Jun. 8, 2009 (China Knowledge) - Hong Kong's port cargo throughput declined 17% year on year to 52.2 million tons in the first quarter of this year, according to statistics released by the Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong.

Inbound port cargo fell 16% from a year earlier to 30.4 million tons, while outbound port cargo declined 17% to 21.8 million tons.

Hong Kong handled 4.6 million TEUs in the first quarter, indicating a year-on-year decline of 20%.

In the first quarter, ocean shipping cargo decreased 23% to 34.7 million tons, while river cargo dropped 1% and reached 17.4 million tons.

After seasonal adjustment, the total port cargo throughput decline was 10% year on year in the first quarter; inbound port cargo declined 9% and outbound port cargo declined 11%.

Import cargo from Taiwan fell 33%, Japan and South Korea decreased 33%, 25%, and 24% respectively. Export cargo to Taiwan, Thailand and Philippines plunged 61%, 54%, and 34% respectively.