Moscow’s Sheremetyevo saw 2016 cargo surge

Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport saw a near 30% surge in freight volumes during 2016 to around 231,000 tonnes.
Moscow Cargo is the main handler at Sheremetyevo Airport, handling more than 90% of total air cargo throughputs at the Russian hub where Russian Federation national carrier Aeroflot and freighter operator AirBridgeCargo (ABC) are the major sources of volumes.
A spokesperson for the airport said: “In 2016, there was a significant growth in transportation of transfer cargo through Sheremetyevo.  
“The airport has made serious investments in the development of the cargo terminal infrastructure, making it possible to ensure safety and efficient integration of perishable and temperature-sensitive cargo.
“Due to mutual efforts by the airline and the airport in 2016, ABC was the first company in Russia that received an IATA CEIV Pharma certificate, confirming fulfilment of the requirements of pharmaceutical companies for transporting over the entire route network, primarily, through Sheremetyevo Airport.”
Mail traffic volume through Moscow Cargo grew by 27% in 2016 to 25,000 tonnes, due to “the intensive growth of the sales volumes on the Chinese on-line market,” said the airport spokesperson.  
He added: “Export from the Russian Federation in 2016 remained stable. High-tech equipment manufactured under long-term contracts in Russia is transported by air.
“For the first time after 2013, imports to the Russian Federation through Sheremetyevo demonstrated positive dynamics.  China, US, Germany, Thailand, Israel, South Korea and the Netherlands remain the main directions. The cargo traffic volume in the Russian Federation continued to grow in 2016.”  

A large-scale development programme at Sheremetyevo saw construction begin in 2016 of a new automated cargo-handling complex with a total area of 42,300 sq m.
The new cargo complex is designed to handle 380,000 tons per annum with a possible increase up to one million tons.
The new cargo-handling complex will be equipped with an automated seven-tier system of shelf storage and movement of cargo, capable of holding 3,198 house-pallets.
There will also be a four-tier container storage area, equipped with ULD automated processing system with a total capacity of 576 blocks, including 60 blocks for storing temperature-sensitive cargo (2-8°C)

The cargo investment will total more than $80 m and the new complex is planned to be commissioned in the third quarter of 2017.
Said the spokesperson: “The high level of terminal automation will make it possible to achieve new cargo-handling quality standards in Sheremetyevo, and to increase the cargo flow through the airport.”