Statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the second quarter of 2023

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (September 4) released the statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the second quarter of 2023.

     In the second quarter of 2023, total port cargo throughput decreased by 14.9% compared with the second quarter of 2022 to 44.5 million tonnes. Within this total, inward port cargo and outward port cargo decreased by 13.1% and 17.8% compared with the second quarter of 2022 to 28.3 million tonnes and 16.2 million tonnes respectively.

     For the first half of 2023, total port cargo throughput decreased by 9.5% compared with the first half of 2022 to 85.7 million tonnes. Within this total, inward port cargo and outward port cargo decreased by 9.5% and 9.3% compared with the first half of 2022 to 54.5 million tonnes and 31.2 million tonnes respectively.

     On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput decreased by 4.0% in the second quarter of 2023. Within this total, inward port cargo and outward port cargo decreased by 4.6% and 2.9% respectively compared with the preceding quarter. The seasonally adjusted series enables more meaningful shorter-term comparison to be made for discerning possible variations in trends.

Port cargo

     Within port cargo, seaborne and river cargo decreased by 13.0% and 18.5% in the second quarter of 2023 compared with the second quarter of 2022 to 30.2 million tonnes and 14.4 million tonnes respectively.

     Within inward port cargo, imports and inward transhipment decreased by 6.6% and 19.3% in the second quarter of 2023 compared with the second quarter of 2022 to 14.9 million tonnes and 13.5 million tonnes respectively. For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) and outward transhipment decreased by 18.8% and 17.5% in the second quarter of 2023 compared with the second quarter of 2022 to 3.5 million tonnes and 12.6 million tonnes respectively.

     Within port cargo, seaborne and river cargo decreased by 12.7% and 2.1% in the first half of 2023 compared with the first half of 2022 to 57.5 million tonnes and 28.3 million tonnes respectively.

     Within inward port cargo, imports and inward transhipment decreased by 6.5% and 12.6% in the first half of 2023 compared with the first half of 2022 to 28.5 million tonnes and 26.0 million tonnes respectively. For outward port cargo, exports and outward transhipment decreased by 7.1% and 10.0% in the first half of 2023 compared with the first half of 2022 to 7.0 million tonnes and 24.2 million tonnes respectively.

     The detailed port cargo statistics are summarised in Table 1.

     The main countries/territories of loading of inward port cargo and countries/territories of discharge of outward port cargo are shown in Table 2 and Table 3 respectively.

     Comparing the second quarter of 2023 with the second quarter of 2022, double-digit increase was recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Malaysia (+16.4%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Vietnam (-35.8%), Japan (-22.8%), Taiwan (-21.7%), the mainland of China (-14.9%) and Korea (-13.0%). For outward port cargo, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in the United States of America (-40.1%), Taiwan (-31.0%), Australia (-27.2%), Vietnam (-25.0%), Japan (-22.0%), the mainland of China (-17.3%), Malaysia (-15.6%) and Korea (-14.5%).

     Comparing the first half of 2023 with the first half of 2022, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Vietnam (-33.3%), Taiwan (-32.4%), Japan (-23.1%), Korea (-18.9%) and Thailand (-10.5%). For outward port cargo, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in the United States of America (-36.4%), Taiwan (-32.2%), Australia (-22.6%), Japan (-21.2%), Vietnam (-17.9%), Korea (-15.9%) and Malaysia (-12.2%).

     The principal commodities of inward port cargo and outward port cargo are shown in Table 4 and Table 5 respectively.

     Comparing the second quarter of 2023 with the second quarter of 2022, double-digit changes were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo of "petroleum, petroleum products and related materials" (+44.5%), "artificial resins and plastic materials" (-19.4%) and "machinery" (-25.5%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of "artificial resins and plastic materials" (-29.8%), "stone, sand and gravel" (-22.2%), "machinery" (-19.6%), "pulp and waste paper" (-19.5%) and "live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products" (-13.2%).

