SkyCargo sees Indian exports cool

MIDDLE Eastern cargo powerhouse Emirates SkyCargo expects India’s export engine to cool during this current financial year.

The carrier saw cargo grow 14 per cent on the outbound stretch in the 2010-11 financial year, but this year it anticipates a more modest seven to eight per cent increase.

“India has always been a good market for us. The exports have been growing, but this year there could be a slowdown in growth. Outbound cargo is expected to grow at seven to eight per cent,” Keki Patel, Emirates cargo manager for India and Nepal, said.

“Imports have also been steadily improving,” Patel added. “About a decade ago, air cargo industry in India was suffering from directional imbalance, which meant exports were high but imports were lower. This meant that flights came in empty to carry out the exports. But in the past two to three years there is a balance that has come in.”

Airports at certain smaller Indian cities do not have a customs clearance facility, meaning goods from these stations need to be transferred to Delhi, Mumbai or Chennai for export.

Emirates has also signed an interline agreement to utilise Fly Dubai’s belly space.

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