Statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the third quarter of 2022
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In the third quarter of 2022, total port cargo throughput decreased by 11.1% compared with the third quarter of 2021 to 49.3 million tonnes. Within this total, inward port cargo and outward port cargo decreased by 11.3% and 10.7% compared with the third quarter of 2021 to 30.7 million tonnes and 18.6 million tonnes respectively.
For the first nine months of 2022, total port cargo throughput decreased by 9.8% compared with the first nine months of 2021 to 144.0 million tonnes. Within this total, inward port cargo and outward port cargo decreased by 9.8% and 9.9% compared with the first nine months of 2021 to 91.0 million tonnes and 53.0 million tonnes respectively.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput decreased by 5.9% in the third quarter of 2022. Within this total, inward port cargo and outward port cargo decreased by 5.7% and 6.4% respectively compared with the preceding quarter. 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 decreased by 14.5% and 3.1% in the third quarter of 2022 compared with the third quarter of 2021 to 33.3 million tonnes and 16.0 million tonnes respectively.
Within inward port cargo, imports and inward transhipment decreased by 13.5% and 9.0% in the third quarter of 2022 compared with the third quarter of 2021 to 15.5 million tonnes and 15.2 million tonnes respectively. For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) and outward transhipment decreased by 9.1% and 11.2% in the third quarter of 2022 compared with the third quarter of 2021 to 4.6 million tonnes and 14.0 million tonnes respectively.
Within port cargo, seaborne and river cargo decreased by 11.0% and 7.0% in the first nine months of 2022 compared with the first nine months of 2021 to 99.1 million tonnes and 44.9 million tonnes respectively.
Within inward port cargo, imports and inward transhipment decreased by 13.9% and 5.2% in the first nine months of 2022 compared with the first nine months of 2021 to 46.0 million tonnes and 45.0 million tonnes respectively. For outward port cargo, exports and outward transhipment decreased by 15.8% and 7.9% in the first nine months of 2022 compared with the first nine months of 2021 to 12.2 million tonnes and 40.9 million tonnes respectively.
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 2022 with the third quarter of 2021, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Korea (-26.7%), Singapore (-23.8%), the United States of America (-16.3%), Taiwan (-15.1%), Indonesia (-12.1%) and the mainland of China (-10.0%). For outward port cargo, double-digit increase was recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in the Philippines (+12.9%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in the United States of America (-48.3%), Australia (-40.0%), Japan (-13.3%), Taiwan (-11.7%) and Korea (-11.7%).
Comparing the first nine months of 2022 with the first nine months of 2021, double-digit increase was recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Vietnam (+14.8%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in the United States of America (-20.2%), Thailand (-12.9%), Indonesia (-10.8%), the mainland of China (-10.5%) and Singapore (-10.1%). For outward port cargo, double-digit increase was recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Thailand (+10.5%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in the United States of America (-30.8%), Vietnam (-19.7%), Japan (-18.0%), Australia (-16.4%) and Korea (-15.1%).
The principal commodities of inward port cargo and outward port cargo are shown in Table 4 and Table 5 respectively.
Comparing the third quarter of 2022 with the third quarter of 2021, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo of "artificial resins and plastic materials" (-23.3%), "petroleum, petroleum products and related materials" (-19.2%), "stone, sand and gravel" (-18.4%) and "machinery" (-10.3%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit changes were recorded in the tonnage of "cereals and cereal preparations" (+21.3%) and "machinery" (-27.1%).
Comparing the first nine months of 2022 with the first nine months of 2021, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo of "stone, sand and gravel" (-22.4%), "coal, coke and briquettes" (-18.2%), "artificial resins and plastic materials" (-16.6%), "iron and steel" (-14.0%) and "petroleum, petroleum products and related materials" (-12.4%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit changes were recorded in the tonnage of "cereals and cereal preparations" (+19.8%) and "machinery" (-20.2%).
Containers
In the third quarter of 2022, the port of Hong Kong handled 4.21 million TEUs of containers, representing a decrease of 9.3% compared with the third quarter of 2021. Within this total, laden containers decreased by 14.8% to 3.36 million TEUs, while empty containers increased by 21.9% to 0.85 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward and outward containers decreased by 9.6% and 20.3% to 1.82 million TEUs and 1.54 million TEUs respectively.
For the first nine months of 2022, the port of Hong Kong handled 12.64 million TEUs of containers, representing a decrease of 5.3% compared with the first nine months of 2021. Within this total, laden containers decreased by 9.1% to 10.13 million TEUs, while empty containers increased by 13.8% to 2.50 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward and outward containers decreased by 5.0% and 13.6% to 5.52 million TEUs and 4.61 million TEUs respectively.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput decreased by 12.6% in the third quarter of 2022. Within this total, inward and outward laden containers decreased by 12.5% and 12.6% respectively.
In the third quarter of 2022, seaborne and river laden containers decreased by 19.6% and 1.6% compared with the third quarter of 2021 to 2.33 million TEUs and 1.03 million TEUs respectively.
Within inward laden containers, imports and inward transhipment decreased by 4.1% and 11.7% in the third quarter of 2022 compared with the third quarter of 2021 to 0.54 million TEUs and 1.28 million TEUs respectively. For outward laden containers, exports and outward transhipment decreased by 34.0% and 15.4% in the third quarter of 2022 compared with the third quarter of 2021 to 0.33 million TEUs and 1.21 million TEUs respectively.
In the first nine months of 2022, seaborne laden containers decreased by 14.1% compared with the first nine months of 2021 to 7.21 million TEUs, while river laden containers increased by 6.3% to 2.92 million TEUs.
Within inward laden containers, imports increased by 3.9% in the first nine months of 2022 compared with the first nine months of 2021 to 1.68 million TEUs, while inward transhipment decreased by 8.4% in the first nine months of 2022 compared with the first nine months of 2021 to 3.84 million TEUs. For outward laden containers, exports and outward transhipment decreased by 21.7% and 11.0% in the first nine months of 2022 compared with the first nine months of 2021 to 1.02 million TEUs and 3.59 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 2022 with the third quarter of 2021, the number of ocean vessel arrivals increased by 5.4% to 4 360, while the total capacity decreased by 1.1% to 62.1 million net tons. Meanwhile, the number of river vessel arrivals increased by 12.5% to 13 649, with the total capacity also increasing by 10.3% to 17.4 million net tons.
Comparing the first nine months of 2022 with the first nine months of 2021, the number of ocean vessel arrivals decreased by 1.1% to 12 120, with the total capacity also decreasing by 3.1% to 176.0 million net tons. Meanwhile, the number of river vessel arrivals increased by 7.5% to 37 059, with the total capacity also increasing by 15.3% to 47.7 million net 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 published in the report "Hong Kong Shipping Statistics, Third Quarter 2022". Users can download this publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1020008&scode=230).
For enquiries about port cargo and container statistics, please contact the Outward Processing and Shipping Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 2126 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 3662 or email: st-sec@mardep.gov.hk).
Ends/Friday, December 2, 2022
Issued at HKT 16:30
Issued at HKT 16:30
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