I porti di Shanghai e Shenzhen si insediano al terzo e quarto posto della graduatoria dei porti container mondiali

In attesa dei dati definitivi del traffico container realizzato lo scorso anno nei porti di Hong Kong e di Kaohiung, il ministero cinese delle Comunicazioni ha annunciato che nel 2003 i porti di Shanghai e Shenzhen hanno raggiunto il terzo e quarto gradino della graduatoria dei porti container mondiali, classifica che nel 2002 li vedeva rispettivamente al quarto e al sesto posto. Nel 2003 il porto di Busan, con una movimentazione complessiva di 10.370.000 teu, è scivolato al quinto posto della graduatoria, mentre Kaohsiung, per il quale è previsto un traffico di circa 8,8 milioni di teu, si insedierà al sesto posto.

Secondo i dati statistici preliminari, lo scorso anno il porto di Shanghai ha movimentato circa 11.280.000 teu, con una progressione del 31% sul 2002, mentre il porto di Shenzhen ha movimentato circa 10.650.000 teu (+39,9%).

Venerdì scorso intanto il governo di Hong Kong ha reso noti i dati definitivi del traffico registrato nel porto nei primi dieci mesi del 2003.

Summary Statistics on Port Traffic of Hong Kong
October 2003
(Source: Port, Maritime and Logistics Development Unit, Hong Kong Economic Development and Labour Bureau)

Total (Inward + Outward) Container Throughput

	Kwai Chung Terminals^<3>			Stream & other berths^<3>			Kwai Chung Terminals^<3>			Stream & other berths^<3>
Year/ month	Ocean vessel	River cargo vessel	Sub total	Ocean vessel	River cargo vessel	Total	Ocean vessel	River cargo vessel	Sub total	Ocean vessel	River cargo vessel	Total
	'000 TEUs						Year-on-year growth rate %

1990	N.A.	N.A.	3,831	1,198	71	5,101	N.A.	N.A.	15.5	12.3	-10.6	14.3
1991	N.A.	N.A.	4,514	1,573	74	6,162	N.A.	N.A.	17.8	31.3	4.8	20.8
1992	N.A.	N.A.	5,079	^<1>2,461	^<1,2>432	7,972	N.A.	N.A.	12.5	^<1>	^<1>	29.4
1993	N.A.	N.A.	5,797	2,797	610	9,204	N.A.	N.A.	14.1	13.7	41.3	15.5
1994	N.A.	N.A.	7,278	2,839	933	11,050	N.A.	N.A.	25.6	1.5	52.8	20.1
1995	8,039	217	8,256	2,930	1,364	12,550	N.A.	N.A.	13.4	3.2	46.3	13.6
1996	8,218	468	8,686	3,045	1,729	13,460	2.2	115.3	5.2	4.0	26.7	7.3
1997	8,975	515	9,490	3,156	1,922	14,567	9.2	10.0	9.3	3.6	11.2	8.2
	(9,049)	(515)	(9,564)	(2,900)	(1,922)	(14,386)
1998	8,869	686	9,555	2,641	2,386	14,582	-2.0	33.2	-0.1	-8.9	24.1	1.4
1999	9,511	784	10,295	2,838	3,077	16,211	7.2	14.3	7.7	7.5	29.0	11.2
2000	10,664	938	11,603	3,033	3,462	18,098	12.1	19.7	12.7	6.8	12.5	11.6
2001	10,154	1,131	11,285	3,011	3,531	17,826	-4.8	20.6	-2.7	-0.7	2.0	-1.5
2002	10,584	1,308	11,892	3,326	3,926	19,144	4.2	15.6	5.4	10.5	11.2	7.4

