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The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (September 7) released statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the second quarter of 2010.
In the second quarter of 2010, total port cargo throughput increased by 9% over a year earlier to 67.3 million tonnes. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo rose by 10% and 7% to 39.3 million tonnes and 27.9 million tonnes respectively.
For the first half of 2010, total port cargo throughput increased by 14% over a year earlier to 130.0 million tonnes. Within this total, both inward and outward port cargo rose by 14% to 75.4 million tonnes and 54.7 million tonnes respectively.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput recorded virtually no change in the second quarter of 2010. Within this total, inward port cargo went up by 3%, while outward port cargo dropped by 3%. 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 12% over a year earlier to 46.3 million tonnes, while river cargo also rose by 3% to 21.0 million tonnes in the second quarter of 2010.
Within inward port cargo, imports and inward transhipment increased by 4% and 17% in the second quarter of 2010 over a year earlier to 20.1 million tonnes and 19.3 million tonnes respectively. For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) decreased by 6% over a year earlier to 9.1 million tonnes, while outward transhipment rose by 16% to 18.8 million tonnes.
Within port cargo, seaborne and river cargo increased by 16% and 10% in the first half of 2010 over a year earlier to 88.4 million tonnes and 41.6 million tonnes respectively.
Within inward port cargo, imports and inward transhipment increased by 6% and 24% in the first half of 2010 over a year earlier to 38.7 million tonnes and 36.7 million tonnes respectively. For outward port cargo, exports recorded virtually no change at 18.6 million tonnes and outward transhipment increased by 23% to 36.1 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 second quarter of 2010 with the second quarter of 2009, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in the mainland of China (+39%), Malaysia (+38%), Japan (+33%), Thailand (+12%) and Taiwan (+10%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Singapore (-17%), Korea (-13%) and the United States of America (-12%). 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 Netherlands (+69%), Malaysia (+61%) and Thailand (+48%).
Comparing the first half of 2010 with the same period in 2009, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in the mainland of China (+34%), Japan (+30%), Vietnam (+21%), Malaysia (+18%) and Taiwan (+10%). On the other hand, a double-digit decrease was recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Indonesia (-13%). Over the same period, increases were registered in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in all main countries/territories of discharge, with the three most significant increases recorded for Thailand (+74%), Taiwan (+60%) and Malaysia (+56%).
The principal commodities for inward and outward port cargo are shown in Table 4 and Table 5.
Comparing the second quarter of 2010 with the second quarter of 2009, double-digit increases were recorded in inward port cargo of "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+52%), "iron and steel" (+49%) and "machinery" (+35%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit changes were recorded for "live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products" (+56%), "iron and steel" (+36%), "machinery" (+32%), "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+21%), "stone, sand and gravel; metalliferous ores and metal scrap; and pulp and waste paper" (-18%) and "artificial resins and plastic materials" (-18%).
Comparing the first half of 2010 with the same period in 2009, double-digit increases were recorded in inward port cargo of "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+57%), "iron and steel" (+47%) and "machinery" (+33%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit increases were recorded for "iron and steel" (+45%), "live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products" (+42%), "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+33%) and "machinery" (+31%).
Containers
In the second quarter of 2010, the port of Hong Kong handled 6.0 million TEUs of containers, representing an increase of 15% over a year earlier. Within this total, laden containers increased by 13% to 5.1 million TEUs, while empty containers also rose by 21% to 0.9 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward containers increased by 14% to 2.6 million TEUs, while outward containers also rose by 13% to 2.5 million TEUs.
In the first half of 2010, the port of Hong Kong handled 11.4 million TEUs of containers, representing an increase of 16% over the same period in 2009. Within this total, laden containers went up by 17% to 9.6 million TEUs, while empty containers also increased by 12% to 1.8 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward containers increased by 17% to 4.9 million TEUs, while outward containers also rose by 16% to 4.8 million TEUs.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput recorded virtually no change in the second quarter of 2010. Within this total, inward laden containers rose by 1%, while outward laden containers dropped by 2%.
Seaborne and river laden containers increased by 16% and 7% in the second quarter of 2010 over a year earlier to 3.7 million TEUs and 1.4 million TEUs respectively.
Within inward laden containers, imports and inward transhipment increased by 7% and 18% in the second quarter of 2010 over a year earlier to 0.9 million TEUs and 1.7 million TEUs respectively. For outward laden containers, exports and outward transhipment increased by 7% and 16% to 0.8 million TEUs and 1.7 million TEUs respectively.
In the first half of 2010, seaborne and river laden containers increased by 19% and 11% over the same period in 2009 to 7.1 million TEUs and 2.6 million TEUs respectively.
Within inward laden containers, imports and inward transhipment increased by 11% and 21% in the first half of 2010 over a year earlier to 1.7 million TEUs and 3.2 million TEUs respectively. For outward laden containers, exports and outward transhipment increased by 9% and 20% to 1.6 million TEUs and 3.2 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 2010, the number of ocean vessel arrivals decreased by 4% over a year earlier to 8 020, with the total capacity increasing by 4% to 98.3 million net registered tons. Over the same period, the number of river vessel arrivals increased by 3% over a year earlier to 44 530, with the total capacity increasing by 9% to 27.0 million net registered tons.
In the first half of 2010, the number of ocean vessel arrivals increased by 1% over a year earlier to 16 010, with the total capacity also increasing by 1% to 190.9 million net registered tons. Over the same period, the number of river vessel arrivals increased by 4% over a year earlier to 87 550, with the total capacity increasing by 11% to 52.5 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 2010 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$75 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 7, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:30
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