Hong Kong port has recorded a strong container throughput growth in the first seven months. This was attributed to the recovery of Asian economies and the robust transpacific trade growth. 'The peak season started a bit earlier than normal,' said Hong Kong Port and Maritime Board deputy secretary, Roger Tupper. As neighbouring economies began to come out of the recession, more orders have been placed this year, compared with last year. This has brought forward the peak season in Hong Kong as factories rushed to meet their customers' orders. And the figures speak for themselves as Hong Kong port's terminal operators reported an impressive 15 per cent increase to 6.52 million teu (20-foot equivalent unit) in container throughput between January and July. According to official statistics, in the first five months of this year, mid-stream container throughput was up 15.5 per cent to 1.17 million teu, while river trade was up 26.3 per cent to 1.31 million teu. 'The numbers are looking good, and we expect to see even better results during the peak season, which is generally between July and September,' Mr Tupper said. The Port and Maritime Board was working to identify the long-term trend of Hong Kong port and its overall growth rate, he said. Mr Tupper said the board expected growth to be 6-7 per cent up to early next year, moderating as years go on. In percentage terms, the growth was expected to go downwards, he said. Charles De Trenck, vice-president and head of regional shipping equity research of Salomon Smith Barney, agreed with Mr Tupper's outlook, but said it was difficult to predict what would happen next year as a great deal depended on the US economy. Hong Kong port's throughput is likely to be affected in the longer term when Shenzhen port, comprising Yantian, Shekou, Chiwan and several smaller river ports, handle the additional growth volumes of containers produced in the Pearl River Delta. However, it is unlikely this will happen in the short term as Shenzhen port facilities are now stretched to maximum capacity, especially during the peak season. Between January and July, Shenzhen port, which handled 2.9 million teu last year, reported an impressive 37.4 per cent rise in container throughput to 2.13 million compared with the same period last year.