Airfreight remains sluggish with virtually no growth in worldwide traffic volume in May as demand from western markets remains weak, reports the Airports Council International (ACI).
Overall air cargo volume slid 0.4 percent in May this year compared to the same month a year ago.
International freight was flat for the month, while domestic freight traffic decreased by 1.1 percent, according to ACI statistics.
Year to date, airfreight volume rose by just 0.1 percent compared to the same period last year. International freight decreased by 0.4 percent and domestic freight inched up 1.2 percent.
From June 2012 to May 2013, total freight volume increased only slightly by 0.3 percent. As much as 60 percent of the world’s top 20 airports saw year-over-year declines in traffic. Jakarta International Airport in Indonesia and Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates are the only hubs among the world’s top airports to experience significant gains of 18.3 percent and 11.9 percent, respectively, ACI said.
“Emerging markets are faced with weaker demand from North America and Europe. As a result, we are witnessing slowing growth or declines at major air freight exporters across Asia-Pacific,” said ACI World’s Economics Director Rafael Echevarne.
“With a strong recovery in the Eurozone doubtful in the short run, the sluggishness in the air freight market will persist,” he added.
Photo: Prayitno
