Hong Kong port sees 4th quarter reversal

Hong Kong port sees 4th quarter reversal Hong Kong handled 61.3 million tons of cargo in the fourth quarter, a decline of 6 percent in the fourth quarter, according to the regional Census and Statistics Department.
   The result marks a sharp reversal from the trend for 2008 during which cargo volumes increased 6 percent to 259.4 million tons.
   Fourth quarter exports to the United States were down 12 percent, but up 15 percent for the year.
   In the fourth quarter of 2008, the port of Hong Kong handled 5.8 million TEUs of containers, representing an 8 percent decrease from a year earlier. Within this total, laden containers decreased 10 percent to 4.7 million TEUs, while empty containers rose 3 percent to 1.1 million TEUs.
   Among laden containers, inbound containers decreased 9 percent to 2.3 million TEUs and outbound slipped 10 percent to 2.4 million TEUs.
   In 2008, the port of Hong Kong handled 24.5 million TEUs, a 2 percent increase over 2007. Within this total, laden containers grew 2 percent to 20.3 million TEUs, while empty containers also increased 3 percent to 4.2 million TEUs. For laden containers, inbound rose by 3 percent to 9.8 million TEUs, while outbound containers recorded virtually no change to 10.4 million TEUs.
   Detailed cargo statistics can be found here.