The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) on December 8 released statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the third quarter of 2008. In the third quarter of 2008, total port cargo throughput increased by 9% over a year earlier to 67.3 million tonnes. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo went up by 7% and 12% over a year earlier to 37.2 million tonnes and 30.1 million tonnes respectively. For the first nine months of 2008, total port cargo throughput increased by 10% over a year earlier to 198.1 million tonnes. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo rose by 7% and 14% to 111.6 million tonnes and 86.5 million tonnes respectively.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput recorded virtually no change in the third quarter of 2008. Within this total, inward port cargo decreased by 1%, while outward port cargo rose 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 grew by 3% and 25% over a year earlier to 46.2 million tonnes and 21.1 million tonnes respectively in the third quarter of 2008.
Within inward port cargo, imports and inward transhipment increased by 2% and 12% in the third quarter of 2008 over a year earlier to 18.7 million tonnes and 18.6 million tonnes respectively. For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) and outward transhipment went up by 20% and 8% over a year earlier to 11.1 million tonnes and 18.9 million tonnes respectively. ??
Within port cargo, seaborne and river cargo increased by 6% and 20% in the first nine months of 2008 over a year earlier to 138.3 million tonnes and 59.8 million tonnes respectively.
Within inward port cargo, imports increased by 2% in the first nine months of 2008 over a year earlier to 57.7 million tonnes, while inward transhipment rose by 13% to 53.9 million tonnes. For outward port cargo, exports and outward transhipment increased by 26% and 8% to 32.3 million tonnes and 54.2 million tonnes respectively.
Comparing the third quarter of 2008 with the third quarter of 2007, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Vietnam (+88%), Indonesia (+49%), the United States of America (+35%) and Japan (+13%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Singapore (-42%), Taiwan (-28%) and Malaysia (-14%). Over the same period, increases were registered in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in most main countries/territories of discharge, with the three most significant increases recorded for Taiwan (+31%), the mainland of China (+29%) and Malaysia (+29%).
Comparing the first nine months of 2008 with the same period in 2007, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Vietnam (+59%), Indonesia (+34%), the United States of America (+23%), Korea (+15%) and Thailand (+15%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Singapore (-33%) and Malaysia (-15%). Over the same period, increases were registered in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in almost all main countries/territories of discharge, with the three most significant increases recorded for Malaysia (+39%), Taiwan (+33%) and Thailand (+27%).
Comparing the third quarter of 2008 with the third quarter of 2007, double-digit changes were recorded in inward port cargo of "live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products" (+36%), "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+33%), "stone, sand and gravel; metalliferous ores and metal scrap; and pulp and waste paper" (+33%) and "iron and steel"(-15%).
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" (+79%), "live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products" (+55%), "artificial resins and plastic materials" (+24%), "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+14%), "tools, cutlery, metal household ware and manufactures" (-16%) and "articles of apparel and clothing accessories" (-13%).
Comparing the first nine months of 2008 with the same period in 2007, double-digit changes were recorded in inward port cargo of "live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products" (+44%), "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+29%), "stone, sand and gravel; metalliferous ores and metal scrap; and pulp and waste paper" (+16%) and "iron and steel" (-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" (+79%), "live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products" (+65%), "artificial resins and plastic materials" (+14%) and "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+13%).
Containers
In the third quarter of 2008, the port of Hong Kong handled 6.7 million TEUs of containers, representing an increase of 7% over a year earlier. Within this total, laden and empty containers rose by 7% and 9% to 5.5 million TEUs and 1.2 million TEUs respectively. Among laden containers, inward and outward containers grew by 9% and 5% to 2.7 million TEUs and 2.9 million TEUs respectively.
In the first nine months of 2008, the port of Hong Kong handled 18.7 million TEUs of containers, representing an increase of 5% over the same period in 2007. Within this total, laden containers grew by 6% to 15.6 million TEUs, while empty containers increased by 3% to 3.1 million TEUs. For laden containers, inward and outward containers rose by 8% and 4% to 7.6 million TEUs and 8.0 million TEUs respectively.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput increased by 3% in the third quarter of 2008. Within this total, inward and outward laden containers grew by 3% and 2% respectively.
Seaborne and river laden containers rose by 4% and 15% in the third quarter of 2008 over a year earlier to 4.0 million TEUs and 1.5 million TEUs respectively.
Within inward laden containers, imports and inward transhipment increased by 8% and 10% in the third quarter of 2008 over a year earlier to 1.0 million TEUs and 1.7 million TEUs respectively. For outward laden containers, exports increased by 1% to 1.1 million TEUs, while outward transhipment rose by 8% to 1.7 million TEUs.??
In the first nine months of 2008, seaborne and river laden containers increased by 5% and 8% over the same period in 2007 to 11.5 million TEUs and 4.1 million TEUs respectively
Within inward laden containers, imports increased by 1% in the first nine months of 2008 over a year earlier to 2.7 million TEUs, while inward transhipment rose by 12% to 4.9 million TEUs. For outward laden containers, exports decreased by 1% to 3.0 million TEUs, while outward transhipment went up by 8% to 5.0 million TEUs.??
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 third quarter of 2008, the number of ocean vessel arrivals decreased by 3% over a year earlier to 8 830, with the total capacity decreasing by 1% to 93.5 million net registered tons. Over the same period, the number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 5% to 45 630, with the total capacity decreasing by 1% to 24.7 million net registered tons.
