Schiphol cargo up 7.3% in Q1

Cargo tonnages through Amsterdam Airport Schiphol showed consistent growth throughout the first quarter of 2014, ending with a total of 392,990 tonnes, representing an increase of 7.3% on the same period of 2013.

The first quarter of 2014 was also the second best in over three years, beaten only by the final (peak) quarter of 2013.

Regional rankings remained unchanged from 2013: Asia retained top place, with a total of 142,256 tonnes (up 7% on Q1 2013); but its share of the total fell slightly, at 36.7% – down from 39.3% for 2013 as a whole.

North America showed stronger growth, up 13.2% on the same period of 2013, to a total of 69,868 tonnes – a 17.8% share of the total, compared to 16.6% for 2013. The Middle East was up 14% in Q1, Africa grew 1.6% and Europe also rose 10.9%. Only Latin America fell back, down 6.1% on the period.

Imports for the first quarter accounted for 51.01% of the total (up from 50.58% throughout 2013), while exports represented 48.99% of all traffic (down from 49.42%). Freighter movements meanwhile grew by 6.6% in the first quarter, totalling 4,029.

Says Schiphol Cargo Senior VP Enno Osinga: “We are greatly encouraged by the traffic figures for 2014 so far, which are maintaining the positive trends of the past 15 months. We are currently outperforming the global market, and our European neighbours.

“The campaign to streamline all ground processes at Schiphol continues, so strengthening our position against other gateways and also helping to protect the role of airfreight in the global transport mix.”

He concludes: “Our logistics community are all playing a key role in our success, through their continuing innovation and investment.”