Statistics Vessels Port Tender

The Census and Statistics Department CSD 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 02 to 423 million tonnes over a year earlier Within this total inward port cargo decreased by 38 to 243 million tonnes while outward port cargo increased by 52 to 180 million tonnes

For the first half of 2026 total port cargo throughput increased by 10 to 844 million tonnes over a year earlier Within this total inward port cargo decreased by 16 to 490 million tonnes while outward port cargo increased by 48 to 354 million tonnes

On a seasonally adjusted quartertoquarter comparison total port cargo throughput decreased by 64 in the second quarter of 2026 Within this total inward port cargo and outward port cargo decreased by 77 and 46 respectively compared with the preceding quarter The seasonally adjusted series enables a more meaningful shorterterm comparison to help identify possible variations in trends

Port cargo

In the second quarter of 2026 within port cargo seaborne cargo decreased by 32 to 256 million tonnes over a year earlier while river cargo increased by 48 to 167 million tonnes over a year earlier

In the first half of 2026 within port cargo seaborne cargo decreased by 27 to 510 million tonnes over a year earlier while river cargo increased by 73 to 334 million tonnes over a year earlier

Comparing the second quarter of 2026 with a year earlier a doubledigit increase was recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Chinese Mainland 103 On the other hand doubledigit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Singapore 544 Korea 405 Taiwan 324 Japan 219 and Vietnam 122 For outward port cargo doubledigit increases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Brazil 374 Taiwan 166 and Vietnam 119 Conversely doubledigit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Thailand 166 and Japan 134

Comparing the first half of 2026 with a year earlier a doubledigit increase was recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Chinese Mainland 100 On the other hand doubledigit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Singapore 281 Chile 194 Korea 177 Taiwan 144 and Vietnam 139 For outward port cargo a doubledigit increase was recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Brazil 356 Conversely doubledigit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Thailand 267 and Japan 117

Comparing the second quarter of 2026 with a year earlier doubledigit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo of petroleum petroleum products and related materials 244 and artificial resins and plastic materials 120 As for outward port cargo doubledigit increase was recorded in the tonnage of live animals chiefly for food and edible animal products 113

Comparing the first half of 2026 with a year earlier doubledigit decrease was recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo of artificial resins and plastic materials 122 As for outward port cargo doubledigit changes were recorded in the tonnage of stone sand and gravel 166 and pulp and waste paper 142

Containers

In the second quarter of 2026 the port of Hong Kong handled 324 million twentyfoot equivalent units TEUs of containers representing an increase of 11 over a year earlier Within this total laden containers increased by 25 to 264 million TEUs while empty containers decreased by 44 to 060 million TEUs Among laden containers inward and outward containers increased by 16 and 35 to 139 million TEUs and 126 million TEUs respectively

For the first half of 2026 the port of Hong Kong handled 638 million TEUs of containers representing a decrease of 30 over a year earlier Within this total laden containers increased by 02 to 517 million TEUs while empty containers decreased by 148 to 121 million TEUs Among laden containers inward containers decreased by 08 to 273 million TEUs while outward containers increased by 14 to 244 million TEUs

On a seasonally adjusted quartertoquarter comparison laden container throughput decreased by 19 in the second quarter of 2026 Within this total inward and outward laden containers decreased by 35 and 01 respectively

In the second quarter of 2026 seaborne and river laden containers increased by 10 and 60 to 184 million TEUs and 081 million TEUs respectively over a year earlier

In the first half of 2026 seaborne laden containers decreased by 13 to 359 million TEUs over a year earlier while river laden containers increased by 40 to 158 million TEUs

Vessel arrivals

Comparing the second quarter of 2026 with a year earlier the number of ocean vessel arrivals increased by 50 to 5 145 increasing the total capacity by 17 to 752 million net tons Meanwhile the number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 21 to 19 680 while the total capacity increased by 09 to 238 million net tons

Comparing the first half of 2026 with a year earlier the number of ocean vessel arrivals increased by 57 to 9 942 increasing the total capacity by 39 to 1503 million net tons Meanwhile the number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 02 to 39 800 while the total capacity increased by 40 to 486 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 CSD 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 fishingfish processing vessels plying exclusively within the river trade limits have been covered

Table 1 presents the detailed port cargo statistics

Table 2 and Table