📋 Tender Overview
The Census and Statistics Department CSD today March 5 released the statistics on vessels port cargo and containers for the fourth quarter of 2025
In the fourth quarter of 2025 total port cargo throughput increased by 11 to 448 million tonnes over a year earlier Within this total inward port cargo decreased by 60 to 256 million tonnes while outward port cargo increased by 123 to 192 million tonnes
For 2025 as a whole total port cargo throughput decreased by 40 to 1696 million tonnes over a year earlier Within this total inward port cargo decreased by 99 to 1001 million tonnes while outward port cargo increased by 60 to 696 million tonnes
On a seasonally adjusted quartertoquarter comparison total port cargo throughput increased by 99 in the fourth quarter of 2025 Within this total inward port cargo and outward port cargo increased by 52 and 169 respectively compared with the preceding quarter The seasonally adjusted series enables more meaningful shorterterm comparison to be made for discerning possible variations in trends
Port cargo
In the fourth quarter of 2025 within port cargo seaborne cargo decreased by 74 to 258 million tonnes over a year earlier while river cargo increased by 154 to 191 million tonnes over a year earlier
In the whole year of 2025 within port cargo seaborne and river cargo decreased by 62 and 04 to 1037 million tonnes and 660 million tonnes respectively over a year earlier
Comparing the fourth quarter of 2025 with a year earlier doubledigit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Chile 332 Korea 276 Indonesia 272 Malaysia 200 Taiwan 149 and Vietnam 131 For outward port cargo doubledigit increases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Chinese Mainland 307 Australia 133 and the Philippines 109 On the other hand doubledigit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Thailand 489 the United States of America 464 Vietnam 274 Korea 243 Japan 220 and Malaysia 168
Comparing the whole year of 2025 with a year earlier doubledigit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Korea 261 Indonesia 247 Vietnam 233 Malaysia 206 Chile 162 Taiwan 134 and Thailand 120 For outward port cargo doubledigit increases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Australia 299 and Chinese Mainland 168 On the other hand doubledigit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in the United States of America 426 Thailand 367 Vietnam 252 Japan 207 and the Philippines 184
Comparing the fourth quarter of 2025 with a year earlier doubledigit changes were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo of metalliferous ores and metal scrap 202 stone sand and gravel 174 and artificial resins and plastic materials 206 As for outward port cargo tripledigit or doubledigit changes were recorded in the tonnage of stone sand and gravel 1273 artificial resins and plastic materials 181 and pulp and waste paper 233
Comparing the whole year of 2025 with a year earlier doubledigit changes were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo of metalliferous ores and metal scrap 218 coal coke and briquettes 180 artificial resins and plastic materials 182 and stone sand and gravel 286 As for outward port cargo doubledigit changes were recorded in the tonnage of stone sand and gravel 858 metalliferous ores and metal scrap 106 pulp and waste paper 176 and artificial resins and plastic materials 190
Containers
In the fourth quarter of 2025 the port of Hong Kong handled 332 million twentyfoot equivalent units TEUs of containers representing a decrease of 56 over a year earlier Within this total laden and empty containers decreased by 62 and 33 to 262 million TEUs and 070 million TEUs respectively Among laden containers inward and outward containers decreased by 63 and 60 to 139 million TEUs and 123 million TEUs respectively
For 2025 as a whole the port of Hong Kong handled 1299 million TEUs of containers representing a decrease of 51 over a year earlier Within this total laden and empty containers decreased by 60 and 14 to 1028 million TEUs and 272 million TEUs respectively Among laden containers inward and outward containers decreased by 66 and 53 to 546 million TEUs and 481 million TEUs respectively
On a seasonally adjusted quartertoquarter comparison laden container throughput increased by 50 in the fourth quarter of 2025 Within this total inward and outward laden containers increased by 58 and 40 respectively
In the fourth quarter of 2025 seaborne laden containers decreased by 99 to 174 million TEUs over a year earlier while river laden containers increased by 21 to 088 million TEUs
In the whole year of 2025 seaborne and river laden containers decreased by 65 and 49 to 714 million TEUs and 314 million TEUs respectively over a year earlier
Vessel arrivals
Comparing the fourth quarter of 2025 with a year earlier the number of ocean vessel arrivals increased by 21 to 4 870 while the total capacity decreased by 24 to 746 million net tons Meanwhile the number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 02 to 20 643 while the total capacity increased by 93 to 256 million net tons
Comparing the whole year of 2025 with a year earlier the number of ocean vessel arrivals increased by 37 to 19 069 with the total capacity remained virtually unchanged at 2920 million net tons Meanwhile the number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 32 to 79 597 while the total capacity increased by 126 to 955 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 Pleasure vessels and f
