*********************************************************
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (March 7) released statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the fourth quarter of 2013.
In the fourth quarter of 2013, total port cargo throughput increased by 13% compared with a year earlier to 75.0 million tonnes. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo increased by 18% and 6% to 44.5 million tonnes and 30.5 million tonnes respectively.
For 2013 as a whole, total port cargo throughput increased by 3% compared with a year earlier to 276.1 million tonnes. Within this total, inward port cargo increased by 5% to 162.3 million tonnes, while outward port cargo decreased by 1% to 113.8 million tonnes.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput increased by 8% in the fourth quarter of 2013. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo increased by 9% and 6% 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 4% compared with a year earlier to 47.7 million tonnes, while river cargo increased by 33% to 27.3 million tonnes in the fourth quarter of 2013.
Within inward port cargo, imports and inward transhipment increased by 31% and 6% in the fourth quarter of 2013 compared with a year earlier to 23.6 million tonnes and 20.9 million tonnes respectively. For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) and outward transhipment increased by 9% and 5% compared with a year earlier to 10.6 million tonnes and 19.9 million tonnes respectively.
Within port cargo, seaborne cargo decreased by 2% in 2013 compared with 2012 to 184.2 million tonnes, while river cargo increased by 14% to 91.8 million tonnes.
Within inward port cargo, imports increased by 10% in 2013 compared with 2012 to 82.3 million tonnes, while inward transhipment recorded virtually no change at 80.0 million tonnes. For outward port cargo, exports increased by 1% in 2013 compared with 2012 to 37.1 million tonnes, while outward transhipment decreased by 1% to 76.7 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 fourth quarter of 2013 with the fourth quarter of 2012, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in the mainland of China (+56%), Malaysia (+28%), Vietnam (+26%), Thailand (+16%) and Japan (+13%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Indonesia (-32%) and Singapore (-16%). For outward port cargo, double-digit increases were registered in the tonnage discharged in Vietnam (+24%), the Philippines (+12%), Taiwan (+10%), Thailand (+10%) and Japan (+10%). On the other hand, a double-digit decrease was recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Singapore (-11%).
Comparing 2013 with 2012, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in the mainland of China (+22%) and Malaysia (+16%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Korea (-26%), Singapore (-15%) and Indonesia (-11%). For outward port cargo, a double-digit increase was registered in the tonnage discharged in Vietnam (+11%). On the other hand, a double-digit decrease was recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Singapore (-11%).
The principal commodities of inward and outward port cargo are shown in Table 4 and Table 5 respectively.
Comparing the fourth quarter of 2013 with the fourth quarter of 2012, changes of double-digit or above were recorded in inward port cargo of "stone, sand and gravel; metalliferous ores and metal scrap; and pulp and waste paper" (+100%), "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+14%) and "petroleum, petroleum products and related materials; and coal, coke and briquettes" (-17%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit increases were recorded for "logs and timber; wood, simply worked" (+39%) and "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+18%).
Comparing 2013 with 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" (+41%) and "artificial resins and plastic materials" (-11%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit increases were recorded for "logs and timber; wood, simply worked" (+28%) and "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+10%).
Containers
In the fourth quarter of 2013, the port of Hong Kong handled 5.8 million TEUs of containers, representing an increase of 3% compared with a year earlier. Within this total, laden containers increased by 4% to 5.0 million TEUs, while empty containers dropped by 1% to 0.8 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward containers increased by 5% to 2.5 million TEUs, while outward containers went up by 3% to 2.5 million TEUs.
In 2013, the port of Hong Kong handled 22.4 million TEUs of containers, representing a decrease of 3% compared with 2012. Within this total, laden containers decreased by 2% to 19.3 million TEUs, while empty containers dropped by 11% to 3.1 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward containers decreased by 1% to 9.8 million TEUs, while outward containers dropped by 3% to 9.5 million TEUs.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput increased by 3% in the fourth quarter of 2013. Within this total, inward and outward laden containers increased by 3% and 4% respectively.
Seaborne and river laden containers increased by 2% and 10% in the fourth quarter of 2013 compared with a year earlier to 3.7 million TEUs and 1.3 million TEUs respectively.
Within inward laden containers, imports and inward transhipment increased by 2% and 7% in the fourth quarter of 2013 compared with a year earlier to 0.7 million TEUs and 1.8 million TEUs respectively. For outward laden containers, exports and outward transhipment increased by 2% and 4% to 0.7 million TEUs and 1.7 million TEUs respectively.
In 2013, seaborne laden containers decreased by 3% compared with 2012 to 14.4 million TEUs, while river laden containers increased by 2% to 4.9 million TEUs.
Within inward laden containers, imports decreased by 2% in 2013 compared with 2012 to 2.8 million TEUs, while inward transhipment recorded virtually no change at 7.0 million TEUs. For outward laden containers, exports and outward transhipment decreased by 5% and 3% to 2.7 million TEUs and 6.8 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 fourth quarter of 2013 with the fourth quarter of 2012, the number of ocean vessel arrivals decreased by 1% to 7 700, with the total capacity increasing by 2% to 106.0 million net registered tons. The number of river vessel arrivals increased by 3% to 41 100, with the total capacity increasing by 7% to 29.2 million net registered tons.
Comparing 2013 with 2012, the number of ocean vessel arrivals decreased by 3% to 29 920, with the total capacity increasing by 1% to 414.5 million net registered tons. The number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 2% to 157 630, with the total capacity increasing by 3% to 109.7 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 October - December 2013 issue of the report will be available by the end of March. 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, March 7, 2014
Issued at HKT 16:30
NNNN
