FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

10 October 2002

(10 October 2002, Hong Kong :) Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl) recorded highest monthly tonnage throughput to-date in the month of September 2002. A total of 166,691 tonnes of air cargo were handled in the month, up 18.7% compared with September 2001. Two high water marks were recorded in the month of September when volume handled in the week of 16 to 22 September and 23 to 29 September reached 40,006 tonnes and 42,050 tonnes respectively, breaking the record of 39,871 tonnes set two years ago in the week of 13 to 19 November 2000.

Boosted by the volume handled in September, tonnage growth in the third quarter this year reached 23.9% year-on-year, with a total of 486,071 tonnes being handled in the third quarter. Total tonnage for the first nine months stood at 1,358,919 tonnes, up 19.6% compared with the same period last year.

"Growth in the third quarter was fuelled by the surge in export volume in the latter half of September amid the pre-National day holiday rush," said Summit Chan, Hactl's Director - Marketing & Customer Service. "News of potential lockout at the U.S. West Coast sea ports prior to their actual shutdowns reportedly effected some shift of cargoes from sea to airfreight, contributing to the growth in the third quarter."

Export volume in September was 88,991 tonnes, which was the highest monthly export volume to-date, and represents a year-on-year growth of 25.9%. Total export tonnage for the third quarter was 258,610 tonnes, up 32.2% compared with same period last year. The U.S. market, which was the single largest export market, continued to lead the growth in the export sector, with an impressive 53.3% year-on-year growth recorded in the third quarter. Strong growth was also achieved in export volume to Europe and South Korea in the third quarter, up 28.1% and 19.3% respectively. Aggregate export volume for the first nine months was 705,232 tonnes, up 28.8% against the same period last year.

In the import sector, a total of 54,502 tonnes were handled in September, up 12.2% year-on-year. Total import volume for the third quarter was 162,716 tonnes, up 15% on a year-on-year basis. Growth in the import sector in the third quarter continued to be dominated by the Asian markets: Mainland China (+51.4%), Japan (+34.7%) and South Korea (+27.5%). Aggregate import volume for the period from January to September this year was 471,399 tonnes, up 10% on a year-on-year basis.

Tonnes		Sep-02		Cumulative (Jul to Sep 02)		Cumulative (Jan to Sep-02)
Import		54,502		162,716		471,399
Growth rate against ' 01		12.2%		15.0%		10.0%
Export		88,991		258,610		705,232
Growth rate against ' 01		25.9%		32.2%		28.8%
Transshipment		23,198		64,745		182,288
Growth rate against ' 01		9.6%		17.3%		14.1%
Total		166,691		486,071		1,358,919
Growth rate against ' 01		18.7%		23.9%		19.6%

Issued by Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited. For enquires, please contact:
Cindy Cheung, Corporate Communications Manager         Tel: 2753 2162 (Office)

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