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The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (June 5) released statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the first quarter of 2009.
In the first quarter of 2009, total port cargo throughput decreased by 17% over a year earlier to 52.2 million tonnes. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo dropped by 16% and 17% over a year earlier to 30.4 million tonnes and 21.8 million tonnes respectively.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput decreased by 10% in the first quarter of 2009. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo went down by 9% and 11% 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 dropped by 23% over a year earlier to 34.7 million tonnes, while river cargo decreased by 1% to 17.4 million tonnes in the first quarter of 2009.
Within inward port cargo, imports and inward transhipment decreased by 10% and 23% in the first quarter of 2009 over a year earlier to 17.2 million tonnes and 13.2 million tonnes respectively. For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) and outward transhipment also decreased by 6% and 23% over a year earlier to 8.8 million tonnes and 13.0 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 first quarter of 2009 with the first quarter of 2008, decreases were registered in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in most main countries/territories of loading, with the three most significant decreases recorded for Taiwan (-33%), Japan (-25%) and Korea (-24%). Over the same period, decreases were registered in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in almost all main countries/territories of discharge, with the three most significant decreases recorded for Taiwan (-61%), Thailand (-54%) and the Philippines (-34%).
The principal commodities for inward and outward port cargo are shown in Table 4 and Table 5.
Comparing the first quarter of 2009 with the first quarter of 2008, double-digit changes were recorded in inward port cargo of ¡°iron and steel¡± (-51%), ¡°machinery¡± (-29%) and ¡°artificial resins and plastic materials¡± (-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¡± (+14%), ¡°live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products¡± (+14%), ¡°iron and steel¡± (-46%), ¡°machinery¡± (-32%) and ¡°bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials¡± (-17%).
Containers
In the first quarter of 2009, the port of Hong Kong handled 4.6 million TEUs of containers, representing a decrease of 20% over a year earlier. Within this total, laden containers went down by 21% to 3.8 million TEUs, while empty containers dropped by 12% to 0.8 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward containers decreased by 20% to 1.9 million TEUs and outward containers also dropped by 22% to 1.9 million TEUs.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput decreased by 12% in the first quarter of 2009. Within this total, inward and outward laden containers dropped by 11% and 13% respectively.
Seaborne and river laden containers decreased by 24% and 13% in the first quarter of 2009 over a year earlier to 2.7 million TEUs and 1.1 million TEUs respectively.
Within inward laden containers, imports and inward transhipment decreased by 16% and 22% in the first quarter of 2009 over a year earlier to 0.7 million TEUs and 1.2 million TEUs respectively. For outward laden containers, exports and outward transhipment decreased by 22% and 23% to 0.7 million TEUs and 1.2 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 first quarter of 2009, the number of ocean vessel arrivals decreased by 21% over a year earlier to 7 520, with the total capacity decreasing by 5% to 94.5 million net registered tons. Over the same period, the number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 11% to 41 340, with the total capacity decreasing by 9% to 22.7 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 January - March 2009 issue of the report, in download version, will be available by the end of June. 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$73 per issue by the end of June. 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/Friday, June 5, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:30
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