Cargo volumes have grown 4.8 per cent in the first half of 2017 at Frankfurt Airport, and Fraport senior vice president for cargo, Dirk Schusdziara (pictured below) is confident this will continue.
Frankfurt handled just under 1.1 million tonnes in the first half of 2017, the highest for the period in six years, with the Far East performing well and North America also looking strong.
Schusdziara notes that Latin America is recovering with double-digit growth in some countries, with exports to Brazil increasing significantly.
He says: “As a result of the ongoing economic growth, particularly in the Eurozone’s industrial sector, we are very optimistic for the rest of the year. This is underlined by the market preview at Frankfurt Airport. For the winter timetable, movements are predicted to increase considerably.”
Frankfurt Airport is often considered the backbone of German industry, handling almost 50 per cent of German air cargo.
The main goods have remained the same in recent years, mainly machinery parts and components, and raw materials.
Fashion and high technology remain major imports, though there is an interesting development for the latter.
Schusdziara explains: “While technological goods have decreased in terms of tonnage, they have increased in terms of value. This underlines the trend to always smaller and lighter high-end technological products.”
Exports of vehicles and chemicals remain strong, though temperature controlled goods have increased “tremendously” over the past few years.
Schusdziara says parties are expanding cool chain facilities to cope with huge demand from the pharmaceuticals sector.
He says: “At the end of 2017, Frankfurt Airport will feature 10,000 square metres of temperature-controlled areas for guaranteeing fast and reliable handling of pharmaceutical products, underlining our position as Europe’s largest pharma hub.”
Fraport is always looking to improve service with faster processes, greater reliability and transparency, and Schusdziara says the way the cargo community works together sets it airport from other airports.
He says: “Our ‘Air Cargo Community Frankfurt’ brings together all the players involved in the air cargo business. We closely cooperate, so we can maintain our position as Europe’s leading cargo hub.”
