Shipping hub: Total port cargo throughput rose 8% over a year earlier in last year's fourth quarter, to 59.2 million tonnes.

Total port cargo throughput rose 8% over a year earlier in last year's fourth quarter, to 59.2 million tonnes, the Census & Statistics Department says.

For last year as a whole, total port cargo throughput recorded a 4% surge, to 230.1 million tonnes. On a seasonally adjusted quarter-on-quarter comparison, total port throughput dipped 1% in Q4, as both inward and outward port cargo shrank 1%.

Seaborne and river cargo went up 5% and 15% over a year earlier, to 40.7 million tonnes and 18.5 million tonnes in Q4. For last year as a whole, seaborne cargo rose 2% over 2004 to 161.5 million tonnes while river cargo went up 10% to 68.7 million tonnes.

Singapore key place for cargo loading

Comparing last year's Q4 with a year earlier, increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Singapore (32%), Japan (19%) and the Mainland (16%).

The tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Australia, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea and Thailand dropped 39%, 12%, 11% and 10%. For the tonnage of outward port cargo for discharge, Macau recorded a 60% growth. This was followed by Taiwan (22%) and Japan (18%). However, Malaysia registered a 10% fall.

Comparing 2005 with 2004, increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Singapore (27%), Indonesia (17%) and the Mainland (12%). The tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Australia and the Republic of Korea declined 36% and 25%.

Increases were also seen in the tonnage of outward port cargo for discharge in Macau (62%), Vietnam (30%), Thailand (23%), Taiwan (20%), Japan (20%) and the Philippines (10%).

Comparing last year's Q4 with a year earlier, the inward port cargo of metalliferous ores and metal scrap rose 66% while that for coal, coke and briquettes saw a 10% decline. For outward port cargo, metalliferous ores and metal scrap rose 42%.

Comparing 2005 with 2004, the inward port cargo of pulp and waste paper grew 45% while that for paper and paper products decreased 16%. For outward port cargo, pulp and waste paper saw a 44% rise while paper and paper products fell 12%.

In last year's Q4, the port handled 5.9 million containers, representing an increase of 5% over a year earlier. Laden containers went up 7% to 4.8 million while empty containers fell 1% to 1.1 million. Among laden containers, inward and outward containers rose 12% and 2% to 2.3 million and 2.5 million.

22.6m containers handled

The port handled 22.6 million containers last year, representing a 3% surge over 2004. Laden and empty containers rose 3% and 1% to 18.5 million and 4.1 million. For laden containers, inward and outward containers increased 6% and 1% to 9 million and 9.5 million.

On a seasonally adjusted quarter-on-quarter comparison, laden container throughput increased 1% in last year's Q4. Within this total, inward laden containers rose 2% while outward laden containers recorded virtually no change.

Seaborne laden containers grew 4% in Q4 to 3.5 million, while river laden containers went up 14% to 1.3 million. For last year, seaborne laden containers stood at 13.6 million while river laden containers went up 12% to 4.9 million.

In last year's Q4, the number of ocean vessel arrivals went up 6% over a year earlier to 9,960, with the total capacity up 9% to 84 million net registered tons. The number of river vessel arrivals rose 4% to 49,780, with the total capacity up 15% to 26.7 million net registered tons.

The number of ocean vessel arrivals for last year increased 9% over 2004 to 39,140, with the total capacity up 5%, to 323.9 million net registered tons. The number of river vessel arrivals grew 2% to 192,680, with the total capacity up 10% to 100.8 million net registered tons.