Hong Kong port operators including Hutchison Whampoa Ltd and PSA International Pte handled 0.4 per cent more containers in October than a year earlier, as competition from mainland harbours stymied traffic growth.
Hong Kong, the world's second-busiest container port last year, handled 2.04 million 20-foot boxes last month, according to preliminary figures posted on the Port Development Council's website.
In the first 10 months of the year, traffic rose 1.7 per cent to 19.7 million containers.
Container traffic growth has slowed here because of competition from cheaper mainland ports, including Shanghai and Shenzhen.
Hong Kong's government plans to build more road and rail links to China to help boost its logistics industry.
Shanghai, ranked No 3 last year, expects to surpass Singapore as the world's busiest container port next year.
Hong Kong's port traffic largely comprises of Chinese-made goods, which are sent to the city for redistribution.
China's exports jumped 22.3 per cent in October from a year earlier, while imports surged 25.5 per cent. About 90 per cent of world trade moves by sea.
China Merchants Holdings (International) Co, Modern Terminals Ltd and Dubai-owned DP World also operate terminals here, either directly or through ventures.
Singapore's port operators, including PSA International, handled 11 per cent more containers in October.
The port moved a provisional 2.4 million 20-foot standard containers in October compared with 2.18 million boxes a year earlier, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said on its website.
The city-state overtook Hong Kong as the world's busiest container port in 2005.
PSA International handled 22.44 million containers in the first 10 months of the year, a 13 per cent gain from last year, according to its website.
|
