Oceangoing cargo traded to and from South Korea totaled 1.204 billion tons in January-September, growing 1.7% year on year from 1.183 billion tons, according to preliminary statistics compiled by the nation’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF). Containerized shipments increased 4.3% from 20.515 million TEUs to 21.396 million TEUs. In breakdown, exports and imports swelled 1.2% to 12.335 million TEUs in total, while transshipment (T/S) containers enjoyed a notable improvement, surging 11.2% to 8.853 million TEUs.
Looking at container movement by major port, Busan was responsible for 16.051 million TEUs, up 4.6%. Exports and imports accounted for 7.629 million TEUs, down 0.2%, and T/S cargo, 8.422 million TEUs, up 10.5%.
To and from Kwangyang, 1.756 million TEUs were moved, up 5.3%. The port exported and imported 1.357 million TEUs, up 2.6%, and handled 399,000 TEUs of T/S containers, up 30.2%.