Hutchison Whampoa, PSA International and other port operators in Hong Kong handled 1.2 per cent more containers in January than a year earlier as China's growing trade fuelled demand.
Cargo volume at Hong Kong, the world's second-busiest container port, rose to 1.9 million 20-foot boxes last month, according to preliminary figures posted on the Port Development Council's website yesterday. Last year, volume rose a revised 3.1 per cent to 23.3 million containers.
China's exports surged 33 per cent last month from a year earlier, while imports rose 27.5 per cent, driving up demand for shipments at Hong Kong and other ports. Hong Kong mainly handles goods made in China and elsewhere, and then sent to the city for re-distribution.
Singapore, the world's biggest container port, handled 2.17 million standard 20-foot containers in January, 11 per cent more than a year earlier, the port authority said. Last year, traffic rose 6.9 per cent to 24.8 million boxes.
Growth in Hong Kong's container traffic has slowed because of competition from Shenzhen and other southern Chinese ports, which are winning customers through low prices.
Trucking a 20-foot container from a factory in southern China and shipping it from Hong Kong costs US$333 more on average than moving it out of Shenzhen, according to a study commissioned by the Hong Kong government.
Volumes at the Kwai Tsing terminals, where more than 60 per cent of Hong Kong's sea cargo is processed, rose 12 per cent to 1.36 million boxes last month. Hutchison and PSA have a venture that manages 11 berths at the terminals. They also have a separate venture with Cosco Pacific that manages two other berths.
Cargo volume at Hong Kong, the world's second-busiest container port, rose to 1.9 million 20-foot boxes last month, according to preliminary figures posted on the Port Development Council's website yesterday. Last year, volume rose a revised 3.1 per cent to 23.3 million containers.
China's exports surged 33 per cent last month from a year earlier, while imports rose 27.5 per cent, driving up demand for shipments at Hong Kong and other ports. Hong Kong mainly handles goods made in China and elsewhere, and then sent to the city for re-distribution.
Singapore, the world's biggest container port, handled 2.17 million standard 20-foot containers in January, 11 per cent more than a year earlier, the port authority said. Last year, traffic rose 6.9 per cent to 24.8 million boxes.
Growth in Hong Kong's container traffic has slowed because of competition from Shenzhen and other southern Chinese ports, which are winning customers through low prices.
Trucking a 20-foot container from a factory in southern China and shipping it from Hong Kong costs US$333 more on average than moving it out of Shenzhen, according to a study commissioned by the Hong Kong government.
Volumes at the Kwai Tsing terminals, where more than 60 per cent of Hong Kong's sea cargo is processed, rose 12 per cent to 1.36 million boxes last month. Hutchison and PSA have a venture that manages 11 berths at the terminals. They also have a separate venture with Cosco Pacific that manages two other berths.