Hong Kong airport posts 1.6pc decrease in July cargo to 335,000 tonnes

HONG KONG International Airport (HKIA) has posted a 1.6 per cent decrease in July air cargo volume to 335,000 tonnes year on year, the airport authority announced.

Although imports grew by four per cent in July, cargo volume declined primarily, suffering from a four per cent year-on-year drop in exports together with a three per cent decrease in transshipments. Cargo activity with south east Asia outperformed other key regions.

"We are pleased that both passenger and air traffic movements have once again set records, and we believe that the growth trend will continue in the coming months. Meanwhile, we will keep a close eye on the latest situation in the cargo market," said Airport Authority CEO Stanley Hui Hon-chung.

For the first seven months of the year, HKIA handled 32.7 million passengers and air traffic movement reached 201,760, representing 5.9 per cent and 5.4 per cent increases respectively compared with the same period last year. Cargo volume amounted to 2.3 million tonnes, a slight drop of 0.2 per cent year on year.