Statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the fourth quarter of 2025
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (March 5) released the statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the fourth quarter of 2025.
In the fourth quarter of 2025, total port cargo throughput increased by 1.1% to 44.8 million tonnes over a year earlier. Within this total, inward port cargo decreased by 6.0% to 25.6 million tonnes, while outward port cargo increased by 12.3% to 19.2 million tonnes.
For 2025 as a whole, total port cargo throughput decreased by 4.0% to 169.6 million tonnes over a year earlier. Within this total, inward port cargo decreased by 9.9% to 100.1 million tonnes, while outward port cargo increased by 6.0% to 69.6 million tonnes.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput increased by 9.9% in the fourth quarter of 2025. Within this total, inward port cargo and outward port cargo increased by 5.2% and 16.9% 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 fourth quarter of 2025, within port cargo, seaborne cargo decreased by 7.4% to 25.8 million tonnes over a year earlier, while river cargo increased by 15.4% to 19.1 million tonnes over a year earlier.
In the whole year of 2025, within port cargo, seaborne and river cargo decreased by 6.2% and 0.4% to 103.7 million tonnes and 66.0 million tonnes respectively over a year earlier.
Comparing the fourth quarter of 2025 with a year earlier, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Chile (-33.2%), Korea (-27.6%), Indonesia (-27.2%), Malaysia (-20.0%), Taiwan (-14.9%) and Vietnam (-13.1%). For outward port cargo, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Chinese Mainland (+30.7%), Australia (+13.3%) and the Philippines (+10.9%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Thailand (-48.9%), the United States of America (-46.4%), Vietnam (-27.4%), Korea (-24.3%), Japan (-22.0%) and Malaysia (-16.8%).
Comparing the whole year of 2025 with a year earlier, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Korea (-26.1%), Indonesia (-24.7%), Vietnam (-23.3%), Malaysia (-20.6%), Chile (-16.2%), Taiwan (-13.4%) and Thailand (-12.0%). For outward port cargo, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Australia (+29.9%) and Chinese Mainland (+16.8%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in the United States of America (-42.6%), Thailand (-36.7%), Vietnam (-25.2%), Japan (-20.7%) and the Philippines (-18.4%).
Comparing the fourth 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" (+20.2%), "stone, sand and gravel" (-17.4%) and "artificial resins and plastic materials" (-20.6%). As for outward port cargo, triple-digit or double-digit changes were recorded in the tonnage of "stone, sand and gravel" (+127.3%), "artificial resins and plastic materials" (-18.1%) and "pulp and waste paper" (-23.3%).
Comparing the whole year of 2025 with a year earlier, double-digit changes were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo of "metalliferous ores and metal scrap" (+21.8%), "coal, coke and briquettes" (-18.0%), "artificial resins and plastic materials" (-18.2%) and "stone, sand and gravel" (-28.6%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit changes were recorded in the tonnage of "stone, sand and gravel" (+85.8%), "metalliferous ores and metal scrap" (+10.6%), "pulp and waste paper" (-17.6%) and "artificial resins and plastic materials" (-19.0%).
Containers
In the fourth quarter of 2025, the port of Hong Kong handled 3.32 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers, representing a decrease of 5.6% over a year earlier. Within this total, laden and empty containers decreased by 6.2% and 3.3% to 2.62 million TEUs and 0.70 million TEUs respectively. Among laden containers, inward and outward containers decreased by 6.3% and 6.0% to 1.39 million TEUs and 1.23 million TEUs respectively.
For 2025 as a whole, the port of Hong Kong handled 12.99 million TEUs of containers, representing a decrease of 5.1% over a year earlier. Within this total, laden and empty containers decreased by 6.0% and 1.4% to 10.28 million TEUs and 2.72 million TEUs respectively. Among laden containers, inward and outward containers decreased by 6.6% and 5.3% to 5.46 million TEUs and 4.81 million TEUs respectively.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput increased by 5.0% in the fourth quarter of 2025. Within this total, inward and outward laden containers increased by 5.8% and 4.0% respectively.
In the fourth quarter of 2025, seaborne laden containers decreased by 9.9% to 1.74 million TEUs over a year earlier, while river laden containers increased by 2.1% to 0.88 million TEUs.
In the whole year of 2025, seaborne and river laden containers decreased by 6.5% and 4.9% to 7.14 million TEUs and 3.14 million TEUs respectively over a year earlier.
Vessel arrivals
Comparing the fourth quarter of 2025 with a year earlier, the number of ocean vessel arrivals increased by 2.1% to 4 870, while the total capacity decreased by 2.4% to 74.6 million net tons. Meanwhile, the number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 0.2% to 20 643, while the total capacity increased by 9.3% to 25.6 million net tons.
Comparing the whole year of 2025 with a year earlier, the number of ocean vessel arrivals increased by 3.7% to 19 069, with the total capacity remained virtually unchanged, at 292.0 million net tons. Meanwhile, the number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 3.2% to 79 597, while the total capacity increased by 12.6% to 95.5 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.
More detailed statistics on port cargo, containers and vessels are published in the report "Hong Kong Shipping Statistics, Fourth 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).
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), Photo source: reference image
