Airfreight demand grows in Afghanistan

DEMAND for airfreight into and out of Afghanistan is growing, despite the ongoing conflicts.

China has become the country’s major trade partner thanks in part to Afghanistan’s large mineral wealth, such as gold, iron, copper and cobalt, which is valued at nearly US$1 trillion. Trade between the two has grown from $25 million in 2000 to $215 million in 2009, although unofficial trade is just as large and that figure could be double.

China has also made several high-profile investments and reconstruction projects, all of which have boosted demand for airfreight, especially for the heavy lifters. In 2007 it won a $3.5 billion contract from the state-owned China Metallurgical Group to exploit the country’s massive copper fields.

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