Based on the statistics released by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) for the second quarter and first half of 2025, here is a summary of the key trends in vessels, port cargo, and containers.
Port Cargo
The total port cargo throughput for the second quarter of 2025 saw a decrease of 7.5% year-on-year, totaling 42.4 million tonnes. This decline was driven by a significant 11.7% drop in inward cargo, while outward cargo experienced a smaller decrease of 0.4%. For the first half of the year, total throughput was down by 5.7%, with inward cargo falling by 11.3% and outward cargo showing a slight increase of 3.8%.
On a quarter-to-quarter basis, total port cargo throughput also decreased by 7.5% in the second quarter. The decline was observed in both seaborne and river cargo for the second quarter and the first half of the year.
Regarding trading partners, the tonnage of inward cargo from Singapore notably increased by 31.8% in the second quarter. However, significant double-digit decreases were recorded from several countries, including Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, and Chile. For outward cargo, a double-digit increase was observed for Australia, while significant decreases were recorded for the United States, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, and Japan.
By cargo type, significant changes were noted in “metalliferous ores and metal scrap” and “stone, sand, and gravel,” which saw increases in both inward and outward cargo. In contrast, “artificial resins and plastic materials” and “coal, coke, and briquettes” experienced double-digit decreases in tonnage.
Containers
In the second quarter of 2025, the port of Hong Kong handled 3.20 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), marking a 7.0% decrease from the previous year. This included a decline in both laden and empty containers. For the first half of the year, total container throughput fell by 2.8% to 6.58 million TEUs. While the number of laden containers decreased, there was a slight increase in empty containers for the first half of the year. The decline was consistent across both seaborne and river-laden containers.
Vessel Arrivals
The number of ocean vessel arrivals increased by 7.3% in the second quarter of 2025, reaching 4,900, and their total capacity also grew. Similarly, for the first half of the year, ocean vessel arrivals were up by 3.1%. In contrast, the number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 3.6% in the second quarter and 2.2% in the first half of the year, although their total capacity saw a notable increase of 11.6% and 16.8% respectively.
Did you subscribe to our daily Newsletter?
It’s Free Click here to Subscribe!
Source: Census and Statistics Department