2003
Jan	903	133	1,036	301	372	1,709	17.5	25.9	18.5	12.4	31.5	19.9
Feb	689	96	785	218	258	1,261	5.3	41.7	8.7	15.9	8.5	9.8
Mar	907	121	1,028	337	359	1,724	12.0	1.9	10.7	30.8	15.9	15.2
Apr	909	119	1,028	330	412	1,769	6.5	-2.0	5.4	20.2	16.2	10.3
May	885	102	988	309	365	1,661	7.3	-9.3	5.3	16.6	8.4	7.9
Jun	856	104	960	309	391	1,660	-5.2	3.7	-4.3	6.9	22.1	3.0
Jul	903	115	1,018	325	343	1,686	-3.1	-4.5	-3.3	3.6	-0.7	-1.5
Aug	924	138	1,062	325	404	1,791	-5.2	28.0	-1.9	8.6	21.5	4.5
Sep	957	138	1,095	332	387	1,814	-10.1	27.7	-6.6	17.0	4.2	-0.7
Oct	903	122	1,025	363	386	1,773	-4.1	9.0	-2.7	22.8	11.6	4.7
Nov
Dec

Cumulative
2003
Jan	903	133	1,036	301	372	1,709	17.5	25.9	18.5	12.4	31.5	19.9
Feb	1,592	229	1,821	519	630	2,969	11.9	32.1	14.1	13.8	21.0	15.4
Mar	2,499	350	2,849	856	988	4,693	11.9	19.8	12.8	20.0	19.1	15.4
Apr	3,408	468	3,876	1,186	1,400	6,462	10.4	13.4	10.8	20.0	18.3	13.9
May	4,294	570	4,864	1,494	1,765	8,123	9.8	8.6	9.6	19.3	16.1	12.7
Jun	5,150	675	5,824	1,803	2,156	9,783	7.0	7.8	7.1	17.0	17.1	10.9
Jul	6,053	789	6,842	2,128	2,499	11,469	5.3	5.8	5.4	14.7	14.3	8.9
Aug	6,976	927	7,903	2,453	2,903	13,260	3.8	8.6	4.3	13.9	15.2	8.3
Sep	7,933	1,065	8,998	2,785	3,290	15,073	1.9	10.7	2.9	14.2	13.8	7.1
Oct	8,836	1,187	10,023	3,148	3,676	16,847	1.3	10.6	2.3	15.2	13.6	6.8
Nov
Dec

Inward Container Throughput

	Kwai Chung Terminals^<3>			Stream & other berths^<3>			Kwai Chung Terminals^<3>			Stream & other berths^<3>
Year/ month	Ocean vessel	River cargo vessel	Sub total	Ocean vessel	River cargo vessel	Total	Ocean vessel	River cargo vessel	Sub total	Ocean vessel	River cargo vessel	Total
	'000 TEUs						Year-on-year growth rate %
1990	N.A.	N.A.	1,830	663	37	2,531	N.A.	N.A.	14.3	15.4	-18.9	13.9
1991	N.A.	N.A.	2,161	861	37	3,059	N.A.	N.A.	18.1	29.8	-0.6	20.9
1992	N.A.	N.A.	2,428	^<1>1,284	^<1,2>220	3,932	N.A.	N.A.	12.4	^<1>	^<1>	28.5
1993	N.A.	N.A.	2,750	1,503	314	4,566	N.A.	N.A.	13.2	17.1	42.7	16.1
1994	N.A.	N.A.	3,397	1,595	477	5,469	N.A.	N.A.	23.5	6.1	52.1	19.8
1995	3,792	112	3,904	1,612	698	6,215	N.A.	N.A.	14.9	1.1	46.4	13.6
1996	3,894	253	4,147	1,625	881	6,653	2.7	125.2	6.2	0.8	26.2	7.0
1997	4,312	252	4,564	1,632	984	7,181	10.7	-0.4	10.1	0.4	11.8	7.9
	(4,302)	(252)	(4,555)	(1,584)	(984)	(7,123)
1998	4,253	393	4,646	1,458	1,180	7,284	-1.2	55.9	2.0	-7.9	19.9	2.3
1999	4,419	415	4,834	1,542	1,650	8,027	3.9	5.6	4.1	5.8	39.8	10.2
2000	4,982	524	5,506	1,700	1,773	8,979	12.7	26.4	13.9	10.2	7.5	11.9
2001	4,755	621	5,376	1,669	1,788	8,833	-4.6	18.4	-2.4	-1.8	0.8	-1.6
2002	4,994	711	5,706	1,775	2,011	9,492	5.0	14.5	6.1	6.4	12.5	7.5

