Statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the third quarter of 2023
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In the third quarter of 2023, total port cargo throughput decreased by 8.2% to 45.3 million tonnes over a year earlier. Within this total, inward port cargo and outward port cargo decreased by 5.9% and 11.9% to 28.9 million tonnes and 16.4 million tonnes respectively.
For the first nine months of 2023, total port cargo throughput decreased by 9.0% to 131.0 million tonnes over a year earlier. Within this total, inward port cargo and outward port cargo decreased by 8.3% and 10.2% to 83.4 million tonnes and 47.6 million tonnes respectively.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput increased by 1.3% in the third quarter of 2023. Within this total, inward port cargo and outward port cargo increased by 1.8% and 0.3% 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
In the third quarter of 2023, within port cargo, seaborne and river cargo decreased by 12.0% and 0.4% to 29.3 million tonnes and 16.0 million tonnes respectively over a year earlier.
In the first nine months of 2023, within port cargo, seaborne and river cargo decreased by 12.4% and 1.5% to 86.8 million tonnes and 44.2 million tonnes respectively over a year earlier.
Comparing the third quarter of 2023 with a year earlier, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Korea (-28.2%), Japan (-26.1%), Vietnam (-22.9%), the United States of America (-22.7%) and Taiwan (-15.4%). For outward port cargo, double-digit increase was recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Australia (+24.8%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Taiwan (-32.6%), the United States of America (-28.4%), Korea (-28.2%), Japan (-25.0%), Vietnam (-21.6%), Malaysia (-14.5%) and the Philippines (-14.1%).
Comparing the first nine months of 2023 with a year earlier, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Vietnam (-30.5%), Taiwan (-27.0%), Japan (-24.1%) and Korea (-21.9%). For outward port cargo, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in the United States of America (-34.3%), Taiwan (-32.3%), Japan (-22.5%), Korea (-20.0%), Vietnam (-19.1%) and Malaysia (-13.0%).
Comparing the third quarter of 2023 with a year earlier, double-digit changes were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo of "petroleum, petroleum products and related materials" (+21.9%), "stone, sand and gravel" (+16.5%), "coal, coke and briquettes" (-12.6%) and "machinery" (-16.3%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit changes were recorded in the tonnage of "stone, sand and gravel" (+12.0%), "artificial resins and plastic materials" (-11.9%), "pulp and waste paper" (-15.2%), "live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products" (-16.3%) and "machinery" (-19.9%).
Comparing the first nine months of 2023 with a year earlier, double-digit changes were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo of "petroleum, petroleum products and related materials" (+26.9%) and "machinery" (-16.3%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit changes were recorded in the tonnage of "stone, sand and gravel" (+24.6%), "artificial resins and plastic materials" (-11.2%) and "machinery" (-19.2%).
Containers
In the third quarter of 2023, the port of Hong Kong handled 3.67 million TEUs of containers, representing a decrease of 12.8% over a year earlier. Within this total, laden and empty containers decreased by 13.8% and 9.1% to 2.90 million TEUs and 0.77 million TEUs respectively. Among laden containers, inward and outward containers decreased by 14.9% and 12.5% to 1.55 million TEUs and 1.35 million TEUs respectively.
For the first nine months of 2023, the port of Hong Kong handled 10.79 million TEUs of containers, representing a decrease of 14.6% over a year earlier. Within this total, laden and empty containers decreased by 15.9% and 9.6% to 8.52 million TEUs and 2.27 million TEUs respectively. Among laden containers, inward and outward containers decreased by 17.3% and 14.2% to 4.57 million TEUs and 3.95 million TEUs respectively.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput decreased by 0.6% in the third quarter of 2023. Within this total, inward laden containers increased by 0.2%, while outward laden containers decreased by 1.5%.
In the third quarter of 2023, seaborne and river laden containers decreased by 11.6% and 18.6% to 2.06 million TEUs and 0.84 million TEUs respectively over a year earlier.
In the first nine months of 2023, seaborne and river laden containers decreased by 15.7% and 16.3% to 6.08 million TEUs and 2.45 million TEUs respectively over a year earlier.
Vessel arrivals
Comparing the third quarter of 2023 with a year earlier, the number of ocean vessel arrivals increased by 8.1% to 4 714, with the total capacity also increasing by 23.0% to 76.4 million net tons. Meanwhile, the number of river vessel arrivals increased by 44.2% to 19 686, with the total capacity also increasing by 9.2% to 19.0 million net tons.
Comparing the first nine months of 2023 with a year earlier, the number of ocean vessel arrivals increased by 15.7% to 14 025, with the total capacity also increasing by 27.4% to 224.3 million net tons. Meanwhile, the number of river vessel arrivals increased by 42.6% to 52 846, with the total capacity also increasing by 14.5% to 54.7 million net tons.
Further information
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 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.
Table 1 presents the detailed port cargo statistics.
Table 2 and Table 3 respectively present the inward and outward port cargo statistics by main countries/territories of loading and discharge.
Table 4 and Table 5 respectively present the inward and outward port cargo statistics by principal commodities.
Table 6 presents the detailed container statistics.
Table 7 presents the statistics on vessel arrivals in Hong Kong.
More detailed statistics on port cargo, containers and vessels are published in the report "Hong Kong Shipping Statistics, Third Quarter 2023". Users can browse and 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/Monday, December 4, 2023
Issued at HKT 16:30
Issued at HKT 16:30
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