SHANGHAI PUDONG INTERNATIONAL AIR CARGO TERMINAL (PACTL) has seen freight volumes increase by 16.1 per cent in 2014 to 1.5 million tonnes, with the biggest rise coming from international cargo.
International cargo increased by 16.9 per cent to 1.4 million tonnes, compared to 2013. The next biggest increase came from imports, which rose by 16.8 per cent to 597,596 tonnes, followed by exports growing by 15.7 per cent to 904,157 tonnes. Domestic cargo rose by the smallest amount, by 6.2 per cent over 2013 to 97,336 tonnes.
PACTL’s vice president, Lutz Grzegorz, says: “We particularly welcome the significant growth rates for imports, as they indicate an increasing balance in the flows of commodities and will therefore help our customers to make their transport cycles more efficient.”
Total cargo volumes have seen double-digit year-on-year (YOY) growth in every month of 2014 except February, when freight volumes increased by 9.5 per cent to 80,783 tonnes. YOY cargo volumes increased the most in July, rising 23 per cent to 129,641 tonnes. In December, PACTL handled 136,932 tonnes, an increase of 14.6 per cent. December was down on both October and November, when it handled 139,103 tonnes and 147,267 tonnes, respectively.
Domestic cargo has seen the most volatile growth throughout 2014 because of outbound domestic freight volumes slumping between April and September. Domestic outbound cargo saw YOY declines of 14.1 per cent in April to 3,498 tonnes, 17 per cent in May to 3,434 tonnes, 9.2 per cent in June to 3,234 tonnes, 2.4 per cent in July to 3,643 tonnes, 0.1 per cent in August to 3,844 tonnes and 2.5 per cent in September 4,852 tonnes.
Total domestic freight fell YOY in April by 4.6 per cent, 3.8 per cent in May and 1.8 per cent in June to 7,484 tonnes, 7,561 tonnes and 6,971 tonnes, respectively. December was the best month for domestic freight, handling 10,025 tonnes of cargo, an 18.7 per cent YOY increase, the highest of the year.
