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The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (December 8) released statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the third quarter of 2008.
In the third quarter of 2008, total port cargo throughput increased by 9% over a year earlier to 67.3 million tonnes. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo went up by 7% and 12% over a year earlier to 37.2 million tonnes and 30.1 million tonnes respectively.
For the first nine months of 2008, total port cargo throughput increased by 10% over a year earlier to 198.1 million tonnes. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo rose by 7% and 14% to 111.6 million tonnes and 86.5 million tonnes respectively.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput recorded virtually no change in the third quarter of 2008. Within this total, inward port cargo decreased by 1%, while outward port cargo rose by 1%. 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 grew by 3% and 25% over a year earlier to 46.2 million tonnes and 21.1 million tonnes respectively in the third quarter of 2008.
Within inward port cargo, imports and inward transhipment increased by 2% and 12% in the third quarter of 2008 over a year earlier to 18.7 million tonnes and 18.6 million tonnes respectively. For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) and outward transhipment went up by 20% and 8% over a year earlier to 11.1 million tonnes and 18.9 million tonnes respectively.
Within port cargo, seaborne and river cargo increased by 6% and 20% in the first nine months of 2008 over a year earlier to 138.3 million tonnes and 59.8 million tonnes respectively.
Within inward port cargo, imports increased by 2% in the first nine months of 2008 over a year earlier to 57.7 million tonnes, while inward transhipment rose by 13% to 53.9 million tonnes. For outward port cargo, exports and outward transhipment increased by 26% and 8% to 32.3 million tonnes and 54.2 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 2008 with the third quarter of 2007, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Vietnam (+88%), Indonesia (+49%), the United States of America (+35%) and Japan (+13%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Singapore (-42%), Taiwan (-28%) and Malaysia (-14%). 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 Taiwan (+31%), the mainland of China (+29%) and Malaysia (+29%).
Comparing the first nine months of 2008 with the same period in 2007, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Vietnam (+59%), Indonesia (+34%), the United States of America (+23%), Korea (+15%) and Thailand (+15%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Singapore (-33%) and Malaysia (-15%). Over the same period, increases were registered in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in almost all main countries/territories of discharge, with the three most significant increases recorded for Malaysia (+39%), Taiwan (+33%) and Thailand (+27%).
The principal commodities for inward and outward port cargo are shown in Table 4 and Table 5.
Comparing the third quarter of 2008 with the third quarter of 2007, double-digit changes were recorded in inward port cargo of "live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products" (+36%), "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+33%), "stone, sand and gravel; metalliferous ores and metal scrap; and pulp and waste paper" (+33%) and "iron and steel"(-15%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit changes were recorded for "stone, sand and gravel; metalliferous ores and metal scrap; and pulp and waste paper" (+79%), "live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products" (+55%), "artificial resins and plastic materials" (+24%), "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+14%), "tools, cutlery, metal household ware and manufactures" (-16%) and "articles of apparel and clothing accessories" (-13%).
Comparing the first nine months of 2008 with the same period in 2007, double-digit changes were recorded in inward port cargo of "live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products" (+44%), "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+29%), "stone, sand and gravel; metalliferous ores and metal scrap; and pulp and waste paper" (+16%) and "iron and steel" (-10%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit changes were recorded for "stone, sand and gravel; metalliferous ores and metal scrap; and pulp and waste paper" (+79%), "live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products" (+65%), "artificial resins and plastic materials" (+14%) and "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+13%).
Containers
In the third quarter of 2008, the port of Hong Kong handled 6.7 million TEUs of containers, representing an increase of 7% over a year earlier. Within this total, laden and empty containers rose by 7% and 9% to 5.5 million TEUs and 1.2 million TEUs respectively. Among laden containers, inward and outward containers grew by 9% and 5% to 2.7 million TEUs and 2.9 million TEUs respectively.
In the first nine months of 2008, the port of Hong Kong handled 18.7 million TEUs of containers, representing an increase of 5% over the same period in 2007. Within this total, laden containers grew by 6% to 15.6 million TEUs, while empty containers increased by 3% to 3.1 million TEUs. For laden containers, inward and outward containers rose by 8% and 4% to 7.6 million TEUs and 8.0 million TEUs respectively.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput increased by 3% in the third quarter of 2008. Within this total, inward and outward laden containers grew by 3% and 2% respectively.
Seaborne and river laden containers rose by 4% and 15% in the third quarter of 2008 over a year earlier to 4.0 million TEUs and 1.5 million TEUs respectively.
Within inward laden containers, imports and inward transhipment increased by 8% and 10% in the third quarter of 2008 over a year earlier to 1.0 million TEUs and 1.7 million TEUs respectively. For outward laden containers, exports increased by 1% to 1.1 million TEUs, while outward transhipment rose by 8% to 1.7 million TEUs.
In the first nine months of 2008, seaborne and river laden containers increased by 5% and 8% over the same period in 2007 to 11.5 million TEUs and 4.1 million TEUs respectively.
Within inward laden containers, imports increased by 1% in the first nine months of 2008 over a year earlier to 2.7 million TEUs, while inward transhipment rose by 12% to 4.9 million TEUs. For outward laden containers, exports decreased by 1% to 3.0 million TEUs, while outward transhipment went up by 8% to 5.0 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 2008, the number of ocean vessel arrivals decreased by 3% over a year earlier to 8 830, with the total capacity decreasing by 1% to 93.5 million net registered tons. Over the same period, the number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 5% to 45 630, with the total capacity decreasing by 1% to 24.7 million net registered tons.
In the first nine months of 2008, the number of ocean vessel arrivals decreased by 2% over a year earlier to 27 230, with the total capacity increasing by 5% to 288.6 million net registered tons. Over the same period, the number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 3% over a year earlier to 137 560, with the total capacity decreasing by 5% 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 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 2008 issue of the report, in download version, 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/index.jsp).
Print version of this publication will also be available for sale at HK$61 per issue by the end of December. 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 Government Bookstore of the Information Services Department (www.bookstore.gov.hk).
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/Monday, December 8, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:30
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