2003
Jan	424	81	505	149	196	850	16.4	58.4	21.5	-4.3	46.1	20.5
Feb	370	45	414	123	126	664	15.5	25.1	16.5	17.3	-4.7	11.9
Mar	424	66	490	180	182	852	9.9	11.2	10.1	26.0	18.7	14.9
Apr	431	67	498	164	205	867	8.5	12.3	9.0	4.7	19.9	10.5
May	420	59	479	160	195	833	6.1	4.6	5.9	9.8	16.6	9.0
Jun	398	62	459	162	203	824	-4.7	13.8	-2.5	2.8	19.7	3.3
Jul	426	69	495	167	179	841	0.1	2.9	0.5	6.5	0.8	1.7
Aug	430	81	512	160	209	880	-5.5	33.9	-0.8	-0.6	22.8	4.0
Sep	441	83	524	155	204	883	-13.0	27.1	-8.5	8.0	1.1	-3.8
Oct	419	74	493	187	193	874	-2.5	9.5	-0.9	21.3	4.8	4.4
Nov
Dec

Cumulative
2003
Jan	424	81	505	149	196	850	16.4	58.4	21.5	-4.3	46.1	20.5
Feb	794	125	919	272	322	1,514	16.0	44.7	19.2	4.4	20.9	16.6
Mar	1,218	191	1,409	452	505	2,366	13.8	31.1	15.9	12.1	20.1	16.0
Apr	1,649	258	1,907	616	710	3,233	12.4	25.6	14.0	10.0	20.0	14.5
May	2,069	317	2,386	776	905	4,066	11.0	21.1	12.3	10.0	19.3	13.3
Jun	2,467	378	2,845	938	1,108	4,891	8.2	19.9	9.6	8.7	19.4	11.5
Jul	2,893	447	3,340	1,105	1,287	5,732	6.9	16.9	8.1	8.3	16.4	9.9
Aug	3,323	529	3,852	1,264	1,496	6,612	5.1	19.2	6.8	7.1	17.2	9.1
Sep	3,764	611	4,376	1,420	1,700	7,495	2.6	20.2	4.7	7.2	15.0	7.4
Oct	4,184	685	4,869	1,607	1,893	8,369	2.1	19.0	4.1	8.7	13.9	7.1
Nov
Dec

Outward Container Throughput

	Kwai Chung Terminals^<3>			Stream & other berths^<3>			Kwai Chung Terminals^<3>			Stream & other berths^<3>
Year/ month	Ocean vessel	River cargo vessel	Sub total	Ocean vessel	River cargo vessel	Total	Ocean vessel	River cargo vessel	Sub total	Ocean vessel	River cargo vessel	Total
	'000 TEUs						Year-on-year growth rate %
1990	N.A.	N.A.	2,001	535	33	2,570	N.A.	N.A.	16.6	8.7	1.0	14.6
1991	N.A.	N.A.	2,353	712	37	3,102	N.A.	N.A.	17.6	33.0	11.0	20.7
1992	N.A.	N.A.	2,651	^<1>1,178	^<1,2>212	4,040	N.A.	N.A.	12.6	^<1>	^<1>	30.2
1993	N.A.	N.A.	3,047	1,294	297	4,638	N.A.	N.A.	15.0	9.9	39.9	14.8
1994	N.A.	N.A.	3,881	1,244	456	5,581	N.A.	N.A.	27.4	-3.9	53.6	20.3
1995	4,247	105	4,352	1,317	666	6,335	N.A.	N.A.	12.1	5.9	46.1	13.5
1996	4,324	215	4,539	1,420	848	6,808	1.8	104.7	4.3	7.8	27.3	7.5
1997	4,663	263	4,926	1,523	938	7,387	7.8	22.4	8.5	7.2	10.6	8.5
	(4,746)	(263)	(5,009)	(1,316)	(938)	(7,264)
1998	4,616	293	4,909	1,183	1,206	7,297	-2.7	11.3	-2.0	-10.2	28.6	0.5
1999	5,092	369	5,461	1,296	1,427	8,184	10.3	26.0	11.2	9.6	18.4	12.2
2000	5,683	414	6,096	1,333	1,689	9,118	11.6	12.2	11.6	2.8	18.4	11.4
2001	5,399	510	5,909	1,341	1,743	8,993	-5.0	23.3	-3.1	0.6	3.2	-1.4
2002	5,589	597	6,186	1,551	1,916	9,652	3.5	17.0	4.7	15.6	9.9	7.3

