AIR CARG O WEEK
WORLD AIRPORTS
THE TITANS OF PACIFIC RIM AIR CARGO: A 2026 BUSINESS REVIEW
“In the Asia- Pacific region, projections from ACI Asia-Pacific anticipate 4.3 % annual growth through 2028.”
T
he Pacific Rim’s cargo airports are lynchpins of global trade, especially for high-value and urgent goods. Hong Kong and Shanghai lead in sheer volume, with Incheon and Narita solidly anchoring Northeast Asian flows. LAX and Anchorage sustain critical
trans-Pacific connections. All six hubs
demonstrate resilience and adaptability in the face of shifting global trade dynamics, and their development trajectories will be defining factors in how air cargo evolves over the next decade. Within the Pacific Rim — defined here as East Asia, Northeast
Asia and adjacent North American gateways — a handful of airports dominate global freight movements, reflecting the region’s manufacturing
prowess and e-commerce dynamism.
According to Airports Council International (ACI) World, the top cargo hubs collectively handled more than half of global air freight volumes in 2024, with strong momentum into 2025 and continued growth anticipated to 2028 and beyond, driven by electronics exports, manufacturing supply chains and expanding cross-border e-commerce demand. This article examines the six largest Pacific Rim cargo airports
— Hong Kong International (HKG), Shanghai Pudong (PVG), Incheon (ICN), Tokyo Narita (NRT), Los Angeles (LAX) and Anchorage (ANC) — providing recent historical context, current performance and forward prospects.
Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), Hong Kong Hong Kong International Airport consistently ranks as the world’s busiest cargo airport, a position it reclaimed firmly in 2024 with approximately 4.94 million tonnes of freight handled.
Historical cargo traffic (last five years): • 2019: 4.80m tonnes • 2020: 4.47m tonnes • 2021: 5.03m tonnes • 2022: 4.20m tonnes • 2023: 4.33m tonnes • 2024: 4.94m tonnes
These figures reflect the pandemic’s disruption in 2020–21, with a strong recovery thereafter. Hong Kong’s cargo volumes now exceed pre-COVID levels, underpinned by its strategic location at the heart of the Pearl River Delta and deep integration with Mainland China’s manufacturing supply chains. HKG’s cargo forecasts are robust. The airport is expanding including increased cargo stands and improved cold-
capacity,
chain facilities and anticipates further gains from rising demand in perishables, pharmaceuticals and express e-commerce logistics. ACI Asia-Pacific projects air cargo in the region to grow at a 4.3 % CAGR through 2028, with HKG uniquely positioned to benefit given its infrastructure and connectivity. Key strategic points are expansive integration with Greater Bay
Area logistics networks; High-value export goods (electronics, semiconductors,
perishables) dominate freight; investments in automation and temperature-controlled handling.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), China Shanghai Pudong ranks among the fastest-growing Pacific Rim cargo hubs, with roughly 3.78 million tonnes of freight in 2024, placing it second in the global rankings among Pacific Rim airports. While detailed annual tonnage by year for the last five years is less readily published in public sources, ACI and industry summaries indicate steady increases from the mid-3 million-tonne band in earlier years to the current
exports, especially industrial and consumer electronics. China’s export base — and shifts in supply chain strategies —
suggest PVG will maintain cargo growth. Continued expansion of express networks (FedEx, SF Express and Chinese carriers) and integration with the Yangtze River Delta manufacturing belt are crucial drivers. Key considerations: Ties to China’s Belt and Road Initiative
logistics investments; Strong demand for outbound
electronics, machinery and garments. Expansion of cargo facilities and runway/terminal capacity.
Incheon International Airport (ICN), South Korea Incheon International Airport has solidified its place as a key Pacific Rim cargo hub. In 2024 it handled approximately 2.95 million tonnes of cargo — a strong result that reflects both export demand and its role as a regional trans-shipment point. Steady tonnage growth from the late 2010s into the early 2020s, with a small pandemic- related dip in some years but robust recovery thereafter. ICN’s cargo facilities are among the most advanced globally, including automated sorting and extensive cold-chain capability.
18 Continued
level. Growth reflects Shanghai’s manufacturing
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57
