Hong Kong's Port Cargo and Container Throughput Declines in Second Quarter 2025

Statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the second quarter of 2025

The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (September 3) released the statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the second quarter of 2025.

In the second quarter of 2025, total port cargo throughput decreased by 7.5% to 42.4 million tonnes over a year earlier. Within this total, inward port cargo and outward port cargo decreased by 11.7% and 0.4% to 25.3 million tonnes and 17.1 million tonnes respectively.

For the first half of 2025, total port cargo throughput decreased by 5.7% to 83.5 million tonnes over a year earlier. Within this total, inward port cargo decreased by 11.3% to 49.8 million tonnes, while outward port cargo increased by 3.8% to 33.8 million tonnes.

On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput decreased by 7.5% in the second quarter of 2025. Within this total, inward port cargo and outward port cargo decreased by 6.5% and 8.9% 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

In the second quarter of 2025, within port cargo, seaborne and river cargo decreased by 6.6% and 8.8% to 26.5 million tonnes and 15.9 million tonnes respectively over a year earlier.

In the first half of 2025, within port cargo, seaborne and river cargo decreased by 5.2% and 6.6% to 52.4 million tonnes and 31.1 million tonnes respectively over a year earlier.

Comparing the second quarter of 2025 with a year earlier, a double-digit increase was recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Singapore (+31.8%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Indonesia (-39.9%), Korea (-28.5%), Malaysia (-26.9%), Japan (-25.5%), Thailand (-24.4%), Vietnam (-22.8%) and Chile (-15.6%). For outward port cargo, a double-digit increase was recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Australia (+25.9%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in the United States of America (-45.1%), the Philippines (-28.9%), Vietnam (-28.6%), Thailand (-19.9%) and Japan (-13.5%).

Comparing the first half of 2025 with a year earlier, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Chile (+12.5%) and Singapore (+11.4%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Indonesia (-27.3%), Vietnam (-26.9%), Malaysia (-24.3%), Korea (-23.9%), Thailand (-22.8%), Japan (-20.0%) and Taiwan (-14.6%). For outward port cargo, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Australia (+27.0%), Taiwan (+15.1%) and the mainland of China (+12.0%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in the United States of America (-38.4%), the Philippines (-29.8%), Vietnam (-23.8%), Thailand (-23.2%), Japan (-17.7%) and Malaysia (-16.4%).

Comparing the second quarter of 2025 with a year earlier, double-digit changes were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo of "metalliferous ores and metal scrap" (+28.7%), "artificial resins and plastic materials" (-18.6%), "stone, sand and gravel" (-30.4%) and "coal, coke and briquettes" (-42.3%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit changes were recorded in the tonnage of "stone, sand and gravel" (+23.5%), "metalliferous ores and metal scrap" (+19.9%), "pulp and waste paper" (-10.3%) and "artificial resins and plastic materials" (-18.4%).

Comparing the first half of 2025 with a year earlier, double-digit changes were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo of "metalliferous ores and metal scrap" (+26.8%), "artificial resins and plastic materials" (-16.8%), "coal, coke and briquettes" (-27.1%) and "stone, sand and gravel" (-34.0%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit changes were recorded in the tonnage of "stone, sand and gravel" (+58.1%), "metalliferous ores and metal scrap" (+17.8%) and "artificial resins and plastic materials" (-19.5%).

Containers

In the second quarter of 2025, the port of Hong Kong handled 3.20 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers, representing a decrease of 7.0% over a year earlier. Within this total, laden and empty containers decreased by 5.7% and 12.1% to 2.58 million TEUs and 0.63 million TEUs respectively. Among laden containers, inward and outward containers decreased by 7.1% and 4.0% to 1.36 million TEUs and 1.21 million TEUs respectively.

For the first half of 2025, the port of Hong Kong handled 6.58 million TEUs of containers, representing a decrease of 2.8% over a year earlier. Within this total, laden containers decreased by 4.5% to 5.16 million TEUs, while empty containers increased by 3.9% to 1.42 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward and outward containers decreased by 5.0% and 3.8% to 2.75 million TEUs and 2.40 million TEUs respectively.

On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput decreased by 8.5% in the second quarter of 2025. Within this total, inward and outward laden containers decreased by 11.0% and 5.4% respectively.

In the second quarter of 2025, seaborne and river laden containers decreased by 5.1% and 6.9% to 1.82 million TEUs and 0.76 million TEUs respectively over a year earlier.

In the first half of 2025, seaborne and river laden containers decreased by 4.2% and 5.1% to 3.64 million TEUs and 1.52 million TEUs respectively over a year earlier.