2003
Jan	479	52	531	152	176	859	18.5	-4.3	15.8	35.5	18.3	19.4
Feb	320	51	371	95	132	597	-4.5	60.2	1.1	14.2	25.2	7.6
Mar	483	55	538	157	176	871	13.9	-7.4	11.3	36.7	13.2	15.6
Apr	478	52	529	166	207	902	4.6	-16.0	2.2	40.7	12.8	10.1
May	466	43	509	149	170	828	8.4	-23.1	4.8	24.9	0.3	6.9
Jun	458	43	501	147	187	836	-5.6	-8.0	-5.8	11.8	24.9	2.7
Jul	477	46	522	157	165	844	-5.9	-13.9	-6.6	0.8	-2.3	-4.5
Aug	494	56	550	165	196	911	-5.0	20.3	-2.9	19.3	20.1	4.9
Sep	515	55	571	177	183	930	-7.4	28.6	-4.8	26.2	8.0	2.3
Oct	483	48	532	176	192	900	-5.4	8.3	-4.3	24.5	19.5	4.9
Nov
Dec

Cumulative
2003
Jan	479	52	531	152	176	859	18.5	-4.3	15.8	35.5	18.3	19.4
Feb	798	104	902	246	307	1,456	8.1	19.5	9.3	26.4	21.2	14.3
Mar	1,281	159	1,440	404	484	2,327	10.2	8.6	10.0	30.3	18.1	14.7
Apr	1,759	210	1,969	569	690	3,229	8.6	1.3	7.8	33.1	16.5	13.4
May	2,225	254	2,478	718	860	4,057	8.6	-3.9	7.2	31.3	12.9	12.0
Jun	2,683	296	2,979	865	1,048	4,892	5.9	-4.5	4.7	27.5	14.9	10.3
Jul	3,160	342	3,502	1,023	1,212	5,737	3.9	-5.9	2.9	22.5	12.2	7.8
Aug	3,653	399	4,052	1,188	1,408	6,648	2.6	-2.9	2.0	22.1	13.2	7.4
Sep	4,168	454	4,622	1,366	1,590	7,578	1.3	0.1	1.1	22.6	12.6	6.8
Oct	4,652	502	5,154	1,541	1,783	8,478	0.5	0.8	0.6	22.8	13.3	6.6
Nov
Dec

Total (Inward + Outward) Container Throughput by ocean vessel and river

Year/month	Ocean vessel^<3>	River cargo vessel	Ocean vessel^<3>	River cargo vessel
	'000 TEUs		Year-on-year growth rate %
1995	10,968	1,581	N.A.	N.A.
1996	11,263	2,197	2.7	38.9
1997	12,130	2,437	7.7	10.9
	(11,949)	(2,437)
1998	11,510	3,072	-3.7	26.0
1999	12,350	3,861	7.3	25.7
2000	13,697	4,401	10.9	14.0
2001	13,165	4,662	-3.9	5.9
2002	13,910	5,234	5.7	12.3

2003
Jan	1,203	505	16.2	30.0
Feb	907	353	7.7	15.9
Mar	1,245	479	16.5	12.0
Apr	1,238	531	9.8	11.6
May	1,194	467	9.6	4.0
Jun	1,165	495	-2.2	17.7
Jul	1,227	458	-1.4	-1.7
Aug	1,249	542	-2.0	23.1
Sep	1,289	525	-4.4	9.5
Oct	1,266	508	2.4	11.0
Nov
Dec

