Statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the first quarter of 2026
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (June 2) released the statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the first quarter of 2026.
In the first quarter of 2026, total port cargo throughput increased by 2.2% to 42.0 million tonnes over a year earlier. Within this total, inward port cargo and outward port cargo increased by 0.7% and 4.4% to 24.7 million tonnes and 17.4 million tonnes respectively.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput increased by 1.2% in the first quarter of 2026. Within this total, inward port cargo increased by 3.5% while outward port cargo decreased by 1.9% compared with the preceding quarter. The seasonally adjusted series enables a more meaningful shorter-term comparison to help identify possible variations in trends.
Port cargo
In the first quarter of 2026, within port cargo, seaborne cargo decreased by 2.3% to 25.3 million tonnes over a year earlier, while river cargo increased by 9.8% to 16.7 million tonnes over a year earlier.
Comparing the first quarter of 2026 with a year earlier, a double-digit increase was recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Japan (+17.4%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Chile (-27.4%), Vietnam (-15.6%) and Thailand (-10.1%). For outward port cargo, a double-digit increase was observed in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Brazil (+33.9%). Conversely, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Thailand (-35.5%) and Australia (-11.4%).
Comparing the first quarter of 2026 with a year earlier, double-digit changes were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo of "stone, sand and gravel" (+11.2%), "petroleum, petroleum products and related materials" (+10.2%) and "artificial resins and plastic materials" (-12.2%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit changes were recorded in the tonnage of "stone, sand and gravel" (+26.5%) and "pulp and waste paper" (-20.6%).
Containers
In the first quarter of 2026, the port of Hong Kong handled 3.14 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 2.0% and 22.9% to 2.53 million TEUs and 0.61 million TEUs respectively. Among laden containers, inward and outward containers decreased by 3.1% and 0.7% to 1.34 million TEUs and 1.18 million TEUs respectively.
On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput increased by 4.9% in the first quarter of 2026. Within this total, inward and outward laden containers increased by 4.8% and 5.0% respectively.
In the first quarter of 2026, seaborne laden containers decreased by 3.7% to 1.75 million TEUs over a year earlier, while river laden containers increased by 2.0% to 0.77 million TEUs.
Vessel arrivals
Comparing the first quarter of 2026 with a year earlier, the number of ocean vessel arrivals increased by 6.5% to 4 797, increasing the total capacity by 6.1% to 75.1 million net tons. Meanwhile, the number of river vessel arrivals increased by 1.6% to 20 120, increasing the total capacity by 7.1% to 24.7 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. Since 2026, statistics on pleasure vessels and fishing/fish processing vessels plying exclusively within the river trade limits have been covered.
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, First Quarter 2026". 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: 3863 2473 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
