13.6% increase in vessels coming into Korean ports during first quarter

Vessels and cargoes coming into Korean ports have increased dramatica
lly for the first quarter of this year due to the acceleration of the
Korean domestic economy. The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisherie
s (MOMAF) released a report showing that the total number of vessels w
hich entered was 38,914, an increase of 13.6% compared to the same per
iod last year. Ocean going vessels increased 13.6% to 13,987.
Coastal vessels totaled 24,927, up 13.8%. Cargoes amounted to 19,98000
000 tons up 1,881,000 tons ( a 10.4% increase ) which indicates that t
he domestic economy is more active. Outbound cargoes amounted to 36000
00 tons, an 8.8% increase. Inbound cargoes also, increased 10.5% to 10
4,423,000 tons.
Inbound cargoes mostly consisted of raw materials, like crude oil, wh
ich are necessary to make products. Finished products led the trend of
outbound cargoes. In addition, building materials like sand, and food
constituted the greater part of domestic cargoes.