Cargo processed at South Korean seaports increased by 1.5% in the first quarter compared to the previous year, reaching 388.45 million tons. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries reported that export-import cargo also rose by 1.5% to 327.48 million tons during this period.
Container cargo handled at seaports experienced a slight decline of 1.2% year-on-year, amounting to 7.87 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in the first quarter. Notably, shipments to and from the United States decreased by 10.2%, while those with China and Japan saw increases of 2.4% and 9.5%, respectively.
The volume of transshipment cargo, which is cargo processed en route to other destinations, decreased by 0.7% to 3.6 million TEUs. Busan, one of the key ports, processed 6.14 million TEUs, marking a 2% decline from the previous year, while Incheon and Gwangyang saw increases in cargo processing volumes.
Non-container cargo handled at South Korean seaports also saw growth, rising by 1.7% year-on-year to 249.63 million tons in the first quarter. Despite uncertainties from the Middle Eastern conflict, the impact on port cargo volumes was limited, according to Oceans Minister Hwan Jong-woo, who emphasized the need for continued efforts to ensure smooth shipping operations.
