ACI: Global volumes up 6% in April despite global trade uncertainty

June 22, 2017

Global airfreight volumes increased six per cent in April despite uncertainty on global trade, Airports Council International (ACI) reports.

It says business confidence remains strong despite global trade uncertainty and economic integration in the USA and United Kingdom.

International trade made gains on the cyclical recovery in the global economy, translating into robust growth in airfreight volumes, and the ongoing strength of export orders across manufacturing sectors for high value goods resulted in high growth.

ACI says: “After a period of more subdued growth in 2016, air freight volumes continued to increase in 2017. Overall volumes increased 6% for the month and 7.7% on a year-to-date basis.”

Major freight hubs handling significant quantities of exports saw large volume increases, with Shanghai Pudong International Airport up 14.1 per cent, Incheon International Airport up 11 per cent and Hong Kong International Airport by 8.9 per cent.

Asia-Pacific saw the highest growth in April of 8.8 per cent, followed by Africa at 7.7 per cent.

Europe was third at 5.7 per cent, followed by the Middle East at 4.6 per cent, North America at 3.7 per cent and Latin America-Caribbean grew 2.2 per cent.

James Muir

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