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The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (December 7) released statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the third quarter of 2012.
In the third quarter of 2012, total port cargo throughput decreased by 2% compared with a year earlier to 69.4 million tonnes. Within this total, inward port cargo recorded virtually no change at 40.3 million tonnes, while outward port cargo decreased by 4% to 29.1 million tonnes.
For the first nine months of 2012, total port cargo throughput decreased by 2% compared with a year earlier to 203.0 million tonnes. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo dropped by 1% and 2% to 117.1 million tonnes and 85.9 million tonnes respectively.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput increased by 1% in the third quarter of 2012. Within this total, inward port cargo recorded virtually no change, while outward port cargo went up by 2%. 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 decreased by 5% compared with a year earlier to 48.4 million tonnes, while river cargo increased by 6% to 21.0 million tonnes in the third quarter of 2012.
Within inward port cargo, imports decreased by 1% in the third quarter of 2012 compared with a year earlier to 19.9 million tonnes, while inward transhipment rose by 1% to 20.3 million tonnes. For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) recorded virtually no change at 9.4 million tonnes, while outward transhipment decreased by 6% to 19.7 million tonnes.
Within port cargo, both seaborne and river cargo decreased by 2% in the first nine months of 2012 compared with a year earlier to 143.0 million tonnes and 60.0 million tonnes respectively.
Within inward port cargo, imports decreased by 5% in the first nine months of 2012 compared with a year earlier to 56.5 million tonnes, while inward transhipment increased by 2% to 60.6 million tonnes. For outward port cargo, exports decreased by 8% compared with a year earlier to 27.0 million tonnes, while outward transhipment increased by 1% to 58.9 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 third quarter of 2012 with the third quarter of 2011, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Vietnam (+30%), Singapore (+11%) and Korea (+11%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Thailand (-16%), Japan (-14%), Malaysia (-12%) and Indonesia (-11%). For outward port cargo, double-digit increases were registered in the tonnage discharged in the Philippines (+32%) and Singapore (+22%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Taiwan (-15%), Malaysia (-11%), Indonesia (-11%) and Vietnam (-10%).
Comparing the first nine months of 2012 with the same period in 2011, double-digit changes were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Vietnam (+28%) and Singapore (-10%). For outward port cargo, double-digit increases were registered in the tonnage discharged in Singapore (+44%), the Philippines (+17%) and Thailand (+16%). On the other hand, a double-digit decrease was recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Taiwan (-19%).
The principal commodities for inward and outward port cargo are shown in Table 4 and Table 5.
Comparing the third quarter of 2012 with the third quarter of 2011, double-digit changes were recorded in inward port cargo of "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+22%) and "machinery" (-10%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit decreases were recorded for "live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products" (-16%) and "machinery" (-12%).
Comparing the first nine months of 2012 with the same period in 2011, a double-digit increase was recorded in inward port cargo of "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+16%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit changes were recorded for "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+10%) and "live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products" (-15%).
Containers
In the third quarter of 2012, the port of Hong Kong handled 5.9 million TEUs of containers, representing a decrease of 7% compared with a year earlier. Within this total, laden containers decreased by 8% to 5.0 million TEUs, while empty containers also dropped by 6% to 0.9 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward containers decreased by 6% to 2.5 million TEUs, while outward containers also dropped by 9% to 2.5 million TEUs.
In the first nine months of 2012, the port of Hong Kong handled 17.5 million TEUs of containers, representing a decrease of 4% compared with the same period in 2011. Within this total, laden containers dropped by 4% to 14.9 million TEUs, while empty containers also decreased by 5% to 2.6 million TEUs. Among laden containers, both inward and outward containers decreased by 4% to 7.4 million TEUs.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput decreased by 3% in the third quarter of 2012. Within this total, inward and outward laden containers decreased by 2% and 4% respectively.
Seaborne and river laden containers decreased by 9% and 4% in the third quarter of 2012 compared with a year earlier to 3.7 million TEUs and 1.2 million TEUs respectively.
Within inward laden containers, imports and inward transhipment decreased by 14% and 3% in the third quarter of 2012 compared with a year earlier to 0.7 million TEUs and 1.8 million TEUs respectively. For outward laden containers, both exports and outward transhipment decreased by 9% to 0.8 million TEUs and 1.7 million TEUs respectively.
In the first nine months of 2012, seaborne and river laden containers decreased by 3% and 7% compared with the same period in 2011 to 11.2 million TEUs and 3.6 million TEUs respectively.
Within inward laden containers, imports decreased by 12% in the first nine months of 2012 compared with a year earlier to 2.1 million TEUs, while inward transhipment recorded virtually no change at 5.3 million TEUs. For outward laden containers, exports decreased by 11% to 2.2 million TEUs, while outward transhipment recorded virtually no change at 5.3 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
Comparing the third quarter of 2012 with the third quarter of 2011, the number of ocean vessel arrivals decreased by 7% to 7 710, with the total capacity also decreasing by 6% to 102.0 million net registered tons. The number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 5% to 40 590, with the total capacity increasing by 5% to 28.3 million net registered tons.
Comparing the first nine months of 2012 with the same period in 2011, the number of ocean vessel arrivals decreased by 6% to 22 910, with the total capacity also decreasing by 2% to 308.5 million net registered tons. The number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 7% to 120 170, with the total capacity also decreasing by 2% to 79.6 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 2012 issue of the report 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/hkstat/sub/sp130.jsp?productCode=B1020008).
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/Friday, December 7, 2012
Issued at HKT 16:30
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