THE nation's three main ports have announced lower cargo shipment volumes in the first half of 2009.

Revenues at the largest port - Sihanoukville Autonomous Port - were down 15 percent year on year to US$12.24 million, said chairman and CEO Lou Kim Chhun.

"Cargo shipped through the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port dropped 18 percent to 105,780 containers in the first half of this year," he said on Monday, blaming reduced garment exports to the US and Europe, and lower imports of vehicles and construction materials.

Lou Kim Chhun projected revenue of $28.8 million for 2008, and had forecast 6 percent higher revenue this year.

"But due to the crisis and based on the figures from the first semester, we don't expect a recovery this year," he said.

Revenues at Phnom Penh International Port were down 20 percent in the first half.

"Cargo shipments through the port, mostly construction materials, dropped roughly 30 percent, and that caused revenue to decline around 20 percent," said Hei Bavy, the port's chairman and CEO.

He did not recall the dollar revenue figure, but said it is unlikely that revenue will grow at the same rate as last year.

Tann Monivann, vice president of Oknha Mong Port, which is on the boundary of Koh Kong and Preah Sihanouk provinces, said cargo shipments - predominantly construction materials and fruit from Thailand - were down about 10 percent, adding without providing specific figures that revenue had not been affected.