Heathrow Airport saw a 2.1 per cent year on year (YOY) rise in cargo volumes in the first half of the year, driven by increases in freight from emerging markets.

In the first six months of 2015 from January to June, the airport reports it handled 741,847 tonnes, a YOY surge of 2.1 per cent. Since July 2014, Heathrow has processed 1.5 million tonnes, a YOY uplift of 4.3 per cent.

Over the past year volumes rose by 44 per cent to Mexico, 24.4 per cent to Turkey, 19.7 per cent to Brazil, 11.5 per cent to India, 6.9 per cent to North America and 2.8 per cent to China.

Earlier this month, the UK government’s Airports Commission recommended that Heathrow should have a third runway built. A decision will be made by the government by the end of the year.

The airport’s chief executive officer, John Holland-Kaye, says: “We either expand Heathrow…or we…retreat.”