After a two-year downswing, the air-cargo industry appears to be in the midst of recovery – and the Asian market is the driving force behind this trend. The 4th Air Cargo China, the largest international trade fair for the air-cargo industry in Asia, will be a barometer of this upward trend. It is being held in conjunction with transport logistic China in Shanghai from June 8 – 10, 2010.

The latest figures released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) could be a sign of hope for the global air-cargo industry: Last month, international freight demand was only 0.5 percent lower than a year earlier, which is a significant improvement compared to the 5.4 percent decline registered in September 2009.
 
Above all, the driving force behind this development is the Asian market, which is beginning to grow again earlier and, above all, more quickly as a result of the diminishing global economic crisis. According to the latest statistics released by the IATA, air-cargo volume in Asia in October was 1.9 percent higher than the same period last year. So it comes as no surprise that three of the five largest freight airports in the world, i.e. Hong Kong, Seoul and Shanghai, are located in Asia. In a study for the Asian air-cargo industry, aircraft manufacturer Airbus forecast that the upward trend will continue to remain strong. In China, domestic freight volume (tonne kilometers) is expected to increase by more than ten percent by 2026, and commercial freight traffic with Europe and the United States is expected to increase by nearly ten percent. Given these forecasts, experts are already saying that Asia will establish itself as the world's largest air-cargo market within the next ten years, which means a great deal of potential for investors, some of which is still unused.
 
This positive market environment is also creating extra momentum for Air Cargo China, which has developed into the largest international trade show for air cargo in Asia since its premiere in 2004. A number of well-known airfreight forwarders have already registered to exhibit at the fair: They include Avicon, Airbridge Cargo, Cargo Italia, Eurex Airlines, Etihad, Jade Cargo, Thai Airways, ULS Airlines as well as key logistics hubs such as the Atlanta, Munich and Vienna airports and leading aircraft manufacturers such as Boeing and EADS. The application deadline for exhibitors is 23 April 2010.
 
Besides the exhibition, the Air Cargo China Conference that accompanies the fair on 9 June 2010, the title of which is "Tomorrow’s World", will give participants an in-depth look at the trends in international air cargo with a special focus on the Asian market. Other highlights include the awards ceremony for the World Air Cargo Awards, which A-Z Group presents in a total of ten categories. They include awards for Airfreight Forwarder of the Year and Airport of the Year.
 
Additional information is available at www.aircargochina.com and www.transportlogistic-china.com.
 
About transport logistic China
transport logistic China, 4th International Exhibition for Logistics, Telematics and Transport, is being held at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre in China from 8 to 10 June 2010. 431 exhibitors from 46 countries presented their products and services at transport logistic China 2008 and Air Cargo China 2008. Over 11,215 visitors from 77 countries attended the international exhibition, which also featured an extensive program of related events and conferences. For further information, go to: www.transportlogistic-china.com.
 
 
Messe München International (MMI)
Messe München International (MMI) is one of the world´s leading trade-fair companies. It organises around 40 trade fairs for capital and consumer goods, and key high-tech industries. Each year over 30,000 exhibitors from more than 100 countries, and over two million visitors from more than 200 countries take part in the events in Munich. In addition, MMI organises trade fairs in Asia, Russia, the Middle East and South America. Via its six subsidiaries – in Europe and in Asia – and 64 foreign representatives actively serving over 90 countries, MMI has a worldwide business network. Environmental protection and sustainability are key priorities in all MMI´s operations, at home and abroad.
 
 
Press contact:
Petra Gagel, transport logistic China 2010 Press Office
Tel. +49 89 / 949-20 244, Fax +49 89 / 949-20249
petra.gagel@messe-muenchen.de
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