Hactl posts 2.5pc first quarter decline with March volume best in 2012

2012 04 16


HONG KONG's major ground handler Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl) posted a 2.5 per cent year-on-year first quarter decline to 633,935 tonnes with a narrowing 0.7 per cent loss in March providing the best month in 2012.

"We have progressively closed the gap which opened up during 2011, when we experienced a fall to as much as 12 per cent below the previous year's strong performance in May 2011," said Hactl executive director Lilian Chan.

March saw exports up 0.4 per cent on the previous year at 137,598 tonnes, the best performance in 16 months. Meanwhile, transhipments were up 7.7 per cent to 58,543 tonnes, also the best showing on 2012. But imports were down 10 per cent on 2011 figures to 57,630 tonnes.

For the first quarter, Europe was the top export market, absorbing 27.9 per cent of the total. And south east Asia led in import market with a total share of 40.4 per cent, which also dominated transhipment traffic with 42.5 per cent of the total.

Said Ms Chan: "The anomaly created by the different dates of the Chinese New Year in 2011 and 2012 has now worked its way through, so comparisons are more meaningful again. But what is not yet clear is whether the rest of 2012 will track the trends of 2011 again, or whether our first quarter recovery is a sign that we are now gradually returning to 2010 traffic levels, and underlying growth."

Looking ahead, she said the outlook is hopeful but cautious. "Important markets in Europe and the US are still unsettled. We continue to support our customer carriers with heavy investment and rigorous quality controls, and we hope these are factors in the improved market shares shown by some. But global trade is bigger than all of us defies accurate prediction," Ms Chan said.

Source Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
 

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