Third quarter improves for manufacturers
Manufacturers generally experienced an improved business situation and capacity utilisation in the third quarter this year, according to the findings of a quarterly survey released by the Census and Statistics Department. The improvement was mainly due to a seasonal increase in orders for Christmas. Looking ahead, manufacturers expect a further improvement (albeit only slight) in the following quarter. Local price competition, a shortage of skilled labour and high wage rates remained the most commonly cited problems facing businesses.
Number of ships visiting HK up 16%
The number of incoming ships to Hong Kong has increased by 16 per cent to 6,268 in the second quarter this year compared with the same period last year. The total capacity of the ships rose by 10 per cent to 33 million net registered tons (NRT). The amount of cargo discharged in Hong Kong increased by eight per cent, while the total tonnage of containerised seaborne imports rose 23 per cent. An analysis of the type of ship coming to Hong Kong revealed that there had been a major increase in the number of semi-container vessels (up 307) and container vessels (up 301). The number of oil tankers declined by 53.
HK still number one
Hong Kong maintains its position as the world's leading container port with a total container throughput of 5.8 million TEUS for the first nine months this year, according to figures released by the Marine Department. This is 1.3 million TEUs more than at the same time last year, representing an increase of some 28 per cent.
CT9 development
The government has jointly offered the right to develop the new Container Terminal 9 (CT9) on Tsing Yi by private treaty to Modern Terminals Limited (MTL), Hongkong International Terminals (HIT) and the Tsing Yi Container Terminal Consortium. The offer is conditional on the three forming a single group to design and construct the four-berth terminal, which some have estimated will cost HK$10 billion (US$1.3 billion). However, on its completion, the group must be reorganised so that two berths are owned and operated by HIT/MTL and the other two by the Tsing Yi Container Terminal Consortium.
The Tsing Yi consortium comprises Jardine Pacific, Hongkong Land, Sea-Land, Sun Hung Kai Properties, New World Development, Sinotrans and Hanjin.
The only other bidder to develop CT9, the United Terminal Consortium (UTC), has been put out of the race.
Air cargo volume rises 10.7%
Air cargo throughput in September rose by 10.7 per cent to 81.94 million kilogrammes compared with the same period last year. The volume of exports surged 13.5 per cent to 45.6 million kilogrammes while imports grew 7.4 per cent to 27.66 million kilogrammes.
In the first nine months of the year, the total cargo throughout was up 10.8 per cent over the same period last year to 653.3 million kg.
7