Air cargo throughput dips at Hong Kong terminal

The aggregate air cargo throughput at Hong Kong International Airport, the world's busiest airport for international air cargo, has declined by 8.3 per cent year-on-year, a statement from the terminal operator Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl), said.

Hactl handled 2,323,605 tonnes of cargo in 2009, while the total volumes handled by Hactl for December and the fourth quarter were 232,476 tonnes and 699,489 tonnes, registering a significant growth of 38.5 per cent and 17.9 per cent respectively compared with the same periods in 2008, the statement said. "2009 has been a year full of ups and downs. While we came across difficult moments in the first six months, the global economy has delightfully stabilised from the third quarter and has picked up faster than expected," said Lilian Chan, General Manager, Marketing and Customer Service, Hactl.

Export volume was 126,761 tonnes for December and 390,527 tonnes for the fourth quarter, increasing by 43.7 per cent and 16.9 per cent year-on-year respectively. Aggregate export tonnage for the whole year was 1,233,011 tonnes, down 11.6 per cent against 2008.

Export to the US and Europe continued to improve in December with a growth of 39.9 per cent and 38.6 per cent respectively. The export trading to the Mainland China has improved significantly with an increase of 58.6 per cent compared to the same period in 2008, the statement said. A total of 65,386 tonnes of import cargo were registered, up 46 per cent year-on-year. Total import volume in the fourth quarter was 185,168 tonnes, with a growth of 29.5 per cent against last year whilst the aggregate import volume for the whole year dropped 3.1 per cent year-on year with 624,714 tonnes.

The transshipment volume was 40,329 tonnes for December and 123,794 tonnes for the fourth quarter, registering a year-on-year growth of 15.8 per cent and 6.8 per cent respectively. Aggregate transshipment volume for whole year was 465,880 tonnes, down 5.8 per cent year-on-year.

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