Hong Kong port sees slowest growth since 2001

Hong Kong: Hong Kong's container shipping traffic rose 1% last year, the lowest growth since 2001, as hit by slowing exports, government data showed.

A total of 24.2 million teu passed through the city's container terminals and other port-handling facilities in 2008, according to preliminary estimates from the Port Development Council issued late Friday.

Container throughput in 2007 was 24.0 million teu.

Throughput at the Kwai Chung container terminals, which handle the bulk of Hong Kong's container traffic, rose 2.3% last year to 17.7 million teu from 17.3 million teu.

At other cargo-handling facilities such as private wharves and anchorages, throughput fell 2.3% last year to 6.5 million teu from 6.7 million teu.

In 2001, Hong Kong's container throughput dropped 1.5% to 17.8 million teu.  [19/01/08]