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28 March 2024

Mideast only region to post airfreight growth

Published
By Sunil Kumar Singh

While the total airfreight traffic for the 11 months of last year (year-to-date) posted a decline, the Middle East was the only region posting an increase of 2.8 per cent, according to Airports Council International's (ACI) latest figure.

The data released by ACI also showed that the total airfreight traffic in the Middle East in November last year posted an increase of 16.4 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y), the second fastest growth globally, after Asia-Pacific (including India) that posted an increase of 20.5 per cent, according to ACI.

In October, the Middle East posted a y-o-y total airfreight growth of 17.5 per cent, the highest growth rate posted by any region in the world.

For November, the volume of freight traffic in the Middle East was 302.5 tonnes (up from 279.1 tonnes recorded in October), with Asia-Pacific topping the list with 2 001.8 tonnes of airfreight movement, followed by North America at 1563.9 tonnes.

Europe came third seeing 1,233.8 tonnes of total airfreight traffic in the same month, followed by the Middle East. In the Latin America and Caribbean region it was 192.6 tonnes, while Africa had the least at 72.6 tonnes.

However, when it comes to year-on-year airfreight traffic in percentage terms, the Middle East saw the second highest growth of 16.4 per cent after Asia-Pacific. The Latin America and Caribbean region was the third best-performing region globally, recording 14.6 per cent y-o-y growth in total airfreight traffic, followed by Europe (5.5 per cent), and North America (four per cent). However, the y-o-y airfreight traffic in Africa declined by 6.2 per cent.

This is a significant sign of recovery in global airfreight movement, as in October the y-o-y airfreight traffic in major markets had declined with Europe seeing the steepest decline of 2.3 per cent, followed by North America 2.2 per cent, and the Latin America and Caribbean region at 2.1 per cent.

The data released by ACI also showed y-t-d airfreight traffic in all regions for the 11 months of last year declined, with the Middle East being the only region posting a rise.

The y-t-d freight traffic saw the steepest decline in Africa (-15.1 per cent); followed by the Latin America and Caribbean region (-14.9 per cent); Europe (-13.5 per cent); North America (-11.8 per cent), and the Asia-Pacific (-8.1 per cent), said the report.

The y-t-d airfreight traffic in the Middle East stood at 2,800.3 tonnes, while the Asia-Pacific (including India) posting the highest airfreight traffic at 18,308.6 tonnes, followed by North America (16,380.7 tonnes); Europe (11,266.9 tonnes); the Latin America and Caribbean region (1,664.7 tonnes); while Africa saw the least (715.9 tonnes).

Overall, ACI reported 10.9 per cent increase in total international airfreight y-o-y and a decline of 10.3 per cent total international airfreight y-t-d. Freight traffic surged during the month, in part a result of the comparison with low results from 2008, but equally due to new growth and firming in several markets.

There were outstanding results from several key hubs (Anchorage +50 per cent, Shanghai Pudong +31 per cent, Los Angeles +23 per cent, Incheon +22 per cent, Dubai +21 per cent, Hong Kong +16 per cent, Memphis +5 per cent), according to a statement by ACI.

International growth outpaced domestic for first time in over a year, and airports can expect the same trend in passenger traffic soon, the statement said.

According to Andreas Schimm, ACI World Economics Director: "The November results provide good reason to be optimistic about 2010. Freight results will continue to perform strongly as the world emerges from recession, and business and consumer confidence rises. Inventories are empty and rebounding demand will result in more orders and increased production of goods."

 

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