Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl), has announced growth in tonnage throughput for March and the first quarter 2008 but has warned the industry challenges cannot be underestimated.
A total of 236,619 tonnes were handled in March, representing a year-on-year increase of 9.4 per cent. Cumulative tonnage for the first quarter was 614,533 tonnes, up 6.5 per cent year-on-year.
Export volume showed a year-on-year growth of 11.8 per cent and 5.1 per cent in March and in the first quarter, with tonnage reaching 132,052 tonnes and 330,690 tonnes, respectively.
Hactl said that although there were early signs of a weakening US economy, "export tonnage to the US remains fairly decent, with a growth of 19.6 per cent year-on-year in March and 6.1 per cent in the first quarter". Th e export volume to Europe increased by 8.4 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter respectively.
Hactl said cumulative import tonnage for the first quarter was 163,420 tonnes, up 0.9 per cent against the same period last year.
"While there are still some signs of growth in various cargo sectors handled by Hactl throughout the course of the first quarter, the challenges ahead are not to be overlooked, in particular the creeping fuel price which is becoming a major concern to all players in the cargo supply chain," said Hactl’s general manager of marketing and customer service, Lilian Chan.
"Apart from that, the sub-prime situation in the US and the associated possible turbulences affecting the world economies will impact upon the cargo outlook in the coming months."