SHIPPING NEWS

Total port cargo throughput rose to 67.3 million tonnes in the second quarter, up 9% on the same period last year. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo rose 10% and 7% to 39.3 million tonnes and 27.9 million tonnes. The Census & Statistics Department said today total port cargo throughput during the first half of the year grew to 130 million tonnes, up 14% over a year earlier. Within this total, both inward and outward port cargo rose 14% to 75.4 million tonnes and 54.7 million tonnes.

On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput recorded virtually no change in the second quarter. Inward port cargo rose 3%, while outward port cargo dropped 3%. Seaborne cargo grew 12% over a year earlier to 46.3 million tonnes, while river cargo rose by 3% to 21 million tonnes.

In the second quarter, the port of Hong Kong handled six million 20-foot container units, up 15% on a year earlier. In the first six months of the year the port handled 11.4 million container units, up 16% on the same period last year, increasing by 4% to 98.3 million net registered tons.

The number of river vessel arrivals grew 3% over a year earlier to 44,530, with the total capacity increasing 9% to 27 million net registered tons.

The number of ocean vessel arrivals during the first half of the year increased by 1% over a year earlier to 16,010, with the total capacity also increasing by 1% to 190.9 million net registered tons. The number of river vessel arrivals increased by 4% over a year earlier to 87,550, with the total capacity increasing by 11% to 52.5 million net registered tons.