Cumulative
2003
Jan	1,203	505	16.2	30.0
Feb	2,111	859	12.3	23.8
Mar	3,355	1,338	13.9	19.3
Apr	4,594	1,869	12.7	17.0
May	5,788	2,335	12.1	14.1
Jun	6,953	2,830	9.4	14.8
Jul	8,180	3,289	7.6	12.1
Aug	9,429	3,831	6.2	13.6
Sep	10,718	4,355	4.8	13.1
Oct	11,984	4,863	4.6	12.8
Nov
Dec

Percentage Distribution of Total (Inward + Outward)
Container Throughput by Handling Location

	Kwai Chung Terminals^<3>			Stream & other berths^<3>
Year/month	Ocean vessel	River cargo vessel	Sub total	Ocean vessel	River cargo vessel	Total
	%	%	%	%	%	%
1990	N.A.	N.A.	75.1	23.5	1.4	100.0
1991	N.A.	N.A.	73.3	25.5	1.2	100.0
1992	N.A.	N.A.	63.7	^<1>30.9	^<1,2>5.4	100.0
1993	N.A.	N.A.	63.0	30.4	6.6	100.0
1994	N.A.	N.A.	65.9	25.7	8.4	100.0
1995	64.1	1.7	65.8	23.3	10.9	100.0
1996	61.1	3.5	64.5	22.6	12.8	100.0
1997	61.6	3.5	65.1	21.7	13.2	100.0
	(62.9)	(3.6)	(66.5)	(20.2)	(13.4)	(100.0)
1998	60.8	4.7	65.5	18.1	16.4	100.0
1999	58.7	4.8	63.5	17.5	19.0	100.0
2000	58.9	5.2	64.1	16.8	19.1	100.0
2001	57.0	6.3	63.3	16.9	19.8	100.0
2002	55.3	6.8	62.1	17.4	20.5	100.0

2003
Jan	52.9	7.8	60.6	17.6	21.8	100.0
Feb	54.7	7.6	62.3	17.3	20.4	100.0
Mar	52.6	7.0	59.6	19.6	20.8	100.0
Apr	51.4	6.7	58.1	18.6	23.3	100.0
May	53.3	6.1	59.5	18.6	22.0	100.0
Jun	51.6	6.3	57.9	18.6	23.5	100.0
Jul	53.6	6.8	60.4	19.3	20.4	100.0
Aug	51.6	7.7	59.3	18.2	22.6	100.0
Sep	52.8	7.6	60.4	18.3	21.3	100.0
Oct	50.9	6.9	57.8	20.5	21.7	100.0
Nov
Dec

Cumulative
2003
Jan	52.9	7.8	60.6	17.6	21.8	100.0
Feb	53.6	7.7	61.3	17.5	21.2	100.0
Mar	53.3	7.4	60.7	18.2	21.1	100.0
Apr	52.7	7.2	60.0	18.3	21.7	100.0
May	52.9	7.0	59.9	18.4	21.7	100.0
Jun	52.6	6.9	59.5	18.4	22.0	100.0
Jul	52.8	6.9	59.7	18.6	21.8	100.0
Aug	52.6	7.0	59.6	18.5	21.9	100.0
Sep	52.6	7.1	59.7	18.5	21.8	100.0
Oct	52.4	7.0	59.5	18.7	21.8	100.0
Nov
Dec

Percentage Share of Empty Containers (in TEU)

	Kwai Chung Terminals^<3>							Stream & other berths^<3>
	Inward %			Outward %				Ocean vessel			River cargo vessel			Total
	Ocean vessel	River cargo vessel	Sub total	Ocean vessel	River cargo vessel	Sub total	Total %	Inward %	Outward %	Total %	Inward %	Outward %	Total %	Inward %	Outward %	Total %

