France exports see Africa knock US off top spot

AFRICA became the top air freight export market for France as volumes from the usual volume leaders, North America and Asia, slipped in 2009, said the French Association of Transport and Logistic Companies (TLC) air freight branch announced a significant drop in French exports to the US and Asia

French export air freight fell 12.7 per cent in 2009 over all, according figures released by Cass France of Paris.

Exports were topped by Africa at 80,000 tonnes, a meagre decline of 1.3 per cent year on year against the 21.5 per cent plunge to 73,000 tonnes from North America to rank third in its exports table.

South east Asia retained its second ranking at 78,000 tonnes, a 11.9 per cent drop in volume, reported London's International Freighting Weekly.

"This route has a lost a third of its volumes over the past 24 months," TLC said, adding that the scrabbling back would be "a slow re-conquest of the five to six years of lost growth".

Despite a positive increase for France in December 2009 at 9.9 per cent compared to same period in 2008 it was still markedly down by 7.5 per cent from January 2007.

(Source:www.schednet.com)