*********************************************************
The Census and Statistics Department today (December 7) released statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the third quarter of 2007.
In the third quarter of 2007, total port cargo throughput recorded virtually no change over a year earlier to 61.7 million tonnes. Within this total, inward port cargo decreased by 1% to 34.9 million tonnes, while outward port cargo increased by 1% to 26.7 million tonnes.
For the first nine months of 2007, total port cargo throughput rose by 2% over a year earlier to 180.4 million tonnes. Within this total, inward port cargo decreased by 1% to 104.6 million tonnes, while outward port cargo grew by 6% to 75.8 million tonnes.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput decreased by 3% in the third quarter of 2007. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo decreased by 4% and 2% 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 rose by 7% over a year earlier to 44.8 million tonnes, while river cargo decreased by 16% to 16.8 million tonnes in the third quarter of 2007.
Within inward port cargo, imports decreased by 12% over a year earlier to 18.3 million tonnes, while inward transhipment grew by 15% to 16.6 million tonnes in the third quarter of 2007. For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) decreased by 19% over a year earlier to 9.2 million tonnes, while outward transhipment went up by 17% to 17.5 million tonnes.
Within port cargo, seaborne cargo rose by 6% in the first nine months of 2007 over a year earlier to 130.5 million tonnes, while river cargo decreased by 8% to 50.0 million tonnes.
Within inward port cargo, imports decreased by 9% in the first nine months of 2007 over a year earlier to 56.7 million tonnes, while inward transhipment rose by 11% to 47.9 million tonnes. For outward port cargo, exports decreased by 15% to 25.7 million tonnes, while outward transhipment went up by 21% to 50.1 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 2007 with the third quarter of 2006, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Singapore (+19%), Korea (+15%) and the Philippines (+10%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Indonesia (-27%) and Japan (-12%). Over the same period, double-digit increases were registered in the tonnage of outward port cargo for discharge in Malaysia (+63%), Vietnam (+51%), Germany (+25%), Thailand (+17%) and the Philippines (+10%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in the United States (-16%) and the mainland of China (-11%).
Comparing the first nine months of 2007 with the same period in 2006, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in the Philippines (+12%) and Singapore (+10%). On the other hand, a double-digit decrease was recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Indonesia (-11%). Over the same period, double-digit increases were registered in the tonnage of outward port cargo for discharge in Vietnam (+61%), Malaysia (+36%), the Philippines (+34%), Indonesia (+31%), Germany (+19%), Thailand (+14%) and Japan (+11%). On the other hand, a double-digit decrease was recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo for discharge in the United States (-17%).
The principal commodities for inward and outward port cargo are shown in Table 4 and Table 5.
Comparing the third quarter of 2007 with the third quarter of 2006, double-digit increases were recorded in inward port cargo of "metalliferous ores and metal scrap" (+33%) and "iron and steel" (+18%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded for "stone, sand and gravel" (-26%), "coal, coke and briquettes" (-24%), "pulp and waste paper" (-23%) and "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (-15%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit increases were recorded for "tools, cutlery, metal household ware and manufactures" (+29%), "metalliferous ores and metal scrap" (+22%) and "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+17%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were registered for "iron and steel" (-37%), "paper and paper products" (-13%), "pulp and waste paper" (-10%) and "artificial resins and plastic materials" (-10%).
Comparing the first nine months of 2007 with the same period in 2006, double-digit increases were recorded in inward port cargo of "metalliferous ores and metal scrap" (+28%) and "iron and steel" (+16%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded for "stone, sand and gravel" (-26%) and "coal, coke and briquettes" (-15%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit increases were recorded for "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+16%), "tools, cutlery, metal household ware and manufactures" (+15%) and "metalliferous ores and metal scrap" (+10%).
Containers
In the third quarter of 2007, the port of Hong Kong handled 6.2 million TEUs of containers, representing an increase of 2% over a year earlier. Within this total, both laden and empty containers rose by 2% to 5.1 million TEUs and 1.1 million TEUs respectively. Among laden containers, both inward and outward containers grew by 2% to 2.4 million TEUs and 2.7 million TEUs respectively.
In the first nine months of 2007, the port of Hong Kong handled 17.7 million TEUs of containers, representing an increase of 2% over the same period in 2006. Within this total, laden containers grew by 3% to 14.7 million TEUs, while empty containers decreased by 1% to 3.0 million TEUs. For laden containers, inward and outward containers rose by 2% and 4% to 7.0 million TEUs and 7.7 million TEUs respectively.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput decreased by 2% in the third quarter of 2007, comprising decreases of 1% and 3% respectively for inward and outward laden containers.
Seaborne laden containers grew by 6% in the third quarter of 2007 over a year earlier to 3.9 million TEUs, while river laden containers decreased by 6% to 1.3 million TEUs.
Within inward laden containers, imports decreased by 12% in the third quarter of 2007 over a year earlier to 0.9 million TEUs, while inward transhipment went up by 13% to 1.5 million TEUs. For outward laden containers, exports decreased by 10% to 1.1 million TEUs, while outward transhipment grew by 12% to 1.6 million TEUs.
In the first nine months of 2007, seaborne laden containers increased by 5% to 10.9 million TEUs over the same period in 2006, while river laden containers decreased by 4% to 3.8 million TEUs.
Within inward laden containers, imports decreased by 8% in the first nine months of 2007 over a year earlier to 2.7 million TEUs, while inward transhipment rose by 8% to 4.3 million TEUs. For outward laden containers, exports decreased by 11% to 3.0 million TEUs, while outward transhipment went up by 17% to 4.6 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 or agents to the Census and Statistics Department.
Vessel arrivals
In the third quarter of 2007, the number of ocean vessel arrivals decreased by 9% over a year earlier to 9 100, with the total capacity increasing by 8% to 94.5 million net registered tons. Over the same period, the number of river vessel arrivals increased by 1% to 48 550, with the total capacity decreasing by 9% to 25.0 million net registered tons.
In the first nine months of 2007, the number of ocean vessel arrivals decreased by 5% over a year earlier to 27 760, with the total capacity increasing by 6% to 274.4 million net registered tons. Over the same period, the number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 1% over a year earlier to 142 990, with the total capacity decreasing by 4% to 77.9 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 or authorised shipping agents. Pleasure vessels and fishing vessels plying exclusively within the river trade limits are excluded.
Further information
More detailed statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers are contained in the bilingual quarterly report "Hong Kong Shipping Statistics".
The July - September 2007 issue of the report, in download version, 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/products_and_services/products/publications/index.jsp).
Print version of this publication will also be available for sale at HK$60 per issue by the end of December. Purchase can be done in person at the Publications Unit of the C&SD (Address: 19/F Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai; Tel: 2582 3025) or through mail order by returning a completed order form which can be downloaded from the C&SD's website (www.censtatd.gov.hk/products_and_services/other_services/provision_of_stat/mail_ordering_of_publications/index.jsp). Print version of this publication is also available for sale online at the Government Bookstore of the Information Services Department (www.bookstore.gov.hk).
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, Planning, Development and Port Security Branch of the Marine Department (Tel: 2852 3661 or email: st-sec@mardep.gov.hk).
Ends/Friday, December 7, 2007
Issued at HKT 16:15
NNNN
