In the second quarter of 2009, total port cargo throughput decreased by nine percent compared to a year earlier to 61.7 million tons, according to statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the second quarter of 2009, released by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD).  Within this total, inward and outward port cargo dropped by six percent and 13% compared to a year earlier to 35.7 million tons and 26.0 million tons respectively.

For the first half of 2009, total port cargo throughput decreased by 13% compared to a year earlier to 113.9 million tons.  Within this total, inward and outward port cargo dropped by 11% and 15% to 66.1 million tons and 47.8 million tons 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 tons, while river cargo decreased by three percent to 20.4 million tons in the second quarter of 2009.

Within inward port cargo, imports and inward transshipment decreased by three and 10% in the second quarter of 2009 year-on-year to 19.3 million tons and 16.4 million tons respectively. For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) and outward transshipment also decreased by 18% and 11% compared to a year earlier to 9.8 million tons and 16.3 million tons 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 tons and 37.8 million tons respectively.

Within inward port cargo, imports decreased by 7% in the first half of 2009 compared to a year earlier to 36.4 million tons, while inward transshipment dropped by 16% to 29.7 million tons.  For outward port cargo, exports and outward transshipment decreased by 12% and 17% to 18.5 million tons and 29.3 million tons 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 seven percent 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 nine percent 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 transshipment 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 transshipment 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 transshipment decreased by 14% and 17% in the first half of 2009 compared to a year earlier to 1.5 million TEUs and 2.6 milli