China's air imports and exports show modest growth in July & August

AMSTERDAM – Seabury Cargo Advisory reports that after consecutive monthly double digit growth in 2008, China’s air cargo imports showed their first single digit growth. While imports in July were still 17.5 percent higher compared to the same month in the previous year, air imports in August were only 2.4 percent higher. Beijing area’s imports increased 11.5 percent in August, however, imports into the Shanghai region declined by 3.7 percent. 

Air imports from Japan, China’s largest source, experienced its first negative growth of 2008: a 3.5 percent decline in August. This drop was mainly caused by significantly lower air imports of woven fabric and integrated circuits & chips.

China’s air cargo exports slightly recovered after June’s record low; July and August showed growth rates of 4.4 percent and 0.6 percent respectively. Lower Chinese air exports of among others cell phones were the reason for the decline.