Export volume showed a year-on-year growth of 4.5% in December, with a total of 128,688 tonnes being handled. Export tonnage for the fourth quarter was 411,893 tonnes, up 5.1% year-on-year. Aggregate export tonnage for the whole year reached 1,440,181 tonnes, representing a year-on-year growth of 4.7%.

A total of 64,953 tonnes and 185,607 tonnes of import cargo were handled in December and in the fourth quarter, up 1.9% and 3.0% respectively. Total import volume for the whole year was 696,178 tonnes, up 3.3% on a year-on-year basis.

Transshipment volume for December was 38,116 tonnes, up 7.3% against the same month in 2005. Cumulative transshipment tonnage for the fourth quarter was 119,861 tonnes, up 14.3% against the same period in 2005. Total transshipment volume for the whole year was 425,543 tonnes, representing a growth of 11.3% year-on-year.

"We are pleased to have achieved a new tonnage record in 2006," said Lilian Chan, Hactl's General Manager, Marketing & Customer Service. "As the leading air cargo terminal in Hong Kong, Hactl is committed to maintaining Hong Kong's position as the premier air cargo hub. We will be introducing more value-adding initiatives for the air cargo community in 2007, ensuring that we provide the handling efficiency and capacity to meet the future needs of continued air cargo growth in the region," said Lilian Chan.

The summary of the import, export and transshipment volumes handled in December, the fourth quarter and the whole year of 2006 is tabulated in the following page.