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The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (June 9) released statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the first quarter of 2011.
In the first quarter of 2011, total port cargo throughput recorded virtually no change over a year earlier at 62.7 million tonnes. Within this total, both inward and outward port cargo recorded virtually no change at 35.9 million tonnes and 26.8 million tonnes respectively.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput decreased by 4% in the first quarter of 2011. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo decreased by 5% 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 cargo increased by 3% over a year earlier to 43.2 million tonnes, while river cargo decreased by 6% to 19.5 million tonnes in the first quarter of 2011.
Within inward port cargo, imports decreased by 2% in the first quarter of 2011 over a year earlier to 18.3 million tonnes, while inward transhipment increased by 1% to 17.6 million tonnes. For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) decreased by 3% over a year earlier to 9.2 million tonnes, while outward transhipment increased by 2% to 17.6 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 2011 with the first quarter of 2010, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Indonesia (+17%), Korea (+15%), Vietnam (+15%) and Malaysia (+12%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in the United States of America (-16%) and Singapore (-15%). Over the same period, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Indonesia (+62%), the Philippines (+16%), Malaysia (+15%) and Vietnam (+11%). On the other hand, a double-digit decrease was recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in the United States of America (-17%).
The principal commodities for inward and outward port cargo are shown in Table 4 and Table 5.
Comparing the first quarter of 2011 with the first quarter of 2010, a double-digit decrease was recorded in inward port cargo of "stone, sand and gravel; metalliferous ores and metal scrap; and pulp and waste paper" (-11%). As for outward port cargo, a double-digit increase was recorded for "live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products" (+54%).
Containers
In the first quarter of 2011, the port of Hong Kong handled 5.5 million TEUs of containers, representing an increase of 1% over a year earlier. Within this total, laden containers recorded virtually no change at 4.6 million TEUs, while empty containers rose by 5% to 0.9 million TEUs. Among laden containers, both inward and outward containers recorded virtually no change at 2.3 million TEUs.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput decreased by 2% in the first quarter of 2011. Within this total, inward and outward laden containers decreased by 4% and 1% respectively.
Seaborne laden containers recorded virtually no change at 3.3 million TEUs in the first quarter of 2011 over a year earlier, while river laden containers decreased by 1% to 1.2 million TEUs.
Within inward laden containers, imports decreased by 6% to 0.7 million TEUs in the first quarter of 2011 over a year earlier, while inward transhipment increased by 3% to 1.6 million TEUs. For outward laden containers, exports decreased by 4% to 0.7 million TEUs, while outward transhipment increased by 2% to 1.5 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 first quarter of 2011, the number of ocean vessel arrivals recorded virtually no change over a year earlier at 8 030, with the total capacity increasing by 10% to 102.2 million net registered tons. Over the same period, the number of river vessel arrivals also recorded virtually no change at 43 170, with the total capacity increasing by 2% to 26.0 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 January - March 2011 issue of the report will be available by the end of June. The C&SD has recently conducted a review on the printing of statistical publications and has decided that the print version of "Hong Kong Shipping Statistics" will no longer be produced starting from this edition. Nevertheless, the publication is still available for downloading free of charge from the website of the C&SD at www.censtatd.gov.hk/products_and_services/products/publications/statistical_report/external_trade/index_cd_B1020008_dt_detail.jsp .
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/Thursday, June 9, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:31
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