Total port cargo throughput at the Hong Kong port in the first half of 2011 posted a 2.2 percent growth to 11.7 million TEUs compared to the same period last year.
The Shenzhen ports recorded a total of 10.7 million TEUs handled for H1 2011, at a 1.9% growth.
Since January, the highest container throughput for the month was recorded at the Hong Kong port in April with 2.2 million TEUs at a 13% growth rate. February, March and June 2011 saw negative throughput at 0.2%, 3.6% and 2.2% respectively.
There was a corresponding growth moderation in the manufacturing sector in China as the PMI fell from 52.0% in May to 50.9% in June, according to Li & Fung Research which tracks China's manufacturing PMI.
According to the research, "we believe that the slowdown was due to slower domestic demand caused mainly by the government's monetary and property tightening measures, weakening export demand, as well as the power shortage problem."
"It is, however, noteworthy that the June PMI stayed firmly above the 50-mark, which means that the manufacturing sector is still expanding, albeit in a slower manner."
Both domestic demand and export demand slowed in June, according to the research. The new orders index decreased from 52.1% in May to 50.8% in June, while the new export orders index fell from 51.1% in May to 50.5% in June.
The stocks of finished goods index stayed high at 51.0% in June. Manufacturers may be under pressure to start another destocking cycle, which will constrain the growth of the industrial output in the coming months. |
