Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) reported a slide in cargo volume for September despite uptick in imports and exports as capacity remains constrained. 

The world’s busiest air cargo hub saw freighter movements improve from last month’s 21.5 percent, up 25 percent compared to the same month last year. However, this was not enough to hoist the volume as it dipped 4.4 percent from September 2019. Cargo volume in August was down 3.5 percent year on year. 

Also read: HKIA: Cargo steady in August as passenger demand stays flat 

The Airport Authority Hong Kong said imports and exports inched up 10 percent and 4 percent, respectively, from the same month of last year, but trans–shipments took a hit due to shortage of belly capacity.  

Over the first nine months of the year, cargo throughput saw an 8.4 percent dip to 3.2 million tonnes, whilst on a 12-month rolling basis, cargo volume fell 7.0 percent to 4.5 million tonnes.

Southeast Asia and Mainland China registered the most significant drops in inbound and outbound cargo volume during the month, the Airport Authority added.