MUMBAI: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (
CSMIA
) witnessed a 6% year-on-year growth in overall
cargo volumes
(domestic and international in the financial year 2023-24.
International cargo
volumes alone increased by 10%, said the Mumbai airport on Monday. The airport also registered a 20% increase in the total number of Cargo Air Traffic Movements (ATMs).
CSMIA currently connects with a network of close to 700 cargo destinations.
“Automobile products, Pharmaceuticals & Agriculture products were the top 3 categories of products transported internationally via CSMIA’s Air cargo. In general cargo, engineering goods, and post office (PO) mail were the top 3 categories of products transported domestically from CSMIA, said the airport in a press release.
“CSMIA’s cargo facility manages a diverse array of goods, with pharmaceuticals, agricultural products, and automobiles being among the primary categories. On the international scale, the top three categories transported are automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural cargo,” said Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL). Meanwhile, domestically, the leading cargo categories include General cargo, engineering goods, and post office (PO) mail. These categories underscore the airport’s proficiency in handling a wide variety of goods, it said.
“The surge in e-commerce significantly impacted cargo operations at CSMIA. The festive season of Diwali noticed a notable 87% year-on-year growth in e-commerce shipments. The demand for perishable items also experienced a noteworthy increase,” said MIAL, adding that mango exports were particularly prominent during the months of April to July 2023, accompanied by the export of seasonal cut flowers and chocolates during the Valentine’s Day period. Additionally, CSMIA handled its inaugural shipment of frozen ready-to-serve food products, such as Idli and Vada, using specialized va-Q-tec containers bound for Amsterdam, it said.
CSMIA’s international cargo volumes comprised 56% exports and 44% imports. London, Frankfurt, Dubai, Chicago, and Amsterdam were the top global destinations for outgoing cargo, while Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad led domestically. Top International carriers handling cargo volumes from CSMIA included Emirates, Qatar, and Cathay Pacific, along with Indigo, Vistara and Akasa Air as top domestic carriers.
To enhance the infrastructure and facilitate the adoption of advanced technology, MIAL said it is in process of building PEB (Pre-Engineered Building Structure) to enhance its cargo handling capacity in imports. “In addition to these efforts, CSMIA has pioneered innovations in cargo operations, notably introducing the Air Cargo Community System, Adani MIAL Air Exchange (AMAX), the first of its kind in India,” it said. “This system revolutionizes processes through SOPs, integrated systems, and digitization. Mobile apps like AMAX and Turant enable transparent, paperless, and digital operations, eliminating physical documentation for export consignments. Integrated processes like E-Airwaybill, e-carting order, e-CSD,, e-delivery orders, and e-gate passes ensure efficiency,” it added. “The introduction of Digital Docket Delivery (D-Cube) for import gate pass system further streamlines online processing, reducing paper usage and cargo dwell time,” it Sadi.
The recent trends in the industry indicate a notable rise in air cargo volumes, largely attributed to challenges in container movement in the Red Sea, it said. “In Q4 of FY 2024, international cargo surged by approximately 22% compared to the previous year, showcasing air cargo’s adaptability in addressing supply chain disruptions and meeting market demands,” it added.