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The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (March 8) released statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the fourth quarter of 2009.
In the fourth quarter of 2009, total port cargo throughput increased by 5% over a year earlier to 64.7 million tonnes. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo rose by 7% and 3% to 36.9 million tonnes and 27.8 million tonnes respectively.
For 2009 as a whole, total port cargo throughput decreased by 6% over a year earlier to 243.0 million tonnes. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo dropped by 5% and 9% to 139.3 million tonnes and 103.7 million tonnes respectively.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput increased by 1% in the fourth quarter of 2009. Within this total, inward port cargo went up by 2%, while outward port cargo decreased by 1%. 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 2% over a year earlier to 42.4 million tonnes, while river cargo rose by 13% to 22.3 million tonnes in the fourth quarter of 2009.
Within inward port cargo, imports and inward transhipment increased by 9% and 5% in the fourth quarter of 2009 over a year earlier to 20.3 million tonnes and 16.6 million tonnes respectively. For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) decreased by 8% over a year earlier to 9.8 million tonnes, while outward transhipment increased by 11% to 18.0 million tonnes.
Within port cargo, seaborne cargo decreased by 10% in 2009 over 2008 to 161.6 million tonnes, while river cargo increased by 2% to 81.4 million tonnes.
Within inward port cargo, imports recorded virtually no change in 2009 over 2008 at 76.2 million tonnes, while inward transhipment dropped by 10% to 63.1 million tonnes. For outward port cargo, exports and outward transhipment decreased by 10% and 8% to 38.6 million tonnes and 65.0 million tonnes respectively.
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 fourth quarter of 2009 with the fourth quarter of 2008, increases were registered in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in most main countries/territories of loading, with the three most significant increases recorded for Australia (+126%), Malaysia (+46%) and the United States of America (+19%). Over the same period, double-digit changes were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Vietnam (+66%), Taiwan (+36%), the mainland of China (+17%), Thailand (+11%), Germany (-23%), Korea (-18%) and the Philippines (-11%).
Comparing 2009 with 2008, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Japan (-18%), the mainland of China (-15%), Korea (-15%) and Taiwan (-11%). On the other hand, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Australia (+77%), Singapore (+27%) and Malaysia (+27%). Over the same period, decreases were registered in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in most main countries/territories of discharge, with the three most significant decreases recorded for Taiwan (-33%), Korea (-29%) and Germany (-27%).
The principal commodities for inward and outward port cargo are shown in Table 4 and Table 5.
Comparing the fourth quarter of 2009 with the fourth quarter of 2008, double-digit changes were recorded in inward port cargo of "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+29%), "petroleum, petroleum products and related materials; and coal, coke and briquettes" (+18%), "iron and steel" (+12%) and "stone, sand and gravel; metalliferous ores and metal scrap; and pulp and waste paper" (+10%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit changes were recorded for "stone, sand and gravel; metalliferous ores and metal scrap; and pulp and waste paper" (+13%), "artificial resins and plastic materials" (+12%) and "machinery" (-10%).
Comparing 2009 with 2008, double-digit changes were recorded in inward port cargo of "iron and steel" (-26%), "machinery" (-20%), "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (-11%) and "petroleum, petroleum products and related materials; and coal, coke and briquettes" (+17%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit changes were recorded for "iron and steel" (-30%), "machinery" (-25%), "live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products" (-13%) and "stone, sand and gravel; metalliferous ores and metal scrap; and pulp and waste paper" (+10%).
Containers
In the fourth quarter of 2009, the port of Hong Kong handled 5.6 million TEUs of containers, representing a decrease of 4% over a year earlier. Within this total, laden containers decreased by 1% to 4.7 million TEUs, while empty containers dropped by 17% to 0.9 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward containers decreased by 1% to 2.3 million TEUs, while outward containers also decreased by 1% to 2.4 million TEUs.
In 2009, the port of Hong Kong handled 21.0 million TEUs of containers, representing a decrease of 14% over 2008. Within this total, laden containers decreased by 13% to 17.7 million TEUs, while empty containers dropped by 21% to 3.3 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward containers decreased by 12% to 8.7 million TEUs, while outward containers dropped by 13% to 9.0 million TEUs.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput increased by 1% in the fourth quarter of 2009. Within this total, inward laden containers recorded virtually no change, while outward laden containers rose by 2%.
Seaborne laden containers decreased by 8% in the fourth quarter of 2009 over a year earlier to 3.3 million TEUs, while river laden containers rose by 22% to 1.4 million TEUs.
Within inward laden containers, imports decreased by 1% in the fourth quarter of 2009 over a year earlier to 0.8 million TEUs, while inward transhipment recorded virtually no change at 1.4 million TEUs. For outward laden containers, exports decreased by 10% to 0.8 million TEUs, while outward transhipment increased by 4% to 1.6 million TEUs.
In 2009, seaborne and river laden containers decreased by 16% and 3% over 2008 to 12.7 million TEUs and 5.1 million TEUs respectively.
Within inward laden containers, imports and inward transhipment decreased by 11% and 12% in 2009 over 2008 to 3.1 million TEUs and 5.6 million TEUs respectively. For outward laden containers, exports and outward transhipment decreased by 19% and 10% to 3.2 million TEUs and 5.9 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
In the fourth quarter of 2009, the number of ocean vessel arrivals decreased by 1% over a year earlier to 8 530, with the total capacity decreasing by 3% to 93.9 million net registered tons. Over the same period, the number of river vessel arrivals recorded virtually no change at 43 950, with the total capacity increasing by 6% to 25.0 million net registered tons.
In 2009, the number of ocean vessel arrivals decreased by 8% over a year earlier to 33 160, with the total capacity decreasing by 2% to 377.8 million net registered tons. Over the same period, the number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 5% over a year earlier to 172 350, with the total capacity recording virtually no change at 97.3 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 2009 issue of the report, in download version, 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/products_and_services/products/publications/statistical_report/external_trade/index.jsp).
Print version of this publication will also be available for sale at HK$73 per issue by the end of March. 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 under the Planning, Development and Port Security Branch of the Marine Department (Tel : 2852 3661 or email : st-sec@mardep.gov.hk).
Ends/Monday, March 8, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:30
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