In the first nine months of 2008, the number of ocean vessel arrivals decreased by 2% over a year earlier to 27 230, with the total capacity increasing by 5% to 288.6 million net registered tons. Over the same period, the number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 3% over a year earlier to 137 560, with the total capacity decreasing by 5% to 74.1 million net registered tons.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput recorded virtually no change in the third quarter of 2008. Within this total, inward port cargo decreased by 1%, while outward port cargo rose 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 grew by 3% and 25% over a year earlier to 46.2 million tonnes and 21.1 million tonnes respectively in the third quarter of 2008.
Within inward port cargo, imports and inward transhipment increased by 2% and 12% in the third quarter of 2008 over a year earlier to 18.7 million tonnes and 18.6 million tonnes respectively. For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) and outward transhipment went up by 20% and 8% over a year earlier to 11.1 million tonnes and 18.9 million tonnes respectively. ??
Within port cargo, seaborne and river cargo increased by 6% and 20% in the first nine months of 2008 over a year earlier to 138.3 million tonnes and 59.8 million tonnes respectively.
Within inward port cargo, imports increased by 2% in the first nine months of 2008 over a year earlier to 57.7 million tonnes, while inward transhipment rose by 13% to 53.9 million tonnes. For outward port cargo, exports and outward transhipment increased by 26% and 8% to 32.3 million tonnes and 54.2 million tonnes respectively.
Comparing the third quarter of 2008 with the third quarter of 2007, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Vietnam (+88%), Indonesia (+49%), the United States of America (+35%) and Japan (+13%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Singapore (-42%), Taiwan (-28%) and Malaysia (-14%). Over the same period, increases were registered in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in most main countries/territories of discharge, with the three most significant increases recorded for Taiwan (+31%), the mainland of China (+29%) and Malaysia (+29%).
Comparing the first nine months of 2008 with the same period in 2007, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Vietnam (+59%), Indonesia (+34%), the United States of America (+23%), Korea (+15%) and Thailand (+15%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Singapore (-33%) and Malaysia (-15%). Over the same period, increases were registered in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in almost all main countries/territories of discharge, with the three most significant increases recorded for Malaysia (+39%), Taiwan (+33%) and Thailand (+27%).
Comparing the third quarter of 2008 with the third quarter of 2007, double-digit changes were recorded in inward port cargo of "live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products" (+36%), "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+33%), "stone, sand and gravel; metalliferous ores and metal scrap; and pulp and waste paper" (+33%) and "iron and steel"(-15%).
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" (+79%), "live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products" (+55%), "artificial resins and plastic materials" (+24%), "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+14%), "tools, cutlery, metal household ware and manufactures" (-16%) and "articles of apparel and clothing accessories" (-13%).
Comparing the first nine months of 2008 with the same period in 2007, double-digit changes were recorded in inward port cargo of "live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products" (+44%), "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+29%), "stone, sand and gravel; metalliferous ores and metal scrap; and pulp and waste paper" (+16%) and "iron and steel" (-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" (+79%), "live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products" (+65%), "artificial resins and plastic materials" (+14%) and "bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials" (+13%).
Containers
In the third quarter of 2008, the port of Hong Kong handled 6.7 million TEUs of containers, representing an increase of 7% over a year earlier. Within this total, laden and empty containers rose by 7% and 9% to 5.5 million TEUs and 1.2 million TEUs respectively. Among laden containers, inward and outward containers grew by 9% and 5% to 2.7 million TEUs and 2.9 million TEUs respectively.
In the first nine months of 2008, the port of Hong Kong handled 18.7 million TEUs of containers, representing an increase of 5% over the same period in 2007. Within this total, laden containers grew by 6% to 15.6 million TEUs, while empty containers increased by 3% to 3.1 million TEUs. For laden containers, inward and outward containers rose by 8% and 4% to 7.6 million TEUs and 8.0 million TEUs respectively.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput increased by 3% in the third quarter of 2008. Within this total, inward and outward laden containers grew by 3% and 2% respectively.
Seaborne and river laden containers rose by 4% and 15% in the third quarter of 2008 over a year earlier to 4.0 million TEUs and 1.5 million TEUs respectively.
Within inward laden containers, imports and inward transhipment increased by 8% and 10% in the third quarter of 2008 over a year earlier to 1.0 million TEUs and 1.7 million TEUs respectively. For outward laden containers, exports increased by 1% to 1.1 million TEUs, while outward transhipment rose by 8% to 1.7 million TEUs.??
In the first nine months of 2008, seaborne and river laden containers increased by 5% and 8% over the same period in 2007 to 11.5 million TEUs and 4.1 million TEUs respectively
Within inward laden containers, imports increased by 1% in the first nine months of 2008 over a year earlier to 2.7 million TEUs, while inward transhipment rose by 12% to 4.9 million TEUs. For outward laden containers, exports decreased by 1% to 3.0 million TEUs, while outward transhipment went up by 8% to 5.0 million TEUs.??
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 third quarter of 2008, the number of ocean vessel arrivals decreased by 3% over a year earlier to 8 830, with the total capacity decreasing by 1% to 93.5 million net registered tons. Over the same period, the number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 5% to 45 630, with the total capacity decreasing by 1% to 24.7 million net registered tons.
In the first nine months of 2008, the number of ocean vessel arrivals decreased by 2% over a year earlier to 27 230, with the total capacity increasing by 5% to 288.6 million net registered tons. Over the same period, the number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 3% over a year earlier to 137 560, with the total capacity decreasing by 5% to 74.1 million net registered tons.