After a slow start to 2016, Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals (Hactl) had a strong to the end of the year, setting new terminal and ramp handling records.

Volumes rose 1.7 per cent to 1.65 million tonnes, with Hactl breaking weekly records at SuperTerminal 1 in three consecutive weeks in November, handling a record breaking 41,926 tonnes in the week 28 November – 4 December.

Transhipments were up 29.6 per cent in 2016, mail, courier and express grew 8.4 per cent and exports by 2.1 per cent. Imports declined by 8.3 per cent though the negative trend between January and September was reversed in the last quarter with growth in every month.

The ramp handling business was also very busy, setting three new all-time records. On 23 November Hactl handled 101 freighters in a single day, beating the previous best of 98 set 19 days earlier.

Between 28 November and 4 December Hactl handled 628 freighters, between the best week’s record of 609, and it handled 2,579 in November, a year-on-year increase of 15 per cent.

Hactl chief executive, Mark Whitehead says: “From a disapppointing start, 2016 shaped up to be a very satisfactory year for Hactl and its airline customers. The best results showed in the second half, and are hopefully indicative of a more settled picture for global air cargo that will continue into 2017.”