Global airfreight volume in August showed a robust year-over-year growth of 6.6 percent, pushing revenues up by 7.4 percent, according to the latest figures from WorldACD, an air cargo market data provider.
Specific product categories again performed better than general cargo, rising in volume by 7.8 percent and in yield by 1.4 percent, while volume of express cargo grew by almost 10 percent.
Yields improved year-over-year for the fourth month in a row, driven by Europe, North America, and the Middle East & South Asia (MESA).
Volume growth came particularly from three regions: Asia-Pacific, contributing 13 percent, followed by Africa and Central America. The worldwide yield increase was less than in previous months, however, noted WorldACD.
Of the 30 largest city pairs, Shanghai-Chicago grew in volume by 66 percent. Hong Kong-Los Angeles and Hong Kong-London followed with respective growth of 32 percent and 22 percent. All three also showed a yield increase.
The worst performing of these top origin-and-destination couplings was Hong Kong-Tokyo, whose volume declined by 11 percent and yield by 3 percent.
Of the top 30, 20 had an origin in Asia-Pacific and six in Europe. As for incoming business, MESA was strongest, garnering revenue growth of 16 percent, followed by North America with a 12 percent expansion.
For the year so far, WorldACD observed that foreign airlines take the largest part of the growth in each major region. The origin with the highest year-over-year revenue growth is Asia-Pacific, but the growth goes mainly to carriers from MESA. The second growth region is Europe, where MESA-airlines grow fastest, followed by the North American carriers, while Europeans profit the least. And in North America the situation is similar: MESA airlines lead the growth, but the North Americans lag behind on their home turf.
Changi air cargo throughput
At Singapore Changi Airport, meanwhile, cargo tonnage in August rose to 156,000 tonnes, an increase of 4.1 percent compared to a year ago. During the month, traffic to Northeast Asia, South Asia, and Southwest Pacific improved, offset by a decline in Southeast Asia.
For the period of January to August 2014, airfreight shipments grew 0.7 percent to 1.22 million tonnes compared to the same period of the previous year.
Photo courtesy of Singapore Changi Airport
