Up 8.8% from a Year Ago
Incheon Port Authority (www.ipca.or.kr) said the total volume of container cargos transported via Incheon Port in the first half of this year reached 1,238,000 TEUs, an 8.8 % increase from 1,137,000 TEUs in the same period of last year.
According to the Incheon Port Authority (IPA) on July 27, the cargo volume was the largest ever in the history of Incheon Port. The quantity of container goods transported via the port has been showing an annual 5.9% increase on average since 2013 when it surpassed the mark of 1,000,000 TEUs by recording 1,042,000 TEUs in the first half.
Among the total container cargos, imported goods accounted for 51.6% with 638,310 TEUs, which increased by 51,174 TEUs compared to the same period of last year. Export cargos amounted to 587,519 TEUs, which also increased by 49,480 TEUs from a year ago. Volumes of transshipment and coastal transportation recorded 7,220 TEUs and 4,800 TEUs, respectively.
By country, the container shipment related to China increased by 6.9% or 47,519 TEUs to 732,953 TEUs, and that to Vietnam reached 105,182 TEUs by increasing 20.8% or 18,086 TEUs. Such shipment increases are likely to be a result of the volume rising due to the effect of the Korea-China FTA and Korea-Vietnam FTA each signed last year.
By region, the shipment related to the Far East Asian region including China reached 887,602 TEUs by increasing 8.2% or 67,477 TEUs from a year ago. The cargos exported to or imported from Southeast Asia amounted to 244,966 TEUs, an increase of 12.6% or 27,374 TEUs. The shipments of 22 items increased, including general merchandise, machinery & components, and plastic or rubber goods among others.
Meanwhile, the bulk cargo volume transported during the same period this year recorded 60.99 million tons (RT), a 4.8% increase from a year earlier.
The import cargos showed a 2.2% increase to reach 36.98 million tons, accounting for 60.6% of the total bulk cargo volume. The volume of the export cargos decreased by 0.8% to 5.92 million tons, accounting for 9.7% of the total. The coastal transported cargos accounted for 29.5%, up 14.4% from a year ago.
Yoo Chang-kuen, CEO of the IPA said, “The Hanjin Incheon Container Terminal (HJIT) opened this year in Incheon New Port, leading to a high rise in the container shipments. In particular, the growth of shipment volume in July soared, which is likely to drive the shipment to reach 1.5 million TEUs early August.” He added, “The container shipments handled in Incheon Port will see a sustained growth since the sequential full-opening of Incheon New Port is scheduled next January.”