In the last decade, road cargo throughput grew at an average annual rate of 2%, and accounted for 16% to 18% of the total, the Census & Statistics Department says, adding 39.9 million tonnes of inward and outward cargo was transported by road last year.

In the latest issue of the HK Monthly Digest of Statistics, the department said road traffic has long been an important means for transporting goods between Hong Kong and the Mainland.

In 2003, 39.9 million tonnes of cargo was transported by road, including 20.8 million tonnes (52%) of inward cargo and 19.2 million tonnes (48%) of outward cargo.

Among the inward cargo, 5.2 million tonnes were machinery and transport equipment; 3 million tonnes were manufactured goods classified chiefly by material; 2.2 million tonnes were toys, games and sports goods; and 1.7 million tonnes were articles of apparel and clothing accessories.

For outward cargo, 6.2 million tonnes were manufactured goods classified chiefly by material; 5.6 million tonnes were chemicals and related products; and 3.9 million tonnes were machinery and transport equipment.

The latest issue of the HK Monthly Digest of Statistics is now available, in both print version and download version (in PDF format), for sale at $65 and $48.80. 

Both the print and download versions can be purchased online at the Statistical Bookstore. 

To get the print version through mail, return a completed order form which can be downloaded from the department's website.