PH domestic airfreight forwarders lift 44.6% less cargo in 2020

• 2020 cargo volume handled by domestic airfreight forwarders crashed 44.6% in 2020 from 2019, according to initial data from the Civil Aeronautics Board

• AP Cargo Logistics Network Corp. and JRS Business Corp. were the top two domestic airfreight forwarders in 2020, maintaining their ranking from 2019

• Direct shipments, consolidations, and breakbulking declined 65%, 35%, and 86%, respectively

Domestic airfreight forwarders handled 36.769 million kilograms (kg) in 2020, 44.6% lower than the 66.35 million kg carried in 2019, preliminary data from the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) showed.

Direct shipments, which accounted for 65% of the total, dropped 34% to 23.901 million kg from 36.361 million kg in 2019.

Consolidations, which contributed 35% to the total, declined 57% to 12.857 million kg from 29.91 million kg.

Breakbulking saw the biggest drop of 86% to 10,902 kg from 78,724 kg in 2019.

Airlines started suspending domestic and international flights mid-March in 2020 as travel restrictions were imposed locally and internationally to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Only repatriation, sweeper, and cargo flights were allowed in the Philippines until June, when restrictions were eased and limited domestic flights were allowed.

Philippine Multimodal Transport and Logistics Association, Inc. president Marilyn Alberto earlier said capacity was depleted due to the grounding of aircraft and the disappearance of belly capacities in passenger aircraft.

She observed how lack of capacity led to a shift from scheduled flights to charter flights, and to an increase in freighter flights. It also saw the emergence of “preighters,” or passenger aircraft used as freighters.

Leading domestic airfreight forwarders

AP Cargo Logistics Network Corp. remained the top air freight forwarder in terms of volume on CAB’s latest list of top 30 domestic forwarders, having handled 9.006 million kg, or 24.49% of the total volume, in 2020.

JRS Business Corp. is still second with 7.068 million kg or 19.22% share, followed by LBC Express, Inc., which climbed one spot with 1.991 million kg or 5.42% share.

Also jumping one notch to fourth place was Wide Wide World Express, Inc., with 1.645 million kg or 4.47% share, followed by list returnee Airfreight 2100, Inc. with 1.596 million kg or 4.34%.

2Go Express, Inc. improved two ranks to sixth with 1.391 million kg or 3.78% while Non-Pareil International Freight & Cargo Services, Inc. improved five spots to seventh place with 1.245 million kg or 3.39%.

Debuting in the top 10 was Kairos Cargo Group, Inc. at eighth place with 985,829.7 kg or 2.68% share, followed by Libcap Super Express Corp., which dropped two ranks to ninth with 882,260.75 kg or 2.4%.

Completing the top 10 list was EPR Cargo Services, which was previously in 15^th place, with 878,937 kg or 2.39% share.

Ranking 11^th to 20^th place were:

• Kim Gold Cargo Logistics Corp. (870,119.93 kg)
• Cargo Padala Express Forwarding Service Corp. (827,959.88 kg)
• ASP Airspeed Philippines, Inc. (808,324.27 kg)
• Pambato Cargo Forwarders, Inc. (665,835.65 kg)
• AAI Worldwide Logistics, Inc. (625,425.2 kg)
• Trans-global Consolidators, Inc. (622,455.5 kg)
• Fastcargo Logistics Corp. (481,858.37 kg)
• 3PL Service Provider Phils., Inc. (468,009.5 kg)
• F2 Logistics Philippines, Inc. (464,851 kg)
• Highlight Express Philippines Corp. (439,081.5 kg)

Rounding off the top 30 list were Worklink Services, Inc. (408,803.5 kg); PH Global Jet Express, Inc. (383,930.5 kg); Airspeed International Philippines Corp. (363,523 kg); Argo International Forwarders Inc. (297,664 kg); PharmaServ Express (261,876.7 kg); Worldwide Elite Freight Forwarding Consolidation Services, Inc. (236,602 kg); JV Freight Consolidators, Inc. (236,145.43 kg); Move-It Multimodal Transport and Logistics, Inc. (148,323 kg); CBL Courier Express International, Inc. (110,214 kg); and We Help You Forwarders, Inc. (102,523 kg). – Roumina Pablo