Asian-Pacific airports saw a 2.5% decline in airfreight volumes during December 2018 while Middle East airports registered a 0.9% fall.
Airports Council International (ACI) Asia-Pacific, posting its 2018 year end and full year traffic analysis, said that the December decreases were due to a “weakened global economy, reduction in exports and manufacturing activities”.
Among the top ten cargo hubs, Doha (DOH) posted the highest growth rate in December at 6.8%, followed by Guangzhou (CAN) at 4.7% and Dubai (DXB) at 2.3%.
For the full year 2018, airfreight in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East grew marginally at 2.4% and 0.1% respectively, with airports in both regions experiencing a slowdown in the second half of the year.
ACI stated: “Uncertainties resulting from trade disputes and slower economy was ameliorated somewhat by growth in the e-commerce and pharmaceutical sectors.
“The impact and uncertainties of the trade war between China and the US will continue to cast a shadow over the air freight demands in 2019."
ACI Asia-Pacific is based in Hong Kong and represents 110 members operating 589 airports in 49 countries/territories in Asia-Pacific and the Middle-East.
