New York (September 8, 2009) – In the second quarter of 2009, total port cargo throughput decreased by 9% compared to a year earlier to 61.7 million tones, according to statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the second quarter of 2009, released by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo dropped by 6% and 13% compared to a year earlier to 35.7 million tonnes and 26.0 million tonnes respectively.

For the first half of 2009, total port cargo throughput decreased by 13% compared to a year earlier to 113.9 million tonnes. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo dropped by 11% and 15% to 66.1 million tonnes and 47.8 million tonnes respectively. 

On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput increased by 11% in the second quarter of 2009. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo went up by 12% and 10% respectively. 

Port cargo 
Within port cargo, seaborne cargo dropped by 12% compared to a year earlier to 41.3 million tonnes, while river cargo decreased by 3% to 20.4 million tonnes in the second quarter of 2009. 

Within inward port cargo, imports and inward transhipment decreased by 3% and 10% in the second quarter of 2009 year-on-year to 19.3 million tonnes and 16.4 million tonnes respectively. For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) and outward transhipment also decreased by 18% and 11% compared to a year earlier to 9.8 million tonnes and 16.3 million tonnes respectively. 

Within port cargo, seaborne and river cargo decreased by 17% and 2% in the first half of 2009 compared to a year earlier to 76.1 million tonnes and 37.8 million tonnes respectively. 

Within inward port cargo, imports decreased by 7% in the first half of 2009 compared to a year earlier to 36.4 million tonnes, while inward transhipment dropped by 16% to 29.7 million tonnes. For outward port cargo, exports and outward transhipment decreased by 12% and 17% to 18.5 million tonnes and 29.3 million tonnes respectively. 

Containers 
In the second quarter of 2009, the port of Hong Kong handled 5.2 million TEUs of containers, representing a decrease of 17% compared to a year earlier. Within this total, laden containers decreased by 15% to 4.5 million TEUs, while empty containers dropped by 27% to 0.8 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward containers decreased by 12% to 2.2 million TEUs and outward containers also dropped by 17% to 2.2 million TEUs. 

In the first half of 2009, the port of Hong Kong handled 9.8 million TEUs of containers, representing a decrease of 18% over the same period in 2008. Within this total, laden containers decreased by 18% to 8.3 million TEUs, while empty containers dropped by 20% to 1.6 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward containers decreased by 16% to 4.1 million TEUs and outward containers also dropped by 19% to 4.1 million TEUs. 

On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput increased by 7% in the second quarter of 2009. Within this total, inward and outward laden containers rose by 10% and 5% respectively. 

Seaborne and river laden containers decreased by 17% and 9% in the second quarter of 2009 compared to a year earlier to 3.2 million TEUs and 1.3 million TEUs respectively. 

Within inward laden containers, imports and inward transhipment decreased by 13% and 12% in the second quarter of 2009 compared to a year earlier to 0.8 million TEUs and 1.4 million TEUs respectively. For outward laden containers, exports and outward transhipment decreased by 24% and 13% to 0.8 million TEUs and 1.4 million TEUs respectively. 

In the first half of 2009, seaborne and river laden containers decreased by 20% and 11% compared to the same period in 2008 to 6.0 million TEUs and 2.3 million TEUs respectively. Within inward laden containers, imports and inward transhipment decreased by 14% and 17% in the first half of 2009 compared to a year earlier to 1.5 million TEUs and 2.6 million TEUs respectively. For outward laden containers, exports and outward transhipment decreased by 23% and 17% to 1.5 million TEUs and 2.7 million TEUs respectively. 

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