📋 Tender Overview
The Census and Statistics Department CSD today December 2 released the statistics on vessels port cargo and containers for the third quarter of 2025
In the third quarter of 2025 total port cargo throughput decreased by 56 to 413 million tonnes over a year earlier Within this total inward port cargo decreased by 110 to 247 million tonnes while outward port cargo increased by 38 to 166 million tonnes
For the first nine months of 2025 total port cargo throughput decreased by 57 to 1248 million tonnes over a year earlier Within this total inward port cargo decreased by 112 to 744 million tonnes while outward port cargo increased by 38 to 504 million tonnes
On a seasonally adjusted quartertoquarter comparison total port cargo throughput decreased by 29 in the third quarter of 2025 Within this total inward port cargo and outward port cargo decreased by 28 and 30 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 third quarter of 2025 within port cargo seaborne and river cargo decreased by 67 and 37 to 255 million tonnes and 158 million tonnes respectively over a year earlier
In the first nine months of 2025 within port cargo seaborne and river cargo decreased by 57 and 56 to 779 million tonnes and 469 million tonnes respectively over a year earlier
Comparing the third quarter of 2025 with a year earlier a doubledigit increase was recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Thailand 122 On the other hand doubledigit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Chile 491 Korea 280 Vietnam 244 Indonesia 153 and Malaysia 132 For outward port cargo doubledigit increases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Australia 538 Malaysia 212 and Chinese Mainland 117 On the other hand doubledigit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Thailand 497 the United States of America 488 Japan 261 Vietnam 253 and the Philippines 121
Comparing the first nine months of 2025 with a year earlier doubledigit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo loaded in Vietnam 262 Korea 254 Indonesia 240 Malaysia 208 Japan 143 Thailand 130 and Taiwan 128 For outward port cargo doubledigit increases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in Australia 357 and Chinese Mainland 119 On the other hand doubledigit decreases were recorded in the tonnage of outward port cargo discharged in the United States of America 416 Thailand 322 the Philippines 248 Vietnam 243 and Japan 203
Comparing the third quarter of 2025 with a year earlier doubledigit changes were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo of metalliferous ores and metal scrap 147 machinery 121 coal coke and briquettes 136 artificial resins and plastic materials 187 and stone sand and gravel 272 As for outward port cargo tripledigit or doubledigit changes were recorded in the tonnage of stone sand and gravel 1002 artificial resins and plastic materials 190 and pulp and waste paper 383
Comparing the first nine months of 2025 with a year earlier doubledigit changes were recorded in the tonnage of inward port cargo of metalliferous ores and metal scrap 224 artificial resins and plastic materials 174 coal coke and briquettes 233 and stone sand and gravel 318 As for outward port cargo doubledigit changes were recorded in the tonnage of stone sand and gravel 705 metalliferous ores and metal scrap 139 pulp and waste paper 155 and artificial resins and plastic materials 194
Containers
In the third quarter of 2025 the port of Hong Kong handled 310 million twentyfoot equivalent units TEUs of containers representing a decrease of 91 over a year earlier Within this total laden and empty containers decreased by 88 and 101 to 250 million TEUs and 060 million TEUs respectively Among laden containers inward and outward containers decreased by 100 and 74 to 132 million TEUs and 118 million TEUs respectively
For the first nine months of 2025 the port of Hong Kong handled 968 million TEUs of containers representing a decrease of 49 over a year earlier Within this total laden and empty containers decreased by 59 and 07 to 766 million TEUs and 202 million TEUs respectively Among laden containers inward and outward containers decreased by 67 and 50 to 408 million TEUs and 358 million TEUs respectively
On a seasonally adjusted quartertoquarter comparison laden container throughput decreased by 38 in the third quarter of 2025 Within this total inward and outward laden containers decreased by 36 and 41 respectively
In the third quarter of 2025 seaborne and river laden containers decreased by 75 and 118 to 176 million TEUs and 074 million TEUs respectively over a year earlier
In the first nine months of 2025 seaborne and river laden containers decreased by 53 and 74 to 540 million TEUs and 226 million TEUs respectively over a year earlier
Vessel arrivals
Comparing the third quarter of 2025 with a year earlier the number of ocean vessel arrivals increased by 64 to 4 793 with the total capacity also increasing by 21 to 727 million net tons Meanwhile the number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 80 to 19 060 while the total capacity increased by 84 to 232 million net tons
Comparing the first nine months of 2025 with a year earlier the number of ocean vessel arrivals increased by 42 to 14 199 with the total capacity also increasing by 09 to 2174 million net tons Meanwhile the number of river vessel arrivals decreased by 42 to 58 954 while the total capacity increased by 139 to 699 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
