Statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the first quarter of 2023
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In the first quarter of 2023, total port cargo throughput decreased by 2.8% compared with the first quarter of 2022 to 41.2 million tonnes. Within this total, inward port cargo decreased by 5.3% compared with the first quarter of 2022 to 26.2 million tonnes, while outward port cargo increased by 1.9% compared with the first quarter of 2022 to 15.0 million tonnes.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput decreased by 2.5% in the first quarter of 2023. Within this total, inward port cargo and outward port cargo decreased by 0.5% and 5.8% respectively compared with the preceding quarter. 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 12.3% in the first quarter of 2023 compared with the first quarter of 2022 to 27.3 million tonnes, while river cargo increased by 23.4% in the first quarter of 2023 compared with the first quarter of 2022 to 13.9 million tonnes.
Within inward port cargo, imports and inward transhipment decreased by 6.4% and 4.1% in the first quarter of 2023 compared with the first quarter of 2022 to 13.7 million tonnes and 12.5 million tonnes respectively. For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) increased by 9.2% in the first quarter of 2023 compared with the first quarter of 2022 to 3.5 million tonnes, while outward transhipment decreased by 0.1% in the first quarter of 2023 compared with the first quarter of 2022 to 11.6 million tonnes.
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 first quarter of 2023 with the first quarter of 2022, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in the United States of America (+15.2%), Indonesia (+10.7%) and the mainland of China (+10.6%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Taiwan (-41.2%), Vietnam (-30.4%), Korea (-23.5%), Japan (-23.4%) and Thailand (-17.2%). For outward port cargo, double-digit increase was recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in the mainland of China (+22.1%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Taiwan (-33.6%), the United States of America (-32.7%), Japan (-20.3%), Korea (-17.3%) and Australia (-16.9%).
The principal commodities of inward port cargo and outward port cargo are shown in Table 4 and Table 5 respectively.
Comparing the first quarter of 2023 with the first quarter of 2022, double-digit changes were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo of "petroleum, petroleum products and related materials" (+17.1%) and "stone, sand and gravel" (-14.7%). As for outward port cargo, triple-digit or double-digit changes were recorded in the tonnage of "stone, sand and gravel" (+290.5%), "pulp and waste paper" (+32.3%), "metalliferous ores and metal scrap" (+16.1%), "artificial resins and plastic materials" (+15.2%) and "machinery" (-18.0%).
Containers
In the first quarter of 2023, the port of Hong Kong handled 3.43 million TEUs of containers, representing a decrease of 7.4% compared with the first quarter of 2022. Within this total, laden containers decreased by 9.3% to 2.72 million TEUs, while empty containers increased by 1.0% to 0.71 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward and outward containers decreased by 10.1% and 8.4% to 1.46 million TEUs and 1.27 million TEUs respectively.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput decreased by 5.2% in the first quarter of 2023. Within this total, inward and outward laden containers decreased by 5.1% and 5.4% respectively.
In the first quarter of 2023, seaborne laden containers decreased by 16.9% compared with the first quarter of 2022 to 1.93 million TEUs, while river laden containers increased by 16.4% to 0.79 million TEUs.
Within inward laden containers, imports and inward transhipment decreased by 19.2% and 6.2% in the first quarter of 2023 compared with the first quarter of 2022 to 0.40 million TEUs and 1.06 million TEUs respectively. For outward laden containers, exports and outward transhipment decreased by 18.5% and 5.2% in the first quarter of 2023 compared with the first quarter of 2022 to 0.27 million TEUs and 1.00 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 first quarter of 2023 with the first quarter of 2022, the number of ocean vessel arrivals increased by 30.2% to 4 526, with the total capacity also increasing by 31.8% to 70.9 million net tons. Meanwhile, the number of river vessel arrivals increased by 59.4% to 14 704, with the total capacity also increasing by 40.5% to 17.3 million net 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 published in the report "Hong Kong Shipping Statistics, First Quarter 2023". Users can download this publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1020008&scode=230).
For enquiries about port cargo and container statistics, please contact the Electronic Trading Services and Cargo Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 2126 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 3662 or email: st-sec@mardep.gov.hk).
Ends/Friday, June 2, 2023
Issued at HKT 16:30
Issued at HKT 16:30
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