European demand for Chinese manufactured goods continued to drive growth at Hongkong Air Cargo Terminals Ltd (Hactl) last month, as the world's biggest handler of international air freight set course for another record year.
The European market, buoyed by the strong euro, accounted for more than 305,400 tonnes to Hactl's throughput in the first nine months, up a comparative 29.5 per cent, according to provisional data released by the terminal operator yesterday.
Overall, Hactl handled almost 1.64 million tonnes in the nine months to September, up 15.3 per cent on last year. Exports, at just over 906,000 tonnes, comprised 55 per cent of the market, rising 19.6 per cent year on year.
With business entering the peak Christmas season period, Hactl is on pace to handle more than 2.2 million tonnes this year, easily eclipsing the global record of 2.01 million tonnes it set last year.
Cargo to and from the United States continued to expand, with more than 262,700 tonnes moving through Hactl in the first nine months, up 13.6 per cent.
