Hactl beats 2007 record as 2010 volume up 24.8pc over 2009's

THE airport's No 1 ground handler, Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl), achieved an annual air cargo tonnage record in 2010, closing off the year with a 7.4 per cent year-on-year increase in December to 249,694 tonnes.

Fourth quarter tonnage went up 9.5 per cent year on year to 765,677 with annual tonnage going up 24.8 per cent over 2009 and 14.5 per cent over 2008 - also surpassing the record high of 2,632,300 tonnes achieved in 2007.

"This year Hong Kong proudly unfolds a new chapter of being the world's No 1 air cargo hub in terms of volume," said Hactl executive director Lilian Chan.

"The growth in airfreight demand had continued all the way throughout 2010 although we saw a milder growth in the third and fourth quarter due to the higher base effect in the second half of 2009," she said.

"2010 has been an extraordinary year of roller coaster recovery from the global economic downturn. Not only did our annual tonnage result reach pre-crisis level, but we also managed to achieve a number of new handling records that made 2010 a year of unprecedented success for our team here at Hactl," Ms Chan said.

December exports showed a year-on-year growth of 4.8 per cent to 132,904 tonnes with fourth quarter results up 8.5 per cent year on year to 423,825 tonnes. Exports to Europe were up seven per cent and increased 14.5 per cent to the US. Aggregate exports were up 28.9 per cent to 1,589,223 tonnes.

A total of 65,032 tonnes and 187,046 tonnes of import cargo were handled in December and in the fourth quarter, down 0.5 per cent and up one per cent respectively against same period in 2009.

With the relatively weak US dollar, import volume from the United States was picking up quickly throughout the whole year of 2010 - import throughput from US saw a 40.6 per cent year-on-year increase compared to the whole year of 2009. Import volume from Europe in 2010 also showed a year-on-year growth of 24.1 per cent. The total import tonnage for the whole year was 741,943 tonnes, up 18.8 per cent against 2009.

Transshipment volume for December was 51,758 tonnes, up 28.3 per cent against the same month in 2009. Cumulative transshipment tonnage for the fourth quarter was 154,806 tonnes, up 25.1 per cent year on year. Total transshipment volume for the whole year was 568,437 tonnes, representing year-on-year growth of 22 per cent.

Said Ms Chan: "Asian carriers are in a strong position as a result of the exploding demand in China where consumer sentiment is high. With strong prospects for air freight in the region, we are well prepared for another busy year ahead."
(Source:www.schednet.com)