Stevedoring records off 3.2 percent in January and February

The loading and unloading at ports nationwide in January and February 2001 appeared to decrease by 3.2 percent year on year.

The Korea Harbor Transportation Association reported that cargoes handled in harbors nationwide, such as Pusan and Inchon, for the first two months stood at 85,186,000 tons, a slight decrease of 3.2 percent over the same period of last year, 87,970,000 tons.

Broken down by harbor, Ulsan topped handling with 23,381,000 tons of crude oils and chemicals, followed by Pusan with 21,709,000 tons. Inchon took third place recording 9,877,000 tons. Yeosoo followed with 9,590,000 tons. Pohang processed 7,494,000 tons, Kunsan 4,415,000 tons, and Masan 4,101,000 tons.

As stevedoring amounts dropped, revenues also fell, amounting to 119 billion won, down 2.3 percent from last year's 121.8 billion won.

Pusan earned the lion's share, 37.6 billion won, an increase of 1.5 percent above last year's 37 billion won. Inchon fell by 6.8 percent, taking in 31.5 billion won. Pohang was down 7.4 percent to 13 billion won while Ulsan saw an increase of 1.5 percent to 9.7 billion.

Most items, excepting minerals, cement and subsidiary materials, dipped compared with last year's performance. While containers increased by 0.3 percent to 23,337,000 tons, bituminous coal recorded 10,145,000 tons, down 0.8 percent. Crude oil slipped to 10,999,000 tons, down 5.5 percent, while scrap metal plummeted 25.6 percent to 1,021,000 tons, and general liquids all but stopped with a 56 percent decrease to 972,000 tons.