On the rise: Hong Kong's port cargo throughput rose 7%, to 65 million tonnes in last year's fourth quarter.

Hong Kong's port cargo throughput rose 7% on the same period in 2006, to 65 million tones in last year's fourth quarter. That brought the year's total to 245.4 million, up 3% on 2006, the Census & Statistics Department says.

Within the 65 million tonnes, inward port cargo rose 2% to 36.7 million tonnes, and outward port cargo rose 13% to 28.3 million tonnes.

On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput increased 6% in the fourth quarter, with inward and outward port cargo up 5% and 7%.

The quarter saw the largest rise in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Indonesia, up 52%. More significant decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in the Philippines (down 25%) and Malaysia (down 10%). 

Increases were registered in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in most countries/territories, with the three most significant increases recorded for Malaysia (up 69%), Vietnam (up 58%) and Taiwan (up 56%).

Double-digit changes

Double-digit changes were recorded in inward port cargo of coal, coke and briquettes (up 93%), iron and steel (down 17%) and petroleum, petroleum products and related materials (down 11%). For outward port cargo, double-digit changes were recorded for metalliferous ores and metal scrap (up 18%) and pulp and waste paper (down 11%).

Hong Kong's port handled 6.3 million containers in the fourth quarter, up 1% over a year earlier. Within this total, laden containers rose 3% to 5.2 million and empty containers decreased 7% to 1.1 million. Among laden containers, inward and outward containers grew 2% and 4% to 2.5 million and 2.7 million.

In the fourth quarter, ocean vessel arrivals fell 4% over a year earlier to 9,400, with the total capacity increasing 10% to 98.1 million net registered tonnes. River vessel arrivals also grew 1% to 48,120, with the total capacity going down 12% to 24.9 million net registered tonnes.

Year-on-year comparison

Comparing 2007 with 2006, double-digit increases were registered in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in a number of main countries/territories. The most substantial increases were recorded for Vietnam (up 60%), Malaysia (up 45%) and the Philippines (up 29%). A double-digit fall of 13% was recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in the US.

A double-digit fall of 19% was recorded in inward port cargo of stone, sand and gravel. For outward port cargo, double-digit rises were recorded for metalliferous ores and metal scrap (up 13%) and bricks, ceramic tile and refractory construction materials (up 10%).

Hong Kong's port handled 24 million containers last year, up 2% over 2006. Within this total, laden containers grew 3% to 19.9 million while empty containers decreased 2% to 4.1 million. For laden containers, inward and outward containers rose 2% and 4% to 9.5 million and 10.4 million.

Last year saw ocean vessel arrivals dip 5% over 2006 to 37,150, with the total capacity rising 7% to 372.5 million net registered tonnes. River vessel arrivals recorded virtually no change at 191,110, with the total capacity decreasing 6% to 102.8 million net registered tonnes.