Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) reported continued growth in air cargo volumes despite trade uncertainties, including U.S.-China tariff negotiations and the end of "de minimis" exemptions for low-value shipments from China and Hong Kong to the United States.

HKIA, the world's busiest cargo hub, released the air traffic statistics for May 2025, showing cargo volume recording a year-on-year increase of 1.4% to 422,000 tonnes for the month.

Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) said the growth was underpinned by a 12.7% increase in transhipment.

Traffic to/ from Europe and the Middle East was the primary driver of cargo growth, showing the most increases during the month.

Month-on-month, May's cargo volume was also higher compared to the 404,000 tonnes recorded in April this year. In March, air cargo volumes reached 449,000 tonnes.  

[Source: AAHK]

Over the first five months of the year, cargo traffic grew 2.7% year-on-year to 2 million tonnes.

For May, flight movements stood at 32,480, representing a year-on-year growth of 8.8%, and in the January to May period, it increased by 11.0% to 161,130.

Meanwhile, on a 12-month rolling basis, flight movements increased by 16.8% to 379,295 and cargo throughput grew 7.8% year-on-year to 4.99 million tonnes.