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The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (September 7) released statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the second quarter of 2012.
In the second quarter of 2012, total port cargo throughput decreased by 6% compared with a year earlier to 69.1 million tonnes. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo dropped by 4% and 9% to 40.9 million tonnes and 28.2 million tonnes respectively.
For the first half of 2012, total port cargo throughput decreased by 2% compared with a year earlier to 133.6 million tonnes. Within this total, both inward and outward port cargo dropped by 2% to 76.8 million tonnes and 56.8 million tonnes respectively.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput decreased by 1% in the second quarter of 2012. Within this total, inward port cargo went up by 6%, while outward port cargo dropped by 9%. 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 3% compared with a year earlier to 49.8 million tonnes, while river cargo also dropped by 13% to 19.3 million tonnes in the second quarter of 2012.
Within inward port cargo, imports and inward transhipment decreased by 3% and 4% in the second quarter of 2012 compared with a year earlier to 20.0 million tonnes and 20.9 million tonnes respectively. For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) and outward transhipment also decreased by 24% and 1% compared with a year earlier to 8.3 million tonnes and 19.9 million tonnes respectively.
Within port cargo, seaborne cargo recorded virtually no change in the first half of 2012 compared with a year earlier at 94.6 million tonnes, while river cargo decreased by 6% to 39.0 million tonnes.
Within inward port cargo, imports decreased by 6% in the first half of 2012 compared with a year earlier to 36.6 million tonnes, while inward transhipment increased by 2% to 40.2 million tonnes. For outward port cargo, exports decreased by 12% compared with a year earlier to 17.5 million tonnes, while outward transhipment increased by 4% to 39.3 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 second quarter of 2012 with the second quarter of 2011, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Vietnam (+33%) and Indonesia (+16%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Singapore (-16%) and the mainland of China (-13%). For outward port cargo, double-digit increases were registered in the tonnage discharged in Singapore (+74%) and Thailand (+11%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Taiwan (-20%), the mainland of China (-13%) and the United States of America (-11%).
Comparing the first half of 2012 with the same period in 2011, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Vietnam (+27%) and Indonesia (+10%). On the other hand, a double-digit decrease was recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Singapore (-20%). For outward port cargo, double-digit increases were registered in the tonnage discharged in Singapore (+60%), Thailand (+32%), Malaysia (+11%) and Indonesia (+10%). On the other hand, a double-digit decrease was recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Taiwan (-21%).
The principal commodities for inward and outward port cargo are shown in Table 4 and Table 5.
Comparing the second quarter of 2012 with the second quarter of 2011, double-digit changes were recorded in inward port cargo of "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+12%), "machinery" (-12%) and "artificial resins and plastic materials" (-14%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit changes were recorded for "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+12%), "live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products" (-16%), "artificial resins and plastic materials" (-16%) and "stone, sand and gravel; metalliferous ores and metal scrap; and pulp and waste paper" (-24%).
Comparing the first half of 2012 with the same period in 2011, double-digit changes were recorded in inward port cargo of "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+12%) and "iron and steel" (-10%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit changes were recorded for "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+13%) and "live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products" (-15%).
Containers
In the second quarter of 2012, the port of Hong Kong handled 5.9 million TEUs of containers, representing a decrease of 7% compared with a year earlier. Within this total, laden containers decreased by 8% to 5.0 million TEUs, while empty containers also dropped by 2% to 0.9 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward containers decreased by 10% to 2.5 million TEUs, while outward containers also dropped by 7% to 2.5 million TEUs.
In the first half of 2012, the port of Hong Kong handled 11.6 million TEUs of containers, representing a decrease of 2% compared with the same period in 2011. Within this total, laden containers dropped by 2% to 9.9 million TEUs, while empty containers also decreased by 5% to 1.7 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward containers decreased by 3% to 5.0 million TEUs, while outward containers recorded virtually no change at 4.9 million TEUs.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput decreased by 9% in the second quarter of 2012. Within this total, inward and outward laden containers decreased by 8% and 10% respectively.
Seaborne and river laden containers decreased by 6% and 14% in the second quarter of 2012 compared with a year earlier to 3.8 million TEUs and 1.2 million TEUs respectively.
Within inward laden containers, imports and inward transhipment decreased by 17% and 7% in the second quarter of 2012 compared with a year earlier to 0.7 million TEUs and 1.8 million TEUs respectively. For outward laden containers, exports and outward transhipment decreased by 17% and 2% to 0.7 million TEUs and 1.8 million TEUs respectively.
In the first half of 2012, seaborne laden containers increased by 1% compared with the same period in 2011 to 7.5 million TEUs, while river laden containers decreased by 9% to 2.4 million TEUs.
Within inward laden containers, imports decreased by 11% in the first half of 2012 compared with a year earlier to 1.4 million TEUs, while inward transhipment increased by 1% to 3.5 million TEUs. For outward laden containers, exports decreased by 12% to 1.4 million TEUs, while outward transhipment increased by 5% to 3.5 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 and agents to the C&SD.
Vessel arrivals
Comparing the second quarter of 2012 with the second quarter of 2011, the number of ocean vessel arrivals decreased by 4% to 7 800, with the total capacity also decreasing by 2% to 102.5 million net registered tons. The number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 9% to 40 120, with the total capacity also decreasing by 7% to 26.2 million net registered tons.
Comparing the first half of 2012 with the same period in 2011, the number of ocean vessel arrivals decreased by 6% to 15 200, with the total capacity recording virtually no change at 206.5 million net registered tons. The number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 9% to 79 580, with the total capacity also decreasing by 5% to 51.3 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 April - June 2012 issue of the report will be available by the end of September. 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 e-mail: 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 e-mail: st-sec@mardep.gov.hk).
Ends/Friday, September 7, 2012
Issued at HKT 16:30
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