Hong Kong: Hong Kong port's container throughput fell 2.4 per cent last month due to intensifying competition from mainland ports and fewer shipments to Europe, the South China Morning Post reported.
Preliminary figures from the Port Development Council show Hong Kong handled 1.97 million teu last month.
Total volume rose 1.6 per cent to 21.7 million teu in the first 11 months of the year.
The losses were felt outside the main container terminals at Kwai Chung. The terminals themselves, which account for around two thirds of total throughput, actually rose 4.9 per cent year on year but handling elsewhere such as the River Trade Terminal, midstream, etc fell a drastic 16.9 per cent.
"Shipments to Europe decreased last month from a year ago as consumers were concerned about the safety of China-made products such as toys, cradles and food," Sunny Ho, executive director of the Hong Kong Shippers' Council, told the SCMP. "Shenzhen's ports, whose traffic grew 10.6 per cent last month, are increasingly competitive against Hong Kong."
Singapore, the world's busiest container port, boosted traffic 13 per cent to 25.5 million boxes in the first 11 months. Shanghai, ranked No3 last year, boosted traffic 20.5 per cent to 23.9 million teu during the same period. [19/12/07]
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