Seoul: Cargo processed at South Korean seaports fell 1.1 percent from a year earlier in the third quarter amid continued uncertainties in the global trade environment, the oceans ministry said Thursday. Cargo handled at the country’s seaports nationwide came to 390.28 million tons during the July-September period, down from 390.46 million tons the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.

According to Yonhap News Agency, of the total cargo, export-import cargo accounted for 336.68 million tons. While container cargo processed at seaports increased by 0.7 percent year-on-year to 7.9 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in the third quarter, export-import container cargo rose by 0.8 percent to 4.38 million TEUs compared to the previous year.

Total export cargo processed at seaports witnessed an increase of 1.8 percent year-on-year to 2.21 million TEUs. Despite a 5.8 percent decline in exports to the U.S., shipments to China increased by 7 percent. Oceans Minister Chun Ja
e-soo noted that container cargo volume has continued to rise amid lingering trade uncertainties, following growth in the first half of the year. However, with the growth rate slowing, the ministry is closely monitoring market conditions and maintaining cooperation with relevant agencies.

South Korea’s handling of transshipment cargo, or cargo processed en route to final destinations, saw an increase of 0.6 percent year-on-year to 3.47 million TEUs. Conversely, non-container cargo handled at seaports decreased by 1.5 percent year-on-year to 257.1 million tons in the third quarter.