International air freight cargo volumes are on the increase in KwaZulu-Natal, signalling positive growth patterns for trade in the province.
There has been a 13% increase compared to the previous year.
Executive for Cargo and Agrizone at the Dube Trade Port, Mlibo Bantwini, says goods coming in include mainly consumer electronics, pharmaceuticals, large machinery and fresh produce exports and imports.
Bantwini says the increase in international carriers to the province means more carrying capacity.
“Over the past two years or so, we’ve seen the introduction of air services by Turkish airlines, by Qatar, Proflight by Zambia. So that additional airline capacity especially wide bodied aircrafts by those major long haul carriers from the Middle East and Europe, that has increased the cargo capacity available, so as a result of that a lot of manufacturers that are based in this province have been using that available belly capacity. But over and above your passenger aircrafts, we’ve also seen an increase in dedicated cargo freighters landing at King Shaka airport.
