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Airfreight is an indispensable pillar of the great international success of the German economy and its core industries
Airfreight transport volumes have significantly increased over the last few decades, and the industry has become more important economically as a result of the advancing internationalisation of goods and capital markets. This is especially true for the highly export-oriented German economy.
The global volume of cargo transported by air has increased sharply over the past few decades, namely from 6.7 million t in 1971 to 47.9 million t today. But airfreight only accounts for about 2% of all German export and import volumes in terms of weight.
Value trumps volume
But the value of the goods exported from or imported into Germany by air, which was calculated at EUR 1.99 trillion last year, accounts for more than 10% of the Federal Republic of Germany’s total foreign trade. If you only look at overseas exports, this value even amounts to around 30%.
«This alone shows the considerable importance of airfreight for the German national economy’s ability to compete internationally,» states the introduction to the study, entitled «Goods structure, development and demand specifics of the air cargo market in Germany». It was commissioned by the BDL, the German Aviation Association, and presented in September this year.
In 2013, aeroplanes transported goods worth a total of EUR 202 billion from Germany (EUR 125 billion) and to the country (EUR 77 billion). This cargo included EUR 44 billion worth of goods for the electronics industry, EUR 36 billion for mechanical engineering, more than EUR 28 billion for the medical sector and more than EUR 20 billion for the chemicals and pharmaceuticals industries (see table on the next page).
Aeroplanes are used, amongst other things, for express consignments as well as for temperature-sensitive goods, as well as high-quality cargo. The study indicates that the value of one tonne transported by air is EUR 70,669 – many times the value of a ton that is transported by truck (EUR 2,835), ship (EUR 1,896) or rail (EUR 1,182 EUR). The airfreight tonnage of Germany’s intra-European trade is limited, and the value of goods hauled by air in Europe – EUR 18 billion worth of exports and EUR 6 billion worth of imports – also hovers in the low percentage range compared to other carriers.
The most important markets
Conversely, airfreight is particularly important for Germany’s external trade with countries outside the European Union. Both exports and imports flown to and from countries outside Europe are now ten times the size of corresponding flows of goods to and from European Union countries, when measured by the value of the goods. The top three destinations and sources of goods transported by air to and from Germany are the USA (EUR 43 billion), China (EUR 33 billion) and Japan (EUR 13 billion). South Korea (EUR 8 billion) comes fourth, with two thirds thereof accounted for by exports. Switzerland comes in ahead of the «land of morning calm» for exports to Germany (EUR 3 billion, putting it in fourth place in that list).
For example China
The People’s Republic of China is Germany’s most important trading partner outside Europe, with a trading volume of EUR 141 billion. In 2013, 23% of that amount – or EUR 33 billion – was transported to and from the Far Eastern country by aeroplane. The value of the imported goods coming from China amounted to EUR 16 billion. Of these, electronic items accounted for EUR 7 billion and machines for EUR 4 billion. Exports show a similar picture; their total value (EUR 17 billion) is also supplied mainly by these two industries (EUR 5 billion and EUR 4 billion respectively).
For example mechanical engineering
After the USA (EUR 6 billion), China is the second-most important destination for the mechanical engineering sector, with its 1 million employees and annual sales of EUR 206 billion. 90% of the firms organised in the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) state that airfreight is important or very important to them. Thus in 2013 machinery valued at EUR 36 billion was sent to and from Germany by air. Speed and flexibility are listed as especially important reasons for selecting the mode of transport.
Indispensable for companies and customers
«Besides the large enterprises, air cargo is also indispensable for consumers. Clothing worth EUR 3 billion was imported into Germany by air in 2013,» according to BDL president Klaus-Peter Siegloch «Life today would be unimaginable for everyone without airfreight. Even 98% of all mobile phones reach Germany by air.»
Source: ITJ