1990	N.A.	N.A.	29.5	N.A.	N.A.	7.1	17.8	18.1	13.4	16.0	29.5	36.0	32.6	26.5	8.8	17.6
1991	N.A.	N.A.	28.3	N.A.	N.A.	5.5	16.4	11.4	13.8	12.5	31.9	30.5	31.2	23.6	7.7	15.6
1992	N.A.	N.A.	27.8	N.A.	N.A.	4.6	15.7	9.8	15.3	12.4	40.5	25.8	33.3	22.6	8.9	15.7
1993	N.A.	N.A.	28.1	N.A.	N.A.	5.9	16.4	10.4	13.3	11.7	36.5	29.8	33.3	22.8	9.5	16.1
1994	N.A.	N.A.	19.7	N.A.	N.A.	7.8	13.3	8.7	14.2	11.1	38.7	28.1	33.5	18.1	10.8	14.4
1995	20.1	2.5	19.6	7.7	39.2	8.4	13.7	9.0	16.1	12.2	48.7	30.9	40.0	20.1	12.4	16.2
1996	20.2	13.3	19.7	7.9	22.7	8.6	13.9	13.8	14.1	13.9	53.9	29.2	41.8	22.8	12.3	17.5
1997	19.0	14.0	18.8	8.3	24.8	9.2	13.8	15.8	16.6	16.2	55.3	29.0	42.5	23.1	13.2	18.1
	(19.1)	(14.0)	(18.8)	(8.1)	(24.8)	(9.0)	(13.7)	(16.3)	(19.2)	(17.6)	(55.3)	(29.0)	(42.5)	(23.3)	(13.4)	(18.3)
1998	27.2	15.0	26.1	6.9	41.6	9.0	17.3	13.7	26.1	19.3	49.3	29.0	39.0	27.4	15.0	21.2
1999	27.1	12.6	25.9	5.1	35.4	7.1	15.9	11.8	20.0	15.5	53.6	31.1	43.2	28.9	13.3	21.0
2000	31.2	17.3	29.9	4.4	24.4	5.7	17.2	10.1	15.4	12.4	51.4	33.6	42.7	30.4	12.3	21.3
2001	31.0	16.4	29.3	4.1	18.4	5.4	16.8	7.9	11.7	9.6	44.8	37.6	41.3	28.4	12.6	20.4
2002	30.8	9.9	28.2	4.2	19.7	5.7	16.5	5.8	7.7	6.7	42.7	40.7	41.7	27.1	13.0	20.0

2003
Jan	34.1	6.7	29.7	3.9	25.0	6.0	17.5	7.8	5.8	6.8	40.7	43.6	42.1	28.4	13.6	21.0
Feb	29.9	10.5	27.8	6.2	19.0	8.0	18.5	6.9	6.9	6.9	40.8	38.4	39.6	26.4	14.5	20.8
Mar	20.1	8.7	18.5	5.0	17.1	6.3	12.1	5.3	6.8	6.0	36.3	40.3	38.3	19.5	13.3	16.4
Apr	24.2	9.1	22.2	5.6	17.9	6.8	14.3	4.5	5.6	5.1	36.5	40.7	38.6	22.2	14.4	18.2
May	27.0	8.5	24.7	6.2	16.6	7.1	15.6	6.8	5.4	6.1	37.8	40.1	38.9	24.3	13.6	19.0
Jun	31.0	12.8	28.6	4.1	24.6	5.9	16.7	6.5	6.0	6.3	40.2	43.4	41.7	27.1	14.3	20.7
Jul	33.6	10.3	30.4	3.4	22.5	5.1	17.4	7.0	6.1	6.6	36.4	39.1	37.7	27.0	11.9	19.5
Aug	32.2	11.0	28.8	2.8	21.0	4.7	16.3	8.9	5.9	7.3	39.8	41.6	40.7	27.8	12.8	20.2
Sep	34.3	8.8	30.3	3.1	16.4	4.4	16.8	8.1	5.9	6.9	39.0	40.6	39.8	28.4	11.8	19.9
Oct	30.8	7.6	27.3	3.9	19.0	5.3	15.9	7.5	5.3	6.4	36.2	38.1	37.2	25.0	12.3	18.6
Nov
Dec

