China - Recent

Storyline:
China's air logistics sector rides tailwinds of demand boom

[Voice_over]

China's air freight sector has been taking off these days with a surge in demand for cold chain shipping for perishable products like fruit and seafood.

At three o'clock in the morning, a plane loaded with tons of salmon has just arrived from Miami in the U.S.

Half of the fish will be delivered to domestic markets, and the other half will be loaded onto another flight to Shanghai.

In total, airport staff say, it takes under 30 hours to transport fresh products from door to door.

[Sound_bite]

Zhang Xingkai, project manager, Eastern Airlines Cold Chain Logistics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.:

"We estimate that when fresh food arrive at Ezhou, they can soon be transported to main cities across China in about 1.5 hours through air transport operated by SF Express and through cold chain truck transportation."

[Voice_over]

Geopolitical conflicts in the Red Sea area have greatly affected the shipping industry this year with many consignors switching from ocean to air freight, which has driven up demand considerably, especially for products that require time-sensitive deliveries.

[Sound_bite]

Cai Feng, operator, CTS International Logistics Co., Ltd., Changzhou Branch:

"Peaches and hairy crabs have been exported through the airport about twice a week since July."

[Voice_over]

Official data shows that China has operated 3,300 international air cargo charter flights in the first half of the year, up 9 percent compared to the same period last year.

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