DHL announces support for Hong Kong runway project
DHL has announced that it supports the Airport Authority of Hong Kong’s plans to start construction on the third runway project in 2016. In a statement issued on Friday (24 July), DHL said that the third runway project will “let Hong Kong stay ahead in Greater China’s vibrant air cargo market, fuelled particularly by the surging demand of e-commerce and high-value perishables”.
The Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) has been the world’s busiest air cargo hub for five consecutive years since 2010. In 2014/2015, HKIA handled 4.4 million tonnes of cargo, which was almost 6% up on the previous year.
Jerry Hsu, CEO, DHL Express Asia Pacific, explained why the continuing development of HKIA was important to DHL: “Our Central Asia Hub in Hong Kong boasts of the region’s largest throughput. This large volume can be attributed to the surging exports from mainland China and the Pearl River Delta, as well as growing demand and rising consumption across Asia Pacific.”
Kelvin Leung, CEO, DHL Global Forwarding Asia Pacific, added: “We are positive about the future of HKIA based on the Airport Authority’s forecast of 8.9 million tonnes of cargo going through the airport by 2030. The investment of more than HK$140 billion (EUR16 billion) in the expansion of HKIA is a substantial commitment for the future of the logistics industry in Hong Kong. As one of the four-pillar industries in the city, we think that it is a rational and necessary investment to help boost the economic growth in Hong Kong.”
One of the key factors driving cargo growth in the Greater China market is the development of e-commerce in the region – and DHL believes HKIA plays an important role in this.
Leung explained: “China has overtaken the United States as the largest online shopping market in the world since 2013 in light of the growing middle class. It has prompted many international e-retailers as well as luxury brands to set up regional distribution centres in mainland China and Hong Kong is one of the top choices amongst other cities.
“Hong Kong plays an important gateway for mainland China’s rising e-commerce trade and this is a great growth area for us – working with consolidators that help buyers with sourcing and consolidation for shipments back to mainland China. Prevailing market research has predicted that e-commerce in mainland China will almost double to 24.2 trillion CNY (EUR 3.5 trillion) by 2018 and we are well-positioned to take advantage of that growth.”