Cumulative
2003
Jan	34.1	6.7	29.7	3.9	25.0	6.0	17.5	7.8	5.8	6.8	40.7	43.6	42.1	28.4	13.6	21.0
Feb	32.1	8.1	28.9	4.8	22.0	6.8	17.9	7.4	6.2	6.8	40.7	41.4	41.0	27.5	14.0	20.9
Mar	27.9	8.3	25.3	4.9	20.3	6.6	15.8	6.5	6.4	6.5	39.1	41.0	40.0	24.6	13.7	19.2
Apr	27.0	8.5	24.5	5.1	19.7	6.7	15.4	6.0	6.2	6.1	38.4	40.9	39.6	24.0	13.9	19.0
May	27.0	8.5	24.5	5.4	19.2	6.8	15.5	6.2	6.0	6.1	38.3	40.8	39.5	24.1	13.8	19.0
Jun	27.6	9.2	25.2	5.1	20.0	6.6	15.7	6.2	6.0	6.1	38.6	41.2	39.9	24.6	13.9	19.3
Jul	28.5	9.4	25.9	4.9	20.3	6.4	15.9	6.3	6.0	6.2	38.3	40.9	39.6	24.9	13.6	19.3
Aug	29.0	9.6	26.3	4.6	20.4	6.2	16.0	6.7	6.0	6.4	38.5	41.0	39.7	25.3	13.5	19.4
Sep	29.6	9.5	26.8	4.4	19.9	5.9	16.1	6.8	6.0	6.4	38.6	41.0	39.7	25.7	13.3	19.5
Oct	29.7	9.3	26.8	4.4	19.8	5.9	16.1	6.9	5.9	6.4	38.3	40.7	39.5	25.6	13.2	19.4
Nov
Dec

N.A.	Not Available
P	Preliminary figures
R	Revised figures
( )	Starting from 1998, a new series of container throughputs has been compiled. To facilitate comparison, figures for 1997 compiled according to the new series is presented in brackets.

Explanatory Notes
< 1 >	Changes in the definition of ocean and river vessels As from 1 January 1992, the statistical systems on ocean and river vessel trips, containers and cargo have been completely overhauled and redesigned by Marine Department. Reporting procedures, methodology and quality control are enhanced, in addition to full computerisation. Also, a new definition has been adopted by both Marine Department and Census & Statistics Department in compiling shipping, cargo and container statistics related to ocean and river vessels. The new definition is based on trade route and its difference with the old one is set out below. Old Definition (until 31 Dec 1992) Within 24 hours of arrival and before departure, vessels are required to report entry and obtain clearance either at Marine Department's Port Formalities Office (PFO) or its District Marine Offices (DMOs). Ocean vessels are defined operationally as vessels completing port formalities at PFO. On the other hand, vessels completing port formalities at DMOs are defined as river vessels. In most cases, the latter are vessels below 500 gross registered tonne (GRT) plying between Hong Kong and Pearl River ports (including Macau). New Definition (effective 1 Jan 1993) The classification of vessels entering/leaving Hong Kong water into 'ocean' and 'river' is made on the basis of the 'river trade limits' defined under the Shipping and Port Control Ordinance Cap 313. The river trade area broadly includes the Pearl River , Mirs Bay and Macau, and other inland waters in Guangdong and Guangxi which are accessible from waters in the vicinity of Hong Kong. Ocean vessels are those vessels plying outside the legally defined river trade limits and river vessels are those plying exclusively within the limits. Because of the changes in definitions, 1992 figures were compiled on both bases so that comparative year-on-year growth rates for 1993 statistics can be derived.
< 2 >	A standardised manifest has been in use from 1 Apr 92 (trial period in Jan-Mar 92) to collect river cargo and container throughput data.
< 3>	Starting from 1998, all figures except those on ocean trade empty TEUs are compiled by the Census and Statistics Department based on cargo manifests. On the other hand, figures on ocean trade empty TEUs handled in "Container Terminals" and "Stream and Elsewhere" respectively are based on returns supplied by the Terminal Operators and Marine Department General Declaration Forms.