Shipping upswing: Total port cargo throughput grew to 61.8 million tonnes in the third quarter, up 5% on the same period last year.

Total port cargo throughput grew to 61.8 million tonnes in the third quarter, up 5% on the same period last year, the Census & Statistics Department says. Inward port cargo fell 1% to 35.4 million tonnes, while outward port cargo rose 14% to 26.4 million tonnes.

For the first nine months, total port cargo throughput grew 4% on the same period last year, to 177.4 million tonnes. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo rose 1% and 9% to 105.7 million tonnes and 71.7 million tonnes.

Seaborne cargo remained almost unchanged at 41.8 million tonnes, while river cargo grew 15% to 19.9 million tonnes.

Within inward port cargo, both imports and inward transhipment fell 1% to 20.9 million tonnes and 14.5 million tonnes.

For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) grew 18% and outward transhipment grew 10% over a year earlier to 11.5 million tonnes and 14.9 million tonnes.

6.1m containers handled

The third quarter saw 6.1 million TEU containers handled at Hong Kong port, up 1% on the same period last year. Within this total, laden containers grew by 3% to five million TEUs, while empty containers fell 6% to 1.1 million TEUs.

In the first nine months this year, 17.4 million TEU containers were handled, up 4% on the same period in 2005. Within this total, laden containers grew 5% to 14.3 million TEUs, and empty containers remained at  3.1 million TEUs.

Seaborne laden containers grew 1% to 3.7 million TEUs in the third quarter, and river laden containers also rose by 7% to 1.4 million TEUs.

In the first nine months this year, seaborne laden containers grew 3% to 10.4 million TEUs over the same period in 2005, and river laden containers also rose 10% to 3.9 million TEUs.

Ocean vessel arrivals fall 2%

The third quarter saw ocean vessel arrivals fall 2% to 10,020, with total capacity rising 6% to 87.5 million net registered tons.

River vessel arrivals fell 3% to 48,050, with total capacity increasing 5% to 27.4 million net registered tons.

In the first nine months this year, ocean vessel arrivals stayed at 29,240, with total capacity rising by 7% to 257.7 million net registered tons.

Over the same period, river vessel arrivals grew by 1% over a year earlier to 144,150, with the total capacity rising by 10% to 81.3 million net registered tons.