Port Cargo Throughput Declines Slightly in Q2 2026, Container Handling Shows Mixed Results

Statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the second quarter of 2026

The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (September 3) released the statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the second quarter of 2026.

In the second quarter of 2026, total port cargo throughput decreased by 0.2% to 42.3 million tonnes over a year earlier. Within this total, inward port cargo decreased by 3.8% to 24.3 million tonnes, while outward port cargo increased by 5.2% to 18.0 million tonnes.

For the first half of 2026, total port cargo throughput increased by 1.0% to 84.4 million tonnes over a year earlier. Within this total, inward port cargo decreased by 1.6% to 49.0 million tonnes, while outward port cargo increased by 4.8% to 35.4 million tonnes.

On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput decreased by 6.4% in the second quarter of 2026. Within this total, inward port cargo and outward port cargo decreased by 7.7% and 4.6% respectively 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 second quarter of 2026, within port cargo, seaborne cargo decreased by 3.2% to 25.6 million tonnes over a year earlier, while river cargo increased by 4.8% to 16.7 million tonnes over a year earlier.

In the first half of 2026, within port cargo, seaborne cargo decreased by 2.7% to 51.0 million tonnes over a year earlier, while river cargo increased by 7.3% to 33.4 million tonnes over a year earlier.

Comparing the second quarter of 2026 with a year earlier, a double-digit increase was recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Chinese Mainland (+10.3%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Singapore (-54.4%), Korea (-40.5%), Taiwan (-32.4%), Japan (-21.9%) and Vietnam (-12.2%). For outward port cargo, double-digit increases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Brazil (+37.4%), Taiwan (+16.6%) and Vietnam (+11.9%). Conversely, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Thailand (-16.6%) and Japan (-13.4%).

Comparing the first half of 2026 with a year earlier, a double-digit increase was recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Chinese Mainland (+10.0%). On the other hand, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Singapore (-28.1%), Chile (-19.4%), Korea (-17.7%), Taiwan (-14.4%) and Vietnam (-13.9%). For outward port cargo, a double-digit increase was recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Brazil (+35.6%). Conversely, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Thailand (-26.7%) and Japan (-11.7%).

Comparing the second quarter of 2026 with a year earlier, double-digit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo of "petroleum, petroleum products and related materials" (-24.4%) and "artificial resins and plastic materials" (-12.0%). As for outward port cargo, double-digit increase was recorded in the tonnage of "live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products" (+11.3%).

Comparing the first half of 2026 with a year earlier, double-digit decrease was recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo of "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" (+16.6%) and "pulp and waste paper" (-14.2%).

Containers

In the second quarter of 2026, the port of Hong Kong handled 3.24 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers, representing an increase of 1.1% over a year earlier. Within this total, laden containers increased by 2.5% to 2.64 million TEUs, while empty containers decreased by 4.4% to 0.60 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward and outward containers increased by 1.6% and 3.5% to 1.39 million TEUs and 1.26 million TEUs respectively.

For the first half of 2026, the port of Hong Kong handled 6.38 million TEUs of containers, representing a decrease of 3.0% over a year earlier. Within this total, laden containers increased by 0.2% to 5.17 million TEUs, while empty containers decreased by 14.8% to 1.21 million TEUs. Among laden containers, inward containers decreased by 0.8% to 2.73 million TEUs, while outward containers increased by 1.4% to 2.44 million TEUs.

On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, laden container throughput decreased by 1.9% in the second quarter of 2026. Within this total, inward and outward laden containers decreased by 3.5% and 0.1% respectively.

In the second quarter of 2026, seaborne and river laden containers increased by 1.0% and 6.0% to 1.84 million TEUs and 0.81 million TEUs respectively over a year earlier.

In the first half of 2026, seaborne laden containers decreased by 1.3% to 3.59 million TEUs over a year earlier, while river laden containers increased by 4.0% to 1.58 million TEUs.

Vessel arrivals

Comparing the second quarter of 2026 with a year earlier, the number of ocean vessel arrivals increased by 5.0% to 5 145, increasing the total capacity by 1.7% to 75.2 million net tons. Meanwhile, the number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 2.1% to 19 680, while the total capacity increased by 0.9% to 23.8 million net tons.

Comparing the first half of 2026 with a year earlier, the number of ocean vessel arrivals increased by 5.7% to 9 942, increasing the total capacity by 3.9% to 150.3 million net tons. Meanwhile, the number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 0.2% to 39 800, while the total capacity increased by 4.0% to 48.6 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, Second 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

CEDB brings in new international flagship exhibition on premium lifestyle to Hong Kong

With the support and facilitation of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB), The Festival of Connoisseurs, an international flagship exhibition showcasing superyachts and premium lifestyles, will make its debut in Hong Kong this November. The staging of this new exhibition in Hong Kong will inject new impetus into the local convention and exhibition (C&E) industry, fully underscoring Hong Kong's unique advantages as an international business centre and a premier C&E hub.

The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, today (September 3) attended the press conference held by the exhibition organiser. He said that the C&E industry plays an important role in consolidating and enhancing Hong Kong's status as an international trade centre. The decision by Informa Markets, a worldclass exhibition organiser, to stage The Festival of Connoisseurs in Hong Kong is a testament to the strength of the city's C&E industry and its favourable business environment. Premium exhibitions of this kind will help drive local consumption, tourism, professional services and related industries, while reinforcing Hong Kong's leading position in the global C&E industry.

The Government has been supporting the development of the C&E industry through diverse measures. As announced earlier, the Government has earmarked $100 million to attract large-scale, high-quality international exhibitions with new elements to Hong Kong, with a view to developing Hong Kong into the first-choice platform for showcasing Mainland and international brands, attracting high-spending business visitors to Hong Kong and driving high value-added economic activities.

The Festival of Connoisseurs is the first exhibition to receive support from the $100 million funding initiative. The CEDB, in collaboration with the venue operator, AsiaWorld-Expo, have facilitated the staging of this international premium exhibition in Hong Kong. Bringing together leading international and Mainland brands, the event will showcase premium lifestyle products spanning superyachts, supercars, high-end jewellery, etc. It will adopt an innovative, experiential curatorial approach to offer visitors a unique connoisseurship experience.

Mr Yau added that the Government will continue to proactively attract more major international exhibitions featuring new elements and diverse themes. By leveraging Hong Kong's unique advantage as a hub connecting the Mainland with the rest of the world, and building on the C&E industry's distinctive edge in brand building, the Government is committed to developing Hong Kong's C&E industry into a two way platform that enables Mainland brands to go global while bringing international brands into the Mainland market.

Source: AI-found images