Cathay Cargo sees volumes grow in August while HKIA records a drop

Cathay Cargo continued to see its airfreight volumes rise in August despite the challenge presented by the European Union's (EU) new charge for e-commerce packages. The Hong Kong-based carrier saw cargo carried in tonnage terms in August increase by 8.6% year on year to 151,904 tonnes, beating the year-to-date increase of 8.2%. Meanwhile, demand in revenue freight tonne kms increased by the lower amount of 3.1%, suggesting that the airline has been carrying more cargo but over shorter distances than last year - perhaps a reflection of a greater focus on Southeast Asia. The increase also comes despite the EU adding a €3 charge per package with a value of less than €150, which is estimated to have caused a 24% decline in e-commerce volumes heading from China to Europe in July compared with June. Elsewhere, the carrier's capacity in available freight tonne-km terms in August was up 1.4% and the cargo load factor improved by 0.9 percentage points to 57.4%. Cathay chief customer and commercial officer Lavinia Lau said: "Cargo tonnage in August was supported by healthy demand across our key markets. Demand for Cathay Expert was driven by robust semiconductor shipments within Asia, while Cathay Pharma reported notable growth from Europe and the Chinese Mainland. "Cargo tonnage in August was supported by healthy demand across our key markets. Demand for Cathay Expert was driven by robust semiconductor shipments within Asia, while Cathay Pharma reported notable growth from Europe and the Chinese Mainland. Our Cathay Priority solution also continued to perform well, reflecting shippers' need to replenish inventory ahead of the traditional year-end air cargo peak. "Our Cathay Priority solution also continued to perform well, reflecting shippers' need to replenish inventory ahead of the traditional year-end air cargo peak." On outlook, she said: "Demand is expected to remain strong, supported in part by high-tech product launches and rising demand as we enter the traditional air cargo peak season." HKIA drop off While tonnages at Cathay continued to climb in August, Hong Kong International Airport saw volumes decline 1.2% year on year in August to 428,000 tonnes. This compared with a year-to-date increase of 2.7%. Volumes also declined in July following the implementation of the new EU charge. "Exports declined by 8.8% year on year, partially offset by 18.2% growth in transshipments and 3.6% growth in imports. Among key trading regions, Southeast Asia and the Chinese Mainland remained resilient, helping to cushion softer traffic with Europe and the Middle East amid evolving regional trade dynamics," the airport authority said.

Hong Kong's Hacis launches Vietnam road operation to expand reach

Hong Kong Air Cargo Industry Services Limited (Hacis) has launched a road operation to Vietnam to expand the catchment area of its Hong Kong operation. The Hactl-owned logistics firm said the expansion of its SuperLink China Direct will bring additional cargo flows to Hong Kong International Airport and offer Vietnamese enterprises and overseas shippers a more "convenient and cost‑effective logistics and air-road intermodal solution". The scheduled road feeder operation is customs bonded and has been connecting the Chinese mainland to Hong Kong International Airport for several years. The company said that a successful trial of the service has already been completed, with Hacis partnering with Vietnamese logistics company U&I Logistics Corporation to deliver a pilot shipment. The import shipment was transported from Vietnam by truck to Wuzhou, before being carried onward to Hong Kong via Hacis' Customs-bonded road feeder services. Hacis said that the new service is expected to generate additional import and export cargo flows through Hong Kong, supporting cargo growth at HKIA and creating new opportunities for freight forwarders and logistics service providers, while offering Vietnamese businesses and overseas shippers greater flexibility and a wider range of routing options. Ringo Chan, executive director of Hacis, said: "With the support of the Customs in Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, SuperLink China Direct has become a trusted cross-boundary logistics solution connecting Hong Kong with the Chinese Mainland. The extension to Vietnam marks the first expansion of this proven intermodal network beyond the Chinese Mainland, with the potential to extend further into other parts of Asia in future, further strengthening Hong Kong's regional connectivity. "By linking Vietnam with Hong Kong's extensive global air cargo network, the new service provides customers with more routing options and greater flexibility, while generating additional cargo flows through Hong Kong and creating new opportunities for the logistics industry." Nguyen Xuan Phuc, chief executive of U&I Logistics Corporation, added: "We are delighted with our collaboration with Hacis, which opens a brand‑new logistics route for Vietnamese enterprises beyond traditional sea and air transport, enabling cargo to move by land through the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong and further connecting to international markets. "It not only enhances the flexibility and reliability of cross‑border transportation but also provides businesses with diversified options." The service also uses Hong Kong's Single E-lock Scheme - a customs clearance programme launched by the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) alongside Mainland China Customs to streamline cross-boundary cargo transhipment utilising electronic vehicle locks and GPS tracking technology.

News in Brief Podcast | Week 38 2026 | Transpacific rates and airfreight reshuffle

Transpacific freight rates are on the rise - but is capacity really the problem? This week, Stephanie Loomis of Noatum Logistics joins us to unpack the latest rate increases, booking risks and service reliability, as well as the shifting outlook for Asia-Europe trade and global vessel capacity. Plus, The Loadstar publisher Alex Lennane looks at the latest upheaval in airfreight, from Amazon's network reshuffle to airlines redrawing freighter routes amid tight aircraft availability. And we explore whether shippers are outgrowing the traditional 3PL model. All this and more, in under 20 minutes on this week's News in Brief Podcast!