Census and Statistics Department issues Hong Kong Shipping Statistics
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the third quarter of 2013.
In the third quarter of 2013, total port cargo throughput increased by 1% compared with a year earlier to 69.9 million tonnes. Within this total, inward port cargo increased by 3% to 41.5 million tonnes, while outward port cargo decreased by 3% to 28.4 million tonnes.
For the first nine months of 2013, total port cargo throughput decreased by 1% compared with a year earlier to 201.1 million tonnes. Within this total, inward port cargo increased by 1% to 117.8 million tonnes, while outward port cargo decreased by 3% to 83.3 million tonnes.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput increased by 2% in the third quarter of 2013. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo increased by 3% and 1% 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 decreased by 2% compared with a year earlier to 47.6 million tonnes, while river cargo increased by 6% to 22.3 million tonnes in the third quarter of 2013.
Within inward port cargo, imports and inward transhipment increased by 6% and 1% in the third quarter of 2013 compared with a year earlier to 21.1 million tonnes and 20.4 million tonnes respectively. For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) decreased by 8% compared with a year earlier to 8.7 million tonnes, while outward transhipment recorded virtually no change at 19.7 million tonnes.
Within port cargo, seaborne cargo decreased by 5% in the first nine months of 2013 compared with a year earlier to 136.5 million tonnes, while river cargo increased by 8% to 64.5 million tonnes.
Within inward port cargo, imports increased by 4% in the first nine months of 2013 compared with a year earlier to 58.7 million tonnes, while inward transhipment decreased by 2% to 59.1 million tonnes. For outward port cargo, exports and outward transhipment decreased by 2% and 4% compared with a year earlier to 26.5 million tonnes and 56.8 million tonnes respectively.
Comparing the third quarter of 2013 with the third quarter of 2012, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Malaysia (+30%), the mainland of China (+15%) and Japan (+10%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Korea (-35%), Singapore (-18%), Vietnam (-16%), the United States of America (-11%) and Taiwan (-11%). For outward port cargo, a double-digit increase was registered in the tonnage discharged in Vietnam (+23%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Singapore (-22%), Taiwan (-17%) and the Philippines (-17%).
Comparing the first nine months of 2013 with the same period in 2012, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Malaysia (+13%) and the mainland of China (+11%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Korea (-32%) and Singapore (-14%). For outward port cargo, a double-digit decrease was registered in the tonnage discharged in Singapore (-12%).
Comparing the third quarter of 2013 with the third quarter of 2012, double-digit changes were recorded in inward port cargo of “stone, sand and gravel; metalliferous ores and metal scrap; and pulp and waste paper” (+32%), “iron and steel” (-10%) and “artificial resins and plastic materials” (-19%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit changes were recorded for “logs and timber; wood, simply worked” (+44%) and “artificial resins and plastic materials” (-14%).
Comparing the first nine months of 2013 with the same period in 2012, double-digit changes were recorded in inward port cargo of “stone, sand and gravel; metalliferous ores and metal scrap; and pulp and waste paper” (+22%) and “artificial resins and plastic materials” (-13%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit changes were recorded for “logs and timber; wood, simply worked” (+24%), “iron and steel” (-10%) and “artificial resins and plastic materials” (-13%).
Containers
In the third quarter of 2013, the port of Hong Kong handled 5.8 million TEUs of containers, representing a decrease of 1% compared with a year earlier. Within this total, laden containers recorded virtually no change at 5.0 million TEUs, while empty containers dropped by 9% to 0.8 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward containers increased by 2% to 2.5 million TEUs, while outward containers dropped by 2% to 2.5 million TEUs.
In the first nine months of 2013, the port of Hong Kong handled 16.5 million TEUs of containers, representing a decrease of 5% compared with the same period in 2012. Within this total, laden containers dropped by 4% to 14.3 million TEUs, while empty containers also decreased by 14% to 2.3 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward containers decreased by 3% to 7.2 million TEUs, while outward containers also dropped by 5% to 7.0 million TEUs.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput increased by 2% in the third quarter of 2013. Within this total, inward laden containers increased by 5%, while outward laden containers recorded virtually no change.
Seaborne laden containers recorded virtually no change in the third quarter of 2013 compared with a year earlier at 3.7 million TEUs, while river laden containers increased by 1% to 1.3 million TEUs.
Within inward laden containers, imports and inward transhipment increased by 1% and 2% in the third quarter of 2013 compared with a year earlier to 0.7 million TEUs and 1.8 million TEUs respectively. For outward laden containers, exports decreased by 7% to 0.7 million TEUs, while outward transhipment recorded virtually no change at 1.8 million TEUs.
In the first nine months of 2013, seaborne and river laden containers decreased by 5% and 1% compared with the same period in 2012 to 10.7 million TEUs and 3.6 million TEUs respectively.
Within inward laden containers, imports and inward transhipment decreased by 3% and 2% in the first nine months of 2013 compared with a year earlier to 2.1 million TEUs and 5.2 million TEUs respectively. For outward laden containers, exports and outward transhipment decreased by 7% and 5% to 2.0 million TEUs and 5.0 million TEUs respectively.
Vessel arrivals
Comparing the third quarter of 2013 with the third quarter of 2012, the number of ocean vessel arrivals decreased by 5% to 7 290, with the total capacity increasing by 2% to 104.3 million net registered tons. The number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 2% to 39 700, with the total capacity also decreasing by 6% to 26.7 million net registered tons.
Comparing the first nine months of 2013 with the same period in 2012, the number of ocean vessel arrivals decreased by 3% to 22 220, with the total capacity recording virtually no change at 308.5 million net registered tons. The number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 3% to 116 530, with the total capacity increasing by 1% to 80.5 million net registered tons.
Source: C&SD