Total port cargo throughput in the fourth quarter of 2004 slipped 1% over a year earlier, to 54.9 million tonnes. But for 2004 as a whole, total port cargo throughput rose 6% to 220.9 million tonnes.

In the fourth quarter, inward port cargo fell 5% to 32.6 million tonnes, while outward port cargo rose 6% to 22.3 million tonnes.

Within port cargo, seaborne cargo fell 2% over a year earlier, to 38.8 million tonnes, while river cargo went up 2% to 16.1 million tonnes.

Within inward port cargo, imports dropped 11% over a year earlier to 19.7 million tonnes in the fourth quarter, while inward transhipment went up 7% to 12.9 million tonnes.

For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) recorded virtually no change, at 8.9 million tonnes, while outward transhipment rose 10% to 13.4 million tonnes.

On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput fell 2% in the fourth quarter. Inward port cargo dropped 5%, while outward port cargo rose 4%.

For 2004 as a whole, inward port cargo went up 5% to 134.9 million tonnes, while outward port cargo also rose 9% to 86 million tonnes.

Within port cargo, seaborne cargo rose 7% to 158.6 million tones and river cargo rose 6% to 62.3 million tonnes over a year earlier.

Within inward port cargo, imports fell 2% over a year earlier to 82.5 million tonnes in 2004, while inward transhipment soared 17% to 52.4 million tonnes.

Outward cargo to Thailand up 37%

For outward port cargo, exports rose 8% to 35.5 million tonnes, while outward transhipment went up 9% to 50.5 million tonnes.

Comparing the fourth quarter of 2004 with that of 2003, a double-digit increase was recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in the United States (+17%). But double-digit falls were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Taiwan (-28%), the Republic of Korea (-22%) and Indonesia (-20%).

Over the same period, double-digit surges were registered in the tonnage of outward port cargo for discharge in Thailand (+37%), Australia (+26%), Singapore (+23%), Malaysia (+18%), the United States (+17%) and Japan (+14%). But a double-digit fall was recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Italy (-26%).

Comparing 2004 with 2003, double-digit surges were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Australia (+29%), Malaysia (+19%), Singapore (+17%) and the United States (+17%). At the same time, double-digit increases were registered in the tonnage of outward port cargo for discharge in Australia (+39%), Singapore (+26%), Thailand (+21%), Malaysia (+18%) and the United States (+11%).

In the fourth quarter, the port of Hong Kong handled 5.6 million TEUs of containers, representing a rise of 4% over a year earlier.

Within this total, laden containers rose 3% to 4.5 million TEUs, while empty containers went up 11% to 1.1 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward containers went up 2% to 2.1 million TEUs while outward containers rose 3% to 2.4 million TEUs.

For 2004 as a whole, the port of Hong Kong handled 22 million TEUs of containers, representing a rise of 8% over 2003.

Within this total, laden containers rose 8% to 17.9 million TEUs, while empty containers went up 5% to 4.1 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward containers rose 11% to 8.5 million TEUs while outward containers rose 5% to 9.4 million TEUs.

In the fourth quarter, the number of ocean vessel arrivals went up 1% on a year earlier to 9,380 with the total capacity falling 1% to 77.3 million net registered tons. Over the same period, the number of river vessel arrivals recorded virtually no change, at 47,850, with the total capacity increasing 3% to 23.2 million net registered tons.

In 2004, there were 35,900 ocean vessel arrivals, representing virtually no change from 2003, while river vessel arrivals rose 4%, to 189,530.