers, imports decreased by 6% over a year earlier to 0.8 million TEUs in the first quarter of 2007, while inward transhipment increased by 1% to 1.3 million TEUs. For outward laden containers, exports decreased by 9% to 0.9 million TEUs, while outward transhipment went up by 16% to 1.4 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 first quarter of 2007, the number of ocean vessel arrivals increased by 2% over a year earlier to 9 520, with the total capacity increasing by 5% to 87.8 million net registered tons. Over the same period, the number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 3% to 46 130, with the total capacity increasing by 1% to 27.3 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 or authorised 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 January-March 2007 issue of the report, in download version, 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/products_and_services/products/publications/index.jsp).
Print version of this publication will also be available for sale at HK$60 per issue by the end of June. 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 Statistical Bookstore (www.statisticalbookstore.gov.hk) and the Government Bookstore of the Information Services Department (www.bookstore.gov.hk). Print versions if purchased online are offered a discount, at 85% of their original prices.
Enquiries on port cargo and container statistics may be directed to the Shipping and Cargo Statistics Section of the C&SD at 2582 4889 or email shipping@censtatd.gov.hk. For enquiries about vessel statistics, readers may contact the Statistics Section, Planning, Development and Port Security Branch of the Marine Department at 2852 3661 or email st-sec@mardep.gov.hk.
Ends/Thursday, June 7, 2007
Issued at HKT 16:15
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