Statistics on Vessels, Port Cargo and Containers for the Second Quarter
of 2004
The Census and Statistics Department today (September 10) released
statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the second quarter of
2004.
In the second quarter of 2004, total port cargo throughput increased by
8% over a year earlier to 55.3 million tonnes. Within this total, inward port
cargo increased by 10% to 34.6 million tonnes, while outward port cargo
rose by 6% to 20.7 million tonnes.
For the first half of 2004, total port cargo throughput increased by 10% to
110.8 million tonnes. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo
were up by 9% and 12% to 68.6 million tonnes and 42.2 million tonnes
respectively.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo
throughput decreased by 8% in the second quarter of 2004. Within this
total, inward port cargo decreased by 6%, while outward port cargo
decreased by 10%. 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 went up by 10% and 4% over
a year earlier to 40.3 million tonnes and 15.0 million tonnes respectively in
the second quarter of 2004.
Within inward port cargo, imports increased by 3% over a year earlier to
21.2 million tonnes in the second quarter of 2004, while inward
transhipment surged by 21% to 13.4 million tonnes. For outward port
cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) and outward
transhipment rose by 8% and 4% to 8.6 million tonnes and 12.1 million
tonnes respectively.
Within port cargo, seaborne cargo went up by 10% in the first half of 2004
over a year earlier to 79.7 million tonnes, while river cargo also increased
by 10% to 31.1 million tonnes.
Within inward port cargo, imports rose by 4% in the first half of 2004 over
a year earlier to 42.8 million tonnes, while inward transhipment surged by
20% to 25.9 million tonnes. For outward port cargo, exports rose by 15%
to 17.5 million tonnes, while outward transhipment increased by 10% to
24.7 million tonnes.
Comparing the second quarter of 2004 with the second quarter of 2003,
double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo
loaded in Australia (+92%), Singapore (+39%), Malaysia (+37%), the
Republic of Korea (+20%) and the United States (+10%). Over the same
period, substantial increases were registered in the tonnage of outward
port cargo for discharge in Australia (+63%), the United States (+12%)
and Vietnam (+12%). On the other hand, a double-digit decrease was
recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Japan
(-17%).
Comparing the first half of 2004 with the same period in 2003,
double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo
loaded in Australia (+68%), Singapore (+34%), Malaysia (+28%), the
Republic of Korea (+24%) and the United States (+16%). Over the same
period, double-digit increases were registered in the tonnage of outward
port cargo for discharge in Australia (+52%), Vietnam (+51%), Taiwan
(+14%), Italy (+12%), the mainland of China (+11%) and Thailand
(+10%).
Containers
In the second quarter of 2004, the port of Hong Kong handled 5.4 million
TEUs of containers, representing an increase of 6% over a year earlier.
Within this total, laden containers and empty containers both rose by 6%
to 4.4 million TEUs and 1.0 million TEUs respectively. Among laden
containers, inward and outward containers were up by 11% and 2% in the
second quarter of 2004 over a year earlier to 2.1 million TEUs and 2.2
million TEUs respectively.
In the first half of 2004, the port of Hong Kong handled 10.6 million TEUs
of containers, representing an increase of 8% over the same period in
2003. Within this total, laden containers rose by 11% to 8.7 million TEUs,
while empty containers decreased by 1% to 1.9 million TEUs. Among
laden containers, inward and outward containers were up by 14% and 8%
over a year earlier to 4.2 million TEUs and 4.5 million TEUs respectively in
the first half of 2004.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container
throughput decreased by 9% in the second quarter of 2004, comprising
decreases of 5% and 12% respectively for inward and outward laden
containers.
Seaborne laden containers went up by 7% in the second quarter of 2004
over a year earlier to 3.3 million TEUs, while river laden containers
increased by 5% to 1.0 million TEUs.
Within inward laden containers, imports increased by 8% to 1.0 million
TEUs, while inward transhipment surged by 15% to 1.2 million TEUs in
the second quarter of 2004 over the same period in 2003. For outward
laden containers, exports rose by 6% to 1.1 million TEUs, while outward
transhipment fell by 2% to 1.1 million TEUs.
Seaborne laden containers went up by 10% to 6.6 million TEUs in the first
half of 2004 over the same period in 2003, while river laden containers
increased by 14% to 2.1 million TEUs.
Within inward laden containers, imports and inward transhipment
amounted to 1.9 million TEUs and 2.3 million TEUs respectively in the first
half of 2004, representing increases of 10% and 18% over the same
period in 2003. For outward laden containers, exports amounted to 2.2
million TEUs in the first half of 2004, representing an increase of 10% over
the same period in 2003, while outward transhipment rose by 6% to 2.3
million TEUs.
The detailed container statistics are summarised in Table 6(text version) .
Port cargo and laden container statistics are compiled from a sample of
consignments listed in the cargo manifests supplied by shipping companies
or agents to the Census and Statistics Department.
Vessel arrivals
In the second quarter of 2004, the number of ocean vessel arrivals was up
by 1% over a year earlier to 8 810, with the total capacity increasing by
5% to 76.9 million net registered tons. Over the same period, the number
of river vessel arrivals was up by 9% to 47 590, with an increase of 11%
in capacity to 23.1 million net registered tons.
In the first half of 2004, the number of ocean vessel arrivals was up by 1%
over a year earlier to 17 650, with the total capacity increasing by 6% to
154.1 million net registered tons. Over the same period, the number of
river vessel arrivals was up by 5% to 93 250, with an increase of 7% in
capacity to 44.6 million net registered tons.
The statistics on vessel arrivals in Hong Kong are given in Table 7(text
version) .
Vessel statistics are compiled by the Marine Department primarily from
general declarations submitted by ship masters or authorised shipping
agents. Pleasure vessels and fishing vessels plying exclusively within the
river trade limits are excluded.
Ends/Friday, September 10, 2004