The trade value of the air cargo proportion of overall total trade value rose to 35% last year from 30% in 2003, showing the growing importance of the airfreight industry in Hong Kong.

The figures, highlighted in the Census & Statistics Department's latest Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics issued today, show cargo throughput at Hong Kong International Airport was 3.63 million tonnes last year - the largest in the world, followed by Seoul, Tokyo, Paris and Frankfurt.

Compared to the 2.64 million tonnes recorded in 2003, last year's figure showed an average annual growth rate of 7%, which was higher than the 3% average annual growth rate for the total cargo throughput over the same period.

The growth was mainly due to outward air cargo which rose from 1.61 million tonnes in 2003 to 2.3 million tonnes last year, with an average annual growth rate of 7%. Over the same period inward air cargo grew by 0.29 million tonnes from 1.04 million tonnes to 1.33 million tonnes, with an average annual growth rate of 5%.

In terms of tonnage, cargo transported by air constituted a relatively small share in the total cargo throughput. The proportion of air cargo remained broadly at 1% during 2003 and 2008, against 83% to 88% and 11% to 16% for cargo transported by water and land.

Air cargo throughput recorded year-on-year increases of 8% and 5% in the first and second quarters of 2008. Yet, amid the global economic downturn, air cargo throughput amounted to 790,000 tonnes in the second quarter, down 17% on the same period last year.

Outward and inward cargo in the second quarter recorded year-on-year decreases of 20% and 12%.