Schiphol Cargo Marks Growth in Chinese, LatAm and African Markets in First Quarter 2018

Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Monday 14th May 2018 - Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has seen continued growth in both the China and Latin American markets after its results were revealed for the first quarter of 2018.

China, the airport’s largest country market, showed an increase of 2.1 percent at 30,735 tons from January to March 2018, compared with the same period last year, boosted by increased volumes from both freighter and belly cargo flights.

Trade with the Asian continent overall remained relatively stable, with a four percent decrease in inbound cargo to 67,629 tons but a one percent increase in outbound cargo, up to 75,182 tons.

Latin American cargo trade increased strongly, up ten percent inbound at 34,097 tons and up 31 percent outbound at 20,701 tons. Cargo imports from the continent were boosted by increased flower imports for St Valentine’s Day and International Women’s Day.

Similarly, African flower exports boosted outbound cargo, up seven percent to 13,243 tons, although inbound cargo recorded a drop of five percent to 28,818 tons.

European, North American, and Middle Eastern trade was slightly down in terms of overall cargo volumes in Q1 January to March 2018, 2.1 percent down compared with the same period last year, (Q1 2017), to 411,539 tons.

European inbound traffic fell eight percent to 25,936, outbound -2 percent to 28,146, North America inbound cargo fell 12 percent to 32,142 tons and outbound five percent to 36,791 tons, while Middle Eastern traffic fell one percent inbound to 21,578 and 15 percent outbound to 27,277 tons.

Full freighter volumes overall were down 2.4 percent, with 7.4 percent fewer full freight air traffic movements (ATMs) and belly cargo volumes eased slightly, showing a 1.6 percent drop compared with Q1, 2017.

“Although we saw an increase in ATMs and as a result increased volumes of belly cargo at Schiphol, this did not result in a commensurate increase in freight volumes and did not compensate for the reduction in full freighter ATMs,” said Maaike van der Windt, Director Aviation Marketing, Cargo and Customer Experience, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

“This has had a knock-on effect in our first quarter results, but there are nonetheless underlying positive growth trends in cargo business from China and Latin America that we hope to build upon over the coming year,” she added.