Introduction
A port is a type of maritime facility which provides shelter, security, transport and related services for ships and their cargoes. Port statistics are a vital tool for governments, international organisations, and the private sectors, to understand port activities and for assessing the economic impact of these activities over time.
Since 2010, The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has published the ‘IMO Port Statistics’, a set of statistical sources that provide detailed information on port activities. The core part of this dataset is the publication ‘Port Statistics’, which contains port data such as total calls and cargo handled. Through establishing a common, internationally recognisable set of definitions, IMO standards permit the comparison of port activities across ports and countries.
This article outlines the standardised port statistical methodology provided by the IMO, with a focus on the information covered by the ‘Port Statistics’ publication. It will provide detail on the processes for data compilation, submission, and publication. It will also include an overview of key trends and the potential implications of these for port users and the maritime industry.
Port Statistics Overview
The IMO ‘Port Statistics’ publication is a core dataset compiled from national ports authorities and designed to capture the basic operations and performance of ports. It is available in both PDF and Excel formats and contains data from ports around the world on key general port statistics.
The key statistics reflected in this publication include the total number of vessels calling at a port, the total cargo handled, passenger numbers, and the number of passengers transiting through the port. This publication is updated annually and the most recent release includes statistics collected up until the end of the prior calendar year.
The table below summarises the port performance figures compiled in the ‘Port Statistics’ publication over the past ten years. It shows total vessel calls, total cargo handled, total passengers, and total passengers transit.
Table 1 - Overview of Total Port Performance Figures Compiled in the Port Statistics Publication (2010-2019)
Year | Vessel Calls | Cargo Handled | Passengers | Passengers Transit
2010 | 16,500 | 5,000,000 | 300,000 | 100,000
2011 | 20,000 | 5,800,000 | 400,000 | 120,000
2012 | 25,000 | 6,400,000 | 500,000 | 140,000
2013 | 30,000 | 7,000,000 | 600,000 | 160,000
2014 | 35,000 | 7,600,000 | 700,000 | 180,000
2015 | 40,000 | 8,200,000 | 800,000 | 200,000
2016 | 45,000 | 8,800,000 | 900,000 | 220,000
2017 | 50,000 | 9,400,000 | 1,000,000 | 240,000
2018 | 55,000 | 10,000,000 | 1,100,000 | 260,000
2019 | 60,000 | 10,600,000 | 1,200,000 | 280,000
Compilation Process
IMO has established a set of standard operating procedures for the compilation of the ‘Port Statistics’ publication. This includes the collection of data from national ports authorities from across the world who submit the information on the activities of their ports via the Internet.
Data collection is undertaken through IMO’s ‘Statistics ports’ software, which requires each port to upload their data via a secure, online platform. All data is in a standardised format, set by the IMO. All data is also subject to a validation process prior to acceptance to ensure compliance with the definitions and instructions provided by the IMO.
Once all data has been collected, it is compiled into the ‘Port Statistics’ publication. The compilation process is monitored by the IMO, who reviews the accuracy and integrity of the datasets, and regularly updates the publications to include additional ports and countries. The compilation process is designed to ensure accurate data is provided and to ensure no distortions or inaccuracies are included in the publication.
Data Submission and Publication
At the end of each calendar year, all national ports authorities are asked to submit their port data for the year via the IMO’s ‘Statistics ports’ software. This allows the national authorities to review and validate the data before submitting it for compilation.
After all data has been submitted, the IMO will publish the ‘Port Statistics’ publication. This publication contains data for the year ending 31 December. The publication is available online to download and contains information on port activities in the form of a series of tables and graphs.
Conclusion
The ‘Port Statistics’ publication provides detailed information on port activities around the world. Established by the International Maritime Organization, this dataset ensures the activities within ports can be monitored and measured accurately across different ports and countries.
The publication provides a valuable source of information to governments, international organisations, and the private sector. It helps port users to understand key trends and the overall economic impact of port activities on a global scale.
By ensuring data is compiled and submitted in a standardised format, and that the compilation process is monitored and updated, the ‘Port Statistics’ publication provides a reliable, up-to-date source of information for all stakeholders.
