FIGURES from the Hong Kong Marine Department showed the port handled 1.7 million TEU in June, representing a year-on-year decrease of 12.9 per cent from 1.97 million TEU in June last year.

Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority reported a 7.8pc decrease in container movement in June, having handled 2.6 million TEU compared to 2.8 million TEU in June last year.

Shanghai lifted 18 million TEU (up 4.4 per cent) in the first half year on year, Shenzhen, lifted 11.6 million TEU (up 5.4 per cent), Ningbo-Zhoushan 10.5 million TEU (up 9.1 per cent), Qingdao, 8.6 million TEU (up 2.7 per cent), Guangzhou, 8.2 million TEU (up 6.1 per cent) and Tianjin 7.2 million TEU (up 5 per cent).

Overall cargo moved through Chinese ports in June came to 987.5 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 4.5 per cent.