Hong Kong: In the second quarter, the port cargo throughput was 42.3 million metric tons, a decrease of 0.2% year-on-year.

The Hong Kong Government Statistics Department announced today (September 3) the statistics for ships, port cargo, and containers for the second quarter of 2026. The port cargo throughput in the second quarter of 2026 decreased by 0.2% compared to the same period last year, totaling 42.3 million tonnes. Among this, the cargo arriving at the port fell by 3.8% to 24.3 million tonnes, while the cargo departing from the port increased by 5.2% to 18.0 million tonnes. The port cargo throughput for the first half of 2026 increased by 1.0% compared to the same period last year, reaching 84.4 million tonnes. Of this, the cargo arriving at the port decreased by 1.6% to 49.0 million tonnes, while the cargo departing from the port increased by 4.8% to 35.4 million tonnes. Seasonally adjusted, the port cargo throughput for the second quarter of 2026 decreased by 6.4% compared to the previous quarter. Specifically, the cargo arriving at the port and the cargo departing from the port fell by 7.7% and 4.6%, respectively. Seasonally adjusted data allows for more meaningful short-term comparisons and helps to identify potential changes in trends. Port Cargo In the second quarter of 2026, among the port cargo, sea freight decreased by 3.2% compared to the same period last year, totaling 25.6 million tonnes, while river transport cargo increased by 4.8% to 16.7 million tonnes. In the first half of 2026, among the port cargo, sea freight decreased by 2.7% compared to the same period last year, totaling 51.0 million tonnes, while river transport cargo increased by 7.3% to 33.4 million tonnes. Comparing the second quarter of 2026 with the same period last year, among the cargo arriving at the port, the main countries/regions with double-digit growth in weight were Mainland China (up 10.3%). On the other hand, Singapore (down 54.4%), South Korea (down 40.5%), Taiwan (down 32.4%), Japan (down 21.9%), and Vietnam (down 12.2%) recorded double-digit declines. Among the cargo departing from the port, the main countries/regions with double-digit growth in weight were Brazil (up 37.4%), Taiwan (up 16.6%), and Vietnam (up 11.9%). Conversely, Thailand (down 16.6%) and Japan (down 13.4%) recorded double-digit decreases. In the first half of 2026 compared to the same period last year, among the cargo arriving at the port, the main countries/regions with double-digit growth in weight were Mainland China (up 10.0%). Meanwhile, Singapore (down 28.1%), Chile (down 19.4%), South Korea (down 17.7%), Taiwan (down 14.4%), and Vietnam (down 13.9%) reported double-digit declines. Among the cargo departing from the port, Brazil (up 35.6%) was the main country/region with double-digit growth in weight. Conversely, Thailand (down 26.7%) and Japan (down 11.7%) recorded double-digit declines. Comparing the second quarter of 2026 with the same period last year, within the arriving port cargo, the main products that recorded double-digit declines in weight were "oil, petroleum products and by-products" (down 24.4%) and "synthetic resins and plastics" (down 12.0%). Among the departing port cargo, the main product that recorded double-digit growth in weight was "animals and their products for human consumption" (up 11.3%). In the first half of 2026 compared to the same period last year, within the arriving port cargo, the main product that recorded double-digit declines in weight was "synthetic resins and plastics" (down 12.2%). Among the departing port cargo, the main products that recorded double-digit fluctuations in weight were "stones, sand, and gravel" (up 16.6%) and "pulp and waste paper" (down 14.2%). Containers In the second quarter of 2026, Hong Kong's port handled 3.24 million standard container units, an increase of 1.1% compared to the same period last year. Among this, loaded containers increased by 2.5% to 2.64 million standard container units, while empty containers fell by 4.4% to 600,000 standard container units. Among loaded containers, containers arriving at and departing from the port increased by 1.6% and 3.5%, reaching 1.39 million standard container units and 1.26 million standard container units, respectively. In the first half of 2026, Hong Kong's port handled 6.38 million standard container units, a decrease of 3.0% compared to the same period last year. Among this, loaded containers increased by 0.2% to 5.17 million standard container units, while empty containers fell by 14.8% to 1.21 million standard container units. Among loaded containers, arriving containers decreased by 0.8% to 2.73 million standard container units, while departing containers increased by 1.4% to 2.44 million standard container units. Seasonally adjusted, the throughput of loaded containers in the second quarter of 2026 decreased by 1.9% compared to the previous quarter. Specifically, loaded containers arriving at and departing from the port fell by 3.5% and 0.1%, respectively. In the second quarter of 2026, the loaded containers for sea and river transport increased by 1.0% and 6.0% compared to the same period last year, totaling 1.84 million standard container units and 810,000 standard container units, respectively. In the first half of 2026, the loaded containers for sea transport decreased by 1.3% compared to the same period last year, totaling 3.59 million standard container units, while river transport loaded containers increased by 4.0% to 1.58 million standard container units. Arriving Vessels In the second quarter of 2026, compared to the same period last year, the number of ocean-going vessels arriving at the port increased by 5.0% to 5,145 vessels, with total capacity also rising by 1.7% to 75.2 million gross tonnes. At the same time, the number of inland vessels arriving fell by 2.1% to 19,680 vessels, although total capacity increased by 0.9% to 23.8 million gross tonnes. In the first half of 2026, compared to the same period last year, the number of ocean-going vessels arriving at the port increased by 5.7% to 9,942 vessels, with total capacity also increasing by 3.9% to 150.3 million gross tonnes. On the other hand, the number of inland vessels arriving decreased by 0.2% to 39,800 vessels, while total capacity increased by 4.0% to 48.6 million gross tonnes.