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The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (September 8) released statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the second quarter of 2009.
In the second quarter of 2009, total port cargo throughput decreased by 9% over a year earlier to 61.7 million tonnes. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo dropped by 6% and 13% over a year earlier to 35.7 million tonnes and 26.0 million tonnes respectively.
For the first half of 2009, total port cargo throughput decreased by 13% over a year earlier to 113.9 million tonnes. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo dropped by 11% and 15% to 66.1 million tonnes and 47.8 million tonnes respectively.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput increased by 11% in the second quarter of 2009. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo went up by 12% and 10% 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 dropped by 12% over a year earlier to 41.3 million tonnes, while river cargo decreased by 3% to 20.4 million tonnes in the second quarter of 2009.
Within inward port cargo, imports and inward transhipment decreased by 3% and 10% in the second quarter of 2009 over a year earlier to 19.3 million tonnes and 16.4 million tonnes respectively. For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) and outward transhipment also decreased by 18% and 11% over a year earlier to 9.8 million tonnes and 16.3 million tonnes respectively.
Within port cargo, seaborne and river cargo decreased by 17% and 2% in the first half of 2009 over a year earlier to 76.1 million tonnes and 37.8 million tonnes respectively.
Within inward port cargo, imports decreased by 7% in the first half of 2009 over a year earlier to 36.4 million tonnes, while inward transhipment dropped by 16% to 29.7 million tonnes. For outward port cargo, exports and outward transhipment decreased by 12% and 17% to 18.5 million tonnes and 29.3 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 second quarter of 2009 with the second quarter of 2008, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in the mainland of China (-24%), Japan (-22%), Indonesia (-17%), Taiwan (-13%) and Korea (-12%). On the other hand, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Australia (+58%), Singapore (+54%) and the United States of America (+13%) Over the same period, decreases were registered in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in most main countries/territories of discharge, with the three most significant decreases recorded for Taiwan (-45%), Thailand (-39%) and the United States of America (-32%).
Comparing the first half of 2009 with the same period in 2008, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Taiwan (-24%), Japan (-24%), the mainland of China (-22%), Korea (-17%) and Indonesia (-12%). On the other hand, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Australia (+57%), Singapore (+23%) and Malaysia (+20%). Over the same period, decreases were registered in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in most main countries/territories of discharge, with the three most significant decreases recorded for Taiwan (-52%), Thailand (-46%) and Germany (-31%).
The principal commodities for inward and outward port cargo are shown in Table 4 and Table 5.
Comparing the second quarter of 2009 with the second quarter of 2008, double-digit changes were recorded in inward port cargo of "iron and steel" (-36%), "machinery" (-24%) and "petroleum, petroleum products and related materials; and coal, coke and briquettes" (+15%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit changes were recorded for "iron and steel" (-33%), "machinery" (-31%), "live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products" (-20%) and "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (-11%).
Comparing the first half of 2009 with the same period in 2008, double-digit changes were recorded in inward port cargo of "iron and steel" (-44%) and "machinery" (-27%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit changes were recorded for "iron and steel" (-40%), "machinery" (-32%) and "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (-14%).
Containers
In the second quarter of 2009, the port of Hong Kong handled 5.2 million TEUs of containers, representing a decrease of 17% over a year earlier. Within this total, laden containers decreased by 15% to 4.5 million TEUs, while empty containers dropped by 27% to 0.8 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward containers decreased by 12% to 2.2 million TEUs and outward containers also dropped by 17% to 2.2 million TEUs.
In the first half of 2009, the port of Hong Kong handled 9.8 million TEUs of containers, representing a decrease of 18% over the same period in 2008. Within this total, laden containers decreased by 18% to 8.3 million TEUs, while empty containers dropped by 20% to 1.6 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward containers decreased by 16% to 4.1 million TEUs and outward containers also dropped by 19% to 4.1 million TEUs.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput increased by 7% in the second quarter of 2009. Within this total, inward and outward laden containers rose by 10% and 5% respectively.
Seaborne and river laden containers decreased by 17% and 9% in the second quarter of 2009 over a year earlier to 3.2 million TEUs and 1.3 million TEUs respectively.
Within inward laden containers, imports and inward transhipment decreased by 13% and 12% in the second quarter of 2009 over a year earlier to 0.8 million TEUs and 1.4 million TEUs respectively. For outward laden containers, exports and outward transhipment decreased by 24% and 13% to 0.8 million TEUs and 1.4 million TEUs respectively.
In the first half of 2009, seaborne and river laden containers decreased by 20% and 11% over the same period in 2008 to 6.0 million TEUs and 2.3 million TEUs respectively.
Within inward laden containers, imports and inward transhipment decreased by 14% and 17% in the first half of 2009 over a year earlier to 1.5 million TEUs and 2.6 million TEUs respectively. For outward laden containers, exports and outward transhipment decreased by 23% and 17% to 1.5 million TEUs and 2.7 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
In the second quarter of 2009, the number of ocean vessel arrivals decreased by 6% over a year earlier to 8 320, with the total capacity recording virtually no change at 95.0 million net registered tons. Over the same period, the number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 5% to 43 130, with the total capacity increasing by 1% to 24.7 million net registered tons.
In the first half of 2009, the number of ocean vessel arrivals decreased by 14% over a year earlier to 15 840, with the total capacity decreasing by 3% to 189.5 million net registered tons. Over the same period, the number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 8% over a year earlier to 84 470, with the total capacity decreasing by 4% to 47.4 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 April - June 2009 issue of the report, in download version, will be available by the end of September. 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.jsp).
Print version of this publication will also be available for sale at HK$73 per issue by the end of September. 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/Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:30
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