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The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (December 6) released statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the third quarter of 2013.
In the third quarter of 2013, total port cargo throughput increased by 1% compared with a year earlier to 69.9 million tonnes. Within this total, inward port cargo increased by 3% to 41.5 million tonnes, while outward port cargo decreased by 3% to 28.4 million tonnes.
For the first nine months of 2013, total port cargo throughput decreased by 1% compared with a year earlier to 201.1 million tonnes. Within this total, inward port cargo increased by 1% to 117.8 million tonnes, while outward port cargo decreased by 3% to 83.3 million tonnes.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput increased by 2% in the third quarter of 2013. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo increased by 3% and 1% 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 decreased by 2% compared with a year earlier to 47.6 million tonnes, while river cargo increased by 6% to 22.3 million tonnes in the third quarter of 2013.
Within inward port cargo, imports and inward transhipment increased by 6% and 1% in the third quarter of 2013 compared with a year earlier to 21.1 million tonnes and 20.4 million tonnes respectively. For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) decreased by 8% compared with a year earlier to 8.7 million tonnes, while outward transhipment recorded virtually no change at 19.7 million tonnes.
Within port cargo, seaborne cargo decreased by 5% in the first nine months of 2013 compared with a year earlier to 136.5 million tonnes, while river cargo increased by 8% to 64.5 million tonnes.
Within inward port cargo, imports increased by 4% in the first nine months of 2013 compared with a year earlier to 58.7 million tonnes, while inward transhipment decreased by 2% to 59.1 million tonnes. For outward port cargo, exports and outward transhipment decreased by 2% and 4% compared with a year earlier to 26.5 million tonnes and 56.8 million tonnes respectively.
The detailed port cargo statistics are summarised in Table 1.
The main countries/territories of loading of inward port cargo and countries/territories of discharge of outward port cargo are shown in Table 2 and Table 3 respectively.
Comparing the third quarter of 2013 with the third quarter of 2012, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Malaysia (+30%), the mainland of China (+15%) and Japan (+10%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Korea (-35%), Singapore (-18%), Vietnam (-16%), the United States of America (-11%) and Taiwan (-11%). For outward port cargo, a double-digit increase was registered in the tonnage discharged in Vietnam (+23%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Singapore (-22%), Taiwan (-17%) and the Philippines (-17%).
Comparing the first nine months of 2013 with the same period in 2012, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Malaysia (+13%) and the mainland of China (+11%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Korea (-32%) and Singapore (-14%). For outward port cargo, a double-digit decrease was registered in the tonnage discharged in Singapore (-12%).
The principal commodities of inward and outward port cargo are shown in Table 4 and Table 5 respectively.
Comparing the third quarter of 2013 with the third quarter of 2012, double-digit changes were recorded in inward port cargo of "stone, sand and gravel; metalliferous ores and metal scrap; and pulp and waste paper" (+32%), "iron and steel" (-10%) and "artificial resins and plastic materials" (-19%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit changes were recorded for "logs and timber; wood, simply worked" (+44%) and "artificial resins and plastic materials" (-14%).
Comparing the first nine months of 2013 with the same period in 2012, double-digit changes were recorded in inward port cargo of "stone, sand and gravel; metalliferous ores and metal scrap; and pulp and waste paper" (+22%) and "artificial resins and plastic materials" (-13%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit changes were recorded for "logs and timber; wood, simply worked" (+24%), "iron and steel" (-10%) and "artificial resins and plastic materials" (-13%).
Containers
In the third quarter of 2013, the port of Hong Kong handled 5.8 million TEUs of containers, representing a decrease of 1% compared with a year earlier. Within this total, laden containers recorded virtually no change at 5.0 million TEUs, while empty containers dropped by 9% to 0.8 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward containers increased by 2% to 2.5 million TEUs, while outward containers dropped by 2% to 2.5 million TEUs.
In the first nine months of 2013, the port of Hong Kong handled 16.5 million TEUs of containers, representing a decrease of 5% compared with the same period in 2012. Within this total, laden containers dropped by 4% to 14.3 million TEUs, while empty containers also decreased by 14% to 2.3 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward containers decreased by 3% to 7.2 million TEUs, while outward containers also dropped by 5% to 7.0 million TEUs.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput increased by 2% in the third quarter of 2013. Within this total, inward laden containers increased by 5%, while outward laden containers recorded virtually no change.
Seaborne laden containers recorded virtually no change in the third quarter of 2013 compared with a year earlier at 3.7 million TEUs, while river laden containers increased by 1% to 1.3 million TEUs.
Within inward laden containers, imports and inward transhipment increased by 1% and 2% in the third quarter of 2013 compared with a year earlier to 0.7 million TEUs and 1.8 million TEUs respectively. For outward laden containers, exports decreased by 7% to 0.7 million TEUs, while outward transhipment recorded virtually no change at 1.8 million TEUs.
In the first nine months of 2013, seaborne and river laden containers decreased by 5% and 1% compared with the same period in 2012 to 10.7 million TEUs and 3.6 million TEUs respectively.
Within inward laden containers, imports and inward transhipment decreased by 3% and 2% in the first nine months of 2013 compared with a year earlier to 2.1 million TEUs and 5.2 million TEUs respectively. For outward laden containers, exports and outward transhipment decreased by 7% and 5% to 2.0 million TEUs and 5.0 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
Comparing the third quarter of 2013 with the third quarter of 2012, the number of ocean vessel arrivals decreased by 5% to 7 290, with the total capacity increasing by 2% to 104.3 million net registered tons. The number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 2% to 39 700, with the total capacity also decreasing by 6% to 26.7 million net registered tons.
Comparing the first nine months of 2013 with the same period in 2012, the number of ocean vessel arrivals decreased by 3% to 22 220, with the total capacity recording virtually no change at 308.5 million net registered tons. The number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 3% to 116 530, with the total capacity increasing by 1% to 80.5 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 July - September 2013 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 6, 2013
Issued at HKT 16:32
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