(6th July 2006, Hong Kong:) Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl) announced today its tonnage throughput for June, the second quarter and the first half of year 2006.

A total of 206,110 tonnes were handled in June, representing a year-on-year increase of 4.0%. Tonnage throughput for the second quarter and for the first half of the year was 618,384 tonnes and 1,194,500 tonnes, representing a year-on-year growth of 3.7% and 5.8% respectively.

Export volume was 114,500 tonnes for June and 347,129 tonnes for the second quarter, representing a year-on-year growth of 3.0 % and 3.7% respectively. Year-on-year volume growth to the U.S. slowed to 3.4% in the second quarter, as against an increase of 5.6% recorded in the first quarter. Volume exported to the U.S. registered a decline of 0.8% in June, underlying a slower growth trend for exports to the U.S market. Export volume growth to Asian countries also slowed from 11.4% year-on-year in the first quarter to 1.7% in the second quarter. Aggregate export volume for the first half of the year was 664,433 tonnes, up 5.6% compared with same period last year.

A total of 58,978 tonnes and 174,098 tonnes of import cargo were handled in June and in the second quarter, up 4.3% and 3.5% respectively. Import volume from the Asian market registered a slight year-on-year increase of 0.6% in the second quarter, compared against the year-on-year growth of 6.3% registered in the previous quarter. Cumulative import tonnage for the first half of year was 335,880 tonnes, up 4.2% against the same period last year.

The transshipment volume was 32,632 tonnes for June, and 97,157 tonnes for the second quarter, representing a year-on-year increase of 7.2% and 4.1% for the respective periods. Total transshipment volume for the first six months was 194,187 tonnes, up 9.7% year-on-year.

Lilian Chan, General Manager, Marketing and Customer Service of Hactl said, "Clearly we are seeing a slow down in growth rates from the first quarter to the second quarter. This is particularly evident in the key export markets of the U.S and intra-Asia. While the global interest rate cycle continues to tighten and affect global GDP rates, we would expect this trend of reduced export growth to continue. In 2006, we are expecting an annual growth rate [versus 2005] of below 5% for tonnage handled at Hactl."