Cargo throughput at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) declined in the first half of 2019 compared to the same period last year, while passenger traffic showed steady growth during the period under review.
HKIA reported that cargo throughput decreased 6.7% to 2.3 million tonnes in the first six months of the year compared to the same period last year.
Weak demand in all three cargo categories—imports, exports and transshipments—was observed in this period amid the uncertain global economic situation.
On the other hand passenger traffic growth held steady. From January to June this year, HKIA handled 37.8 million passengers, an increase of 2.5% over the same period last year. Passenger traffic was driven by strong growth in transfer/transit traffic.
In June, cargo throughput declined 8.6% to 387,000 tonnes from the same month in 2018, while passenger traffic increased to 6.3 million, representing year-on-year growth of 2.1%.
The decrease in cargo throughput in June was attributed to weaker performance in transshipments and imports, which dropped by 13% and 11%, respectively. Among the key trading regions, cargo throughput to Southeast Asia and Europe decreased most significantly.
Passenger growth in June was largely supported by strong growth in transfer/transit traffic. Passenger traffic to and from Japan, Europe, and Southeast Asia recorded the most significant increases.
On a 12-month rolling basis, cargo throughput amounted to 5.0 million tonnes, a decrease of 3.5% from the same period last year. Passenger numbers grew 2.1% to 75.6 million in the same period.
Photo: Baycrest
