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The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (December 8) released statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the third quarter of 2014.
In the third quarter of 2014, total port cargo throughput increased by 9% compared with a year earlier to 76.4 million tonnes. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo increased by 13% and 3% to 47.0 million tonnes and 29.3 million tonnes respectively.
For the first 9 months of 2014, total port cargo throughput increased by 11% compared with a year earlier to 222.5 million tonnes. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo increased by 18% and 1% to 138.4 million tonnes and 84.1 million tonnes respectively.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput decreased by 1% in the third quarter of 2014. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo both dropped 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 and river cargo increased by 3% and 23% in the third quarter of 2014 compared with a year earlier to 49.0 million tonnes and 27.3 million tonnes respectively.
Within inward port cargo, imports increased by 33% in the third quarter of 2014 compared with a year earlier to 28.0 million tonnes, while inward transhipment decreased by 7% to 19.1 million tonnes. For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) increased by 21% compared with a year earlier to 10.5 million tonnes, while outward transhipment decreased by 4% to 18.8 million tonnes.
Within port cargo, seaborne and river cargo increased by 9% and 13% in the first 9 months of 2014 compared with a year earlier to 149.5 million tonnes and 73.1 million tonnes respectively.
Within inward port cargo, imports and inward transhipment increased by 34% and 1% in the first 9 months of 2014 compared with a year earlier to 78.9 million tonnes and 59.5 million tonnes respectively. For outward port cargo, exports recorded virtually no change at 26.5 million tonnes, while outward transhipment increased by 1% to 57.6 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 third quarter of 2014 with the third quarter of 2013, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in the mainland of China (+49%), the United States of America (+14%) and Vietnam (+14%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Indonesia (-31%), Singapore (-17%), Korea (-14%), Malaysia (-13%) and Taiwan (-13%). For outward port cargo, double-digit increases were registered in the tonnage discharged in Taiwan (+34%), the mainland of China (+15%) and the Philippines (+14%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Malaysia (-18%) and Vietnam (-12%).
Comparing the first 9 months of 2014 with the same period in 2013, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in the mainland of China (+49%), Vietnam (+11%) and Japan (+10%). On the other hand, a double-digit decrease was recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Indonesia (-33%). For outward port cargo, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage discharged in Korea (+32%), the Philippines (+18%), Singapore (+14%) and Taiwan (+13%).
The principal commodities of inward and outward port cargo are shown in Table 4 and Table 5 respectively.
Comparing the third quarter of 2014 with the third quarter of 2013, double-digit changes were recorded in inward port cargo of "stone, sand and gravel; metalliferous ores and metal scrap; and pulp and waste paper" (+94%), "machinery" (-14%) and "petroleum, petroleum products and related materials; and coal, coke and briquettes" (-21%). 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" (+16%), "logs and timber; wood, simply worked" (+12%) and "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (-16%).
Comparing the first 9 months of 2014 with the same period in 2013, double-digit changes were recorded in inward port cargo of "stone, sand and gravel; metalliferous ores and metal scrap; and pulp and waste paper" (+89%) and "petroleum, petroleum products and related materials; and coal, coke and briquettes" (-13%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit changes were recorded for "logs and timber; wood, simply worked" (+25%) and "artificial resins and plastic materials" (+14%).
Containers
In the third quarter of 2014, the port of Hong Kong handled 5.7 million TEUs of containers, representing a decrease of 3% compared with a year earlier. Within this total, laden and empty containers decreased by 3% and 1% to 4.9 million TEUs and 0.8 million TEUs respectively. Among laden containers, inward and outward containers dropped by 5% and 1% to 2.4 million TEUs and 2.5 million TEUs respectively.
In the first 9 months of 2014, the port of Hong Kong handled 16.9 million TEUs of containers, representing an increase of 2% compared with the same period in 2013. Within this total, laden and empty containers increased by 1% and 5% to 14.5 million TEUs and 2.4 million TEUs respectively. Among laden containers, inward containers recorded virtually no change at 7.3 million TEUs, while outward containers went up by 3% to 7.2 million TEUs.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput decreased by 7% in the third quarter of 2014. Within this total, inward and outward laden containers decreased by 7% and 6% respectively.
Seaborne laden containers decreased by 6% in the third quarter of 2014 compared with a year earlier to 3.5 million TEUs, while river laden containers increased by 7% to 1.3 million TEUs.
Within inward laden containers, imports increased by 4% in the third quarter of 2014 compared with a year earlier to 0.7 million TEUs, while inward transhipment decreased by 8% to 1.7 million TEUs. For outward laden containers, exports increased by 7% to 0.8 million TEUs, while outward transhipment decreased by 4% to 1.7 million TEUs.
In the first 9 months of 2014, seaborne laden containers recorded virtually no change at 10.7 million TEUs, while river laden containers increased by 6% to 3.8 million TEUs.
Within inward laden containers, imports increased by 3% in the first 9 months of 2014 compared with a year earlier to 2.1 million TEUs, and inward transhipment decreased by 1% to 5.1 million TEUs. For outward laden containers, exports and outward transhipment increased by 5% and 2% to 2.1 million TEUs and 5.1 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 third quarter of 2014 with the third quarter of 2013, the number of ocean vessel arrivals increased by 2% to 7 430, with the total capacity decreasing by 7% to 97.3 million net registered tons. The number of river vessel arrivals increased by 3% to 40 850, with the total capacity increasing by 6% to 28.2 million net registered tons.
Comparing the first 9 months of 2014 with the same period in 2013, the number of ocean vessel arrivals increased by 1% to 22 480, with the total capacity decreasing by 2% to 301.6 million net registered tons. The number of river vessel arrivals increased by 2% to 118 380, with the total capacity increasing by 2% to 82.5 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 July - September 2014 issue of the report 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/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/Monday, December 8, 2014
Issued at HKT 16:30
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