Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has seen continued growth in both the China and Latin American markets after its results were revealed for the first quarter of 2018.

China, the airport's largest country market, showed an increase of 2.1 per cent at 30,735 tonnes from January to March 2018, compared with the same period last year, boosted by increased volumes from both freighter and belly cargo flights.

Trade with the Asian continent overall remained relatively stable, with a four per cent decrease in inbound cargo to 67,629 tonnes but a one per cent increase in outbound cargo, up to 75,182 tonnes.

Latin American cargo trade increased strongly, up ten per cent inbound at 34,097 tonnes and up 31 per cent outbound at 20,701 tonnes. Cargo imports from the continent were boosted by increased flower imports for St Valentine's Day and International Women's Day.

Similarly, African flower exports boosted outbound cargo, up seven per cent to 13,243 tonnes, although inbound cargo recorded a drop of five per cent to 28,818 tonnes.

European, North American, and Middle Eastern trade was slightly down in terms of overall cargo volumes in Q1 January to March 2018, 2.1 per cent down compared with the same period last year, (Q1 2017), to 411,539 tonnes.

European inbound traffic fell eight per cent to 25,936, outbound -2 per cent to 28,146, North America inbound cargo fell 12 per cent to 32,142 tonnes and outbound five per cent to 36,791 tonnes, while Middle Eastern traffic fell one per cent inbound to 21,578 and 15 per cent outbound to 27,277 tonnes.

Full freighter volumes overall were down 2.4 per cent, with 7.4 per cent fewer full freight air traffic movements (ATMs) and belly cargo volumes eased slightly, showing a 1.6 per cent drop compared with Q1, 2017.

"Although we saw an increase in ATMs and as a result increased volumes of belly cargo at Schiphol, this did not result in a commensurate increase in freight volumes and did not compensate for the reduction in full freighter ATMs," said Maaike van der Windt, Director Aviation Marketing, Cargo and Customer Experience, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

"This has had a knock-on effect in our first quarter results, but there are nonetheless underlying positive growth trends in cargo business from China and Latin America that we hope to build upon over the coming year," she added.

Contributed by Schiphol