Vessel arrivals

Comparing the second quarter of 2025 with a year earlier, the number of ocean vessel arrivals increased by 7.3% to 4 900, with the total capacity also increasing by 4.5% to 74.0 million net tons. Meanwhile, the number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 3.6% to 20 094, while the total capacity increased by 11.6% to 23.6 million net tons.

Comparing the first half of 2025 with a year earlier, the number of ocean vessel arrivals increased by 3.1% to 9 406, with the total capacity also increasing by 0.3% to 144.8 million net tons. Meanwhile, the number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 2.2% to 39 894, while the total capacity increased by 16.8% to 46.7 million net tons.

Further information

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 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.

Table 1 presents the detailed port cargo statistics.

Table 2 and Table 3 respectively present the inward and outward port cargo statistics by main countries/territories of loading and discharge.

Table 4 and Table 5 respectively present the inward and outward port cargo statistics by principal commodities.

Table 6 presents the detailed container statistics.

Table 7 presents the statistics on vessel arrivals in Hong Kong.

More detailed statistics on port cargo, containers and vessels are published in the report "Hong Kong Shipping Statistics, Second Quarter 2025". Users can browse and 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).

Source: AI-found images

Government announces updates on follow-up work on Tai Po fire

The three task forces set up by the Government for the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po - the Task Force on Investigation and Regulation, the Task Force on Emergency Support and Fund-Raising, and the Task Force on Emergency Accommodation Arrangements - are making full efforts to follow up on the support, relief, and investigation work related to the incident. Details are as follows:

Financial and welfare support

---------------------------------

For the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, established by the Government, donations received are about $3.4 billion as of noon today (December 13). With the start-up capital of $300 million from the Government, the fund's total has now reached around $3.7 billion. The fund will be used to assist residents in rebuilding their homes and providing long-term and sustained support.

Accommodation support

---------------------------

As of this morning, a total of 1 392 residents have been accommodated, through the co-ordination of the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, in youth hostels, camps, or hotel rooms. Another 3 163 residents are currently living in transitional housing units provided by the Housing Bureau or units from the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS).

In consideration of the extremely urgent situation of the residents affected by the fire incident, a special arrangement of a full rent exemption has been made earlier by the Housing Bureau to provide accommodation support to those affected residents moving into transitional housing or HKHS projects. In other words, if needed, the affected residents can stay for a longer period of time. The Government will continue to support the affected residents in terms of accommodation, and the residents in need do not have to worry about the relevant rental expenses or the duration of stay.

In addition, staff from the operating organisations of transitional housing and HKHS, as well as volunteers have been working around the clock to furnish the units with essential supplies. Taking Eminence Tower in Hung Shui Kiu as an example, each unit is equipped, upon move-in, with furniture and appliances such as bed frames, mattresses, pillows, cooking stoves and water heaters. Daily necessities including toilet paper, slippers and basic cleaning supplies, etc. are also provided. Such efforts are intended to help the affected residents settle in as quickly as possible.

At the same time, a number of organisations have proactively stationed their staff in some projects to provide residents in need with various forms of support, including free medical and legal consultation services. The Government has also set up service stations in 18 projects where more residents have moved in, providing consultation and support services for residents in need, standing together with them.

Relief supplies and donations

---------------------------------

The supplies donation online platform, established by the Government and the information technology sector, continues to operate, facilitating the registration of supplies donations from organisations and the public. The Government has so far received over 1 800 registrations, of which approximately 30 per cent were submitted by organisations, whereas the others were contributed by the public. The various registered donation items include food and beverages, clothing, daily necessities, bedding, and electrical appliances. The Government is actively assessing residents' actual needs through the relevant policy bureau, government departments, and service organisations for the matching of donated supplies in order to distribute appropriate items in phases to places in need. So far, about 19 600 donation items covering various categories have been distributed to different places. The matching and distribution of supplies will continue.

Regulation and inspection work

----------------------------------

The Housing Department today continued to remove the burnt scaffolding on the external walls of Wang Cheong House, Wang Tai House and Wang Sun House. As the environment at scene is narrow and the scaffolding and the protective nets of individual buildings may be subject to more serious damage, for the sake of safety, the Housing Department will conduct assessments with the Police on the timetable of removing the scaffolding of the remaining four affected buildings. In addition, the Independent Checking Unit of the Housing Bureau has also completed the extraction of concrete core samples from the seven affected buildings at Wang Fuk Court today.

The Development Bureau (DEVB) announced on December 11 a new mechanism for sampling and testing scaffold nets for external walls in Hong Kong. The Buildings Department is preparing for the issuance of a new practice note to registered contractors and will meet with the industry next week. The DEVB is moving ahead in full steam the supporting arrangements to ensure that there are sufficient designated laboratories and a suitable site for off-site sampling work.

Source: AI-found images