Port cargo throughput slips 0.2% in Q2

Seaborne volumes dropped 3.2% during the quarter.

Hong Kong’s total port cargo throughput fell 0.2% year on year (YoY) to 42.3 million tonnes in the second quarter (Q2), according to the Census and Statistics Department.

Inward port cargo decreased 3.8% to 24.3 million tonnes, whilst outward port cargo increased 5.2% to 18.0 million tonnes.

On a seasonally adjusted quarter-on-quarter basis, total port cargo throughput decreased 6.4% in Q2. Inward and outward port cargo decreased by 7.7% and 4.6%, respectively, from the previous quarter.

By mode, seaborne cargo declined 3.2% YoY to 25.6 million tonnes, whilst river cargo grew 4.8% to 16.7 million tonnes.

Hong Kong’s container throughput increased 1.1% YoY to 3.24 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in Q2.

Laden containers increased 2.5% to 2.64 million TEUs, whilst empty containers fell 4.4% to 600,000 TEUs.

Amongst laden containers, inward containers rose 1.6% to 1.39 million TEUs, whilst outward containers increased 3.5% to 1.26 million TEUs.

Seaborne and river laden containers increased 1.0% and 6.0% to 1.84 million TEUs and 810,000 TEUs, respectively.

On a seasonally adjusted quarter-on-quarter basis, laden container throughput decreased 1.9% in Q2. Inward and outward laden containers fell 3.5% and 0.1%, respectively.

Ocean vessel arrivals increased 5.0% to 5,145 in Q2, with total capacity rising 1.7% to 75.2 million net tonnes. River vessel arrivals fell 2.1% to 19,680, whilst capacity increased 0.9% to 23.8 million net tons.

First-half performance

Total port cargo throughput increased 1.0% YoY to 84.4 million tonnes in the first half (H1).

Seaborne cargo decreased 2.7% to 51.0 million tonnes, whilst river cargo increased 7.3% to 33.4 million tonnes.

The port handled 6.38 million TEUs in H1, down 3.0% from a year earlier. Laden containers increased 0.2% to 5.17 million TEUs, whilst empty containers fell 14.8% to 1.21 million TEUs.

Seaborne laden containers decreased 1.3% to 3.59 million TEUs, whilst river laden containers increased 4.0% to 1.58 million TEUs.

Ocean vessel arrivals increased 5.7% to 9,942, with capacity rising 3.9% to 150.3 million net tons. River vessel arrivals decreased 0.2% to 39,800, whilst capacity increased 4.0% to 48.6 million net tonnes.