For 2011 as a whole, total port cargo throughput increased by 4% over a year earlier to 277.4 million tons. Within this total, inward and outward port cargo rose by 2% and 5% to 157.8 million tons and 119.6 million tons respectively.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput decreased by 1% in the fourth quarter of 2011. Within this total, inward port cargo dropped by 4%, while outward port cargo rose by 3%. 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 cargo increased by 5% over a year earlier to 49.5 million tons, while river cargo decreased by 8% to 21 million tons in the fourth quarter of 2011.
Within inward port cargo, imports decreased by 9% over a year earlier to 19 million tons, while inward transhipment increased by 6% to 20 million tons in the fourth quarter of 2011. For outward port cargo, exports (including domestic exports and re-exports) decreased by 2% over a year earlier to 10.7 million tons, while outward transhipment increased by 8% to 20.8 million tons.
Within port cargo, seaborne cargo rose by 7% in 2011 over 2010 to 194.9 million tonnes, while river cargo dropped by 4% to 82.5 million tons.
Within inward port cargo, imports decreased by 2% in 2011 over 2010 to 78.2 million tons, while inward transhipment increased by 7% to 79.6 million tons. For outward port cargo, exports and outward transhipment increased by 3% and 6% to 40.2 million tons and 79.4 million tons respectively.
Containers
In the fourth quarter of 2011, the port of Hong Kong handled 6.2 million TEUs of containers, representing an increase of 2% over a year earlier. Within this total, laden containers increased by 2% to 5.2 million TEUs, while empty containers dropped by 2% to 0.9 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward containers increased by 1% to 2.6 million TEUs, while outward containers also rose by 4% to 2.7 million TEUs.
In 2011, the port of Hong Kong handled 24.4 million TEUs of containers, representing an increase of 3% over 2010. Within this total, laden containers went up by 3% to 20.7 million TEUs, while empty containers recorded virtually no change at 3.7 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward containers increased by 4% to 10.3 million TEUs, while outward containers also rose by 3% to 10.4 million TEUs.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput increased by 2% in the fourth quarter of 2011. Within this total, inward and outward laden containers increased by 1% and 2% respectively.
Seaborne laden containers increased by 6% in the fourth quarter of 2011 over a year earlier to 4 million TEUs, while river laden containers decreased by 9% to 1.3 million TEUs.
Within inward laden containers, imports decreased by 11% in the fourth quarter of 2011 over a year earlier to 0.8 million TEUs, while inward transhipment increased by 7% to 1.8 million TEUs. For outward laden containers, exports dropped by 7% to 0.8 million TEUs, while outward transhipment rose by 9% to 1.9 million TEUs.
In 2011, seaborne laden containers increased by 7% over 2010 to 15.5 million TEUs, while river laden containers decreased by 5% to 5.2 million TEUs.
Within inward laden containers, imports decreased by 6% in 2011 over 2010 to 3.2 million TEUs, while inward transhipment increased by 9% to 7.1 million TEUs. For outward laden containers, exports decreased by 4% to 3.3 mill
