Hong Kong: Port cargo throughput in the second quarter was 42.3 million tonnes, down 0.2% year on year

The Zhitong Finance App learned that the Statistics Department of the Hong Kong Government today (September 3) released statistics on ships, port cargo and containers for the second quarter of 2026. Port cargo throughput in the second quarter of 2026 fell 0.2% from the same period a year ago to 42.3 million tonnes. Among them, inbound port cargo decreased by 3.8% compared to the same period a year ago, to 24.3 million tonnes, while goods at departure ports rose 5.2 per cent from the same period a year ago, to 18 million tonnes.

Port cargo throughput in the first half of 2026 increased 1.0% compared to the same period a year ago, reaching 84.4 million metric tons. Among them, inbound port cargo decreased by 1.6% compared to the same period a year ago, to 49 million tonnes, while goods at departure ports increased 4.8% from the same period a year ago, to 35.4 million tonnes.

Seasonally adjusted port cargo throughput declined by 6.4% in the second quarter of 2026 compared to the quarter. Among them, inbound port cargo and departure port cargo decreased by 7.7% and 4.6% respectively compared to the previous quarter. Seasonally adjusted series allow for more meaningful short-term comparisons, helping to identify possible changes in their trends.

Port cargo

Among port cargo in the second quarter of 2026, sea cargo decreased by 3.2% from the same period a year ago to 25.6 million tonnes, while river cargo rose 4.8% from the same period a year ago to 16.7 million tonnes.

Among port cargo in the first half of 2026, sea cargo fell 2.7% from the same period a year ago to 51 million metric tons, while river cargo increased 7.3% from the same period a year ago, to 33.4 million metric tons.

Compared with the same period a year ago in the second quarter of 2026, the main loading countries/regions that recorded a double-digit increase in the weight of goods arriving at Hong Kong ports were mainland China (up 10.3%). Meanwhile, 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 goods at departure ports, the main unloading countries/regions that recorded double-digit increases in weight were Brazil (up 37.4%), Taiwan (up 16.6%), and Vietnam (up 11.9%). Meanwhile, Thailand (down 16.6%) and Japan (down 13.4%) recorded double-digit declines.

Compared with the same period a year ago in the first half of 2026, the main loading countries/regions that recorded a double-digit increase in the weight of goods arriving at Hong Kong ports were mainland China (10.0% increase). Meanwhile, Singapore (down 28.1%), Chile (down 19.4%), South Korea (down 17.7%), Taiwan (down 14.4%), and Vietnam (down 13.9%) recorded double-digit declines. Among goods at the port of departure, the main unloading country/region that recorded a double-digit increase in weight was Brazil (35.6% increase). Meanwhile, Thailand (down 26.7%) and Japan (down 11.7%) recorded double-digit declines.

In the second quarter of 2026 compared with the same period a year ago, the main products that recorded double-digit declines by weight were “petroleum, petroleum products and by-products” (down 24.4%) and “artificial resins and plastics” (down 12.0%). Among the goods at the port of departure, the main goods that recorded a double-digit increase in weight were “animals mainly used for food and their products” (up 11.3%).

Compared with the same period a year ago in the first half of 2026, the main products that recorded a double-digit drop in weight among the goods arriving in Hong Kong were “artificial resins and plastics” (down 12.2%). Among the goods at the port of departure, the main goods that recorded double-digit weight changes were “stone, sand and gravel” (up 16.6%) and “pulp and waste paper” (down 14.2%).

container

In the second quarter of 2026, Hong Kong's ports handled 3.24 million standard container units, up 1.1% from the same period a year ago. Among them, cargo containers rose 2.5% to 2.64 million standard container units, while empty containers fell 4.4% to 600,000 standard container units. Among cargo containers, inbound and outbound containers increased by 1.6% and 3.5% respectively, to 1.39 million standard container units and 1.26 million standard container units.

In the first half of 2026, Hong Kong's ports handled 6.38 million standard container units, down 3.0% from the same period a year ago. Among them, cargo containers rose 0.2% to 5.17 million standard container units, while empty containers fell 14.8% to 1.21 million standard container units. Among the containers carrying goods, the number of containers arriving in Hong Kong decreased by 0.8% to 2.73 million standard container units, while the number of departing containers increased by 1.4% to 2.44 million standard container units.

Seasonally adjusted container throughput decreased by 1.9% quarter-on-quarter in the second quarter of 2026. Among them, inbound and outbound containers decreased by 3.5% and 0.1% respectively.

Shipping and river freight containers increased by 1.0% and 6.0% respectively in the second quarter of 2026 compared to the same period a year ago, reaching 1.84 million standard container units and 810,000 standard container units.

Shipping containers in the first half of 2026 fell 1.3% from the same period a year ago to 3.59 million standard container units, while river freight containers rose 4.0% to 1.58 million standard container units.

Number of ships arriving at port

In the second quarter of 2026 compared with the same period a year ago, the number of ocean vessels arriving in Hong Kong increased by 5.0% to 5,145 ships, and their total capacity also increased by 1.7% to 75.2 million net tons. Meanwhile, the number of inland watercraft arriving in Hong Kong fell by 2.1% to 19,680, while total capacity increased by 0.9% to 23.8 million net tons.

Compared with the same period a year ago in the first half of 2026, the number of ocean vessels arriving in Hong Kong increased by 5.7% to 9,942 ships, and their total capacity also increased by 3.9% to 150.3 million net tons. Meanwhile, the number of inland watercraft arriving in Hong Kong fell by 0.2% to 39,800, while total capacity increased by 4.0% to 48.6 million net tons.