Port of Pusan adds more passengers, loses cargoes

This year, passengers using the international passenger ferries between Pusan, China and Japan have increased, though cargoes declined.

In the midst of a staggering domestic economy, many people are traveling overseas, while on the other hand, boddari peddlers are carrying lighter luggage and exports are decreasing.

The Pusan Regional Maritime Affairs and Fisheries revealed on August 24 that the passengers on board international passenger ferries in Hakata, Shimonoseki and Yantian trades, totaled 325,210, a 11.6% increase over 291,288 of the last year as of end of July. However, the cargoes decreased 5.8% to 765,784 tons from 813,039 tons.

Especially, Yantian trade in China, consisting of mostly boddari peddlers, decreased 34.3% to 7,174 from 10,916 passengers and declined 13.3% to 72,695 tons from 83,845 tons in cargoes.

In addition, Pukwan Ferry, taking the lion's share in Pusan/Shimonoseki outbound trade, dived 19.2% to 141,367 tons of cargoes.

The opposite trend is apparent for passenger services. The 'Beatle' and 'Jebi', both tourist fast ferries, added passengers, up 18.7% to 76,065 and 12.9% to 77,236, respectively.