     Comparing the first half of 2023 with the first half of 2022, double-digit changes were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo of "petroleum, petroleum products and related materials" (+29.4%), "stone, sand and gravel" (-10.6%), "artificial resins and plastic materials" (-11.7%) and "machinery" (-16.3%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit changes were recorded in the tonnage of "stone, sand and gravel" (+40.5%), "metalliferous ores and metal scrap" (+10.2%), "artificial resins and plastic materials" (-10.8%) and "machinery" (-18.9%).

Containers

     In the second quarter of 2023, the port of Hong Kong handled 3.69 million TEUs of containers, representing a decrease of 21.9% compared with the second quarter of 2022. Within this total, laden and empty containers decreased by 22.9% and 17.8% to 2.90 million TEUs and 0.78 million TEUs respectively. Among laden containers, inward and outward containers decreased by 24.9% and 20.5% to 1.56 million TEUs and 1.34 million TEUs respectively.

     For the first half of 2023, the port of Hong Kong handled 7.12 million TEUs of containers, representing a decrease of 15.5% compared with the first half of 2022. Within this total, laden and empty containers decreased by 16.9% and 9.8% to 5.63 million TEUs and 1.49 million TEUs respectively. Among laden containers, inward and outward containers decreased by 18.5% and 15.0% to 3.02 million TEUs and 2.61 million TEUs respectively.

     On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput decreased by 4.4% in the second quarter of 2023. Within this total, inward and outward laden containers decreased by 5.9% and 2.5% respectively.

     In the second quarter of 2023, seaborne and river laden containers decreased by 18.3% and 32.8% compared with the second quarter of 2022 to 2.09 million TEUs and 0.81 million TEUs respectively.

     Within inward laden containers, imports and inward transhipment decreased by 33.9% and 20.9% in the second quarter of 2023 compared with the second quarter of 2022 to 0.43 million TEUs and 1.14 million TEUs respectively. For outward laden containers, exports and outward transhipment decreased by 22.6% and 19.9% in the second quarter of 2023 compared with the second quarter of 2022 to 0.27 million TEUs and 1.07 million TEUs respectively.

     In the first half of 2023, seaborne and river laden containers decreased by 17.6% and 15.0% compared with the first half of 2022 to 4.02 million TEUs and 1.61 million TEUs respectively.

     Within inward laden containers, imports and inward transhipment decreased by 27.5% and 14.4% in the first half of 2023 compared with the first half of 2022 to 0.83 million TEUs and 2.20 million TEUs respectively. For outward laden containers, exports and outward transhipment decreased by 20.6% and 13.4% in the first half of 2023 compared with the first half of 2022 to 0.54 million TEUs and 2.07 million TEUs respectively.

     The detailed container statistics are summarised in Table 6.

     Port cargo and laden container statistics are compiled from a sample of consignments listed in the cargo manifests supplied by shipping companies and agents to the C&SD.

Vessel arrivals

     Comparing the second quarter of 2023 with the second quarter of 2022, the number of ocean vessel arrivals increased by 11.7% to 4 785, with the total capacity also increasing by 28.0% to 77.1 million net tons. Meanwhile, the number of river vessel arrivals increased by 30.1% to 18 456, with the total capacity also increasing by 1.8% to 18.4 million net tons.

     Comparing the first half of 2023 with the first half of 2022, the number of ocean vessel arrivals increased by 20.0% to 9 311, with the total capacity also increasing by 29.8% to 147.9 million net tons. Meanwhile, the number of river vessel arrivals increased by 41.6% to 33 160, with the total capacity also increasing by 17.5% to 35.7 million net tons.

     The statistics on vessel arrivals in Hong Kong are given in Table 7.

     Vessel statistics are compiled by the Marine Department primarily from general declarations submitted by ship masters and authorised shipping agents. Pleasure vessels and fishing vessels plying exclusively within the river trade limits are excluded.

Further information

     More detailed statistics on port cargo, containers and vessels are published in the report "Hong Kong Shipping Statistics, Second Quarter 2023". Users can download this publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1020008&scode=230).

     For enquiries about port cargo and container statistics, please contact the Electronic Trading Services and Cargo Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 2126 or email: shipping@censtatd.gov.hk). For enquiries about vessel statistics, readers may contact the Statistics Section under the Planning, Development and Port Security Branch of the Marine Department (Tel: 2852 3662 or email: st-sec@mardep.gov.hk).