Airfreight imports claw back above exports in February

Bureau figures showed that 27,073 tonnes of airfreight was imported in February compared with 26,984 tonnes of exported goods.
The total figure was a 12.5% decline to 54,057 tonnes from the 61,782 tonnes imported and exported in February 2008.
Import volumes declined for a third consecutive month in February, down 25.4% from February 2008 and the biggest month-on-month decline in airfreight imports in the past last 20 years, BITRE said.
Inbound freight traffic fell 22% in January 2009 and 22.1% in December 2008.
Qantas Airways was the top airline with 21% of the freight market share, though lower than February 2008 when it held a 22.3% share.
Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Emirates gained from February 2008.
Sydney Airport handled 25,259 tonnes of airfreight in February, or 46.7% of the market, the largest of its peers.
Melbourne Airport, the second largest, handled 16,226 tonnes in February, while Perth Airport and Brisbane Airport each handled close to 10% of trade that month.