Hong Kong’s total port cargo throughput, including box shipments, went down in the first quarter, according to data from the Census & Statistics Department.
Overall cargo volume dropped 1% year-on-year to 68.4 million tonnes in the first quarter. Of this total, inward cargo decreased 3% to 41.9 million tonnes, while outward cargo rose 3% to 26.5 million tonnes.
Container volume handled at the port of during the quarter also fell, contracting 7% year-over-year to 9 million TEUs.
Of this total, laden containers fell 8% to 4.2 million TEUs, and empty containers fell 5% to 700,000 TEUs.
Among laden containers, inward containers decreased 9% to 2.1 million TEUs, and outward containers shrank 6% to 2.1 million TEUs.
The number of ocean vessel arrivals dropped 1% to 7,360 in the quarter, with the total capacity increasing 1% to 102.8 million net registered tons.
The number of river vessel arrivals rose 4% to 39,200, with the total capacity recording virtually no change at 25.6 million net registered tons.
Shanghai port gets busy
Meanwhile, China’s Port of Shanghai delivered higher container throughput in May, according to figures released by port operator Shanghai International Port (Group) Co.
Container volumes processed last month reached 3.16 million TEUs, up 4.7% compared to 3.02 million TEUs year-over-year.
On a month-on-month basis, volumes rose 1.5% in May from 3.11 million TEUs in April.
In the first five months of this year, Shanghai port moved a total throughput of 14.95 million TEUs.
Photo: Wing
