Hong Kong’s box traffic hit 20.4 million TEUs in 2003

Hong Kong’s box traffic hit 20.4 million TEUs in 2003    The port of Hong Kong handled 20.4 million TEUs in 2003, an increase of 7 percent over 2002. The port’s growth allowed Hong Kong to remain the world’s largest container port last year, ahead of Singapore, which increased its box traffic 7.8 percent in 2003 to 18.1 million TEUs.
   In the fourth quarter, Hong Kong handled 5.4 million TEUs, a 6-percent increase over a year earlier.
   Hong Kong’s census and statistics department said fourth quarter laden containers rose 9 percent to 4.4 million TEUs, while empty containers fell 6 percent to 1 million TEUs. Inward laden containers rose 13 percent to 2 million TEUs and outward containers improved 6 percent to 2.4 million TEUs..
   Seaborne laden containers went up 6 percent in the fourth quarter to 3.3 million TEUs, while riverborne laden containers leaped 20 percent to 1.1 million TEUs.
   For the full year, laden container traffic rose 8 percent to 16.5 million TEUs in 2003, while empty containers increased 2 percent to 3.9 million TEUs. Inward laden containers rose 10 percent to 7.6 million TEUs and outward containers went up 6 percent to 8.9 million TEUs.
   Seaborne laden containers went up 5 percent over 2002 to 12.5 million TEUs in 2003, while riverborne laden containers surged 17 percent to 4.0 million TEUs, the department said.