Miami International Airport (MIA) saw the total freight volume at the airport increase by 8% year over year to 687,675 tons in the first quarter of 2022.

The Florida hub reported that 552,371 tons of this volume came from international traffic and international freight at the airport was up 5.4% year to date. Domestic freight also increased 20.5% for the period.

The growth in volumes comes as MIA earlier recorded its best year ever in 2021. MIA achieved a new record of 2.7 million tonnes of total freight in 2021 and 2 million metric tons of international freight handled — boosting its standing as the busiest airport in the US for international freight.

The airport's 2021 performance "shattered" its record 2.3 million tonnes of freight volumes seen in 2020.

In 2021, the airport's imports and exports had a combined commercial value of US$67.5 billion, or up 28% over 2020. MIA's aviation traffic in 2021 accounted for 95% of Florida's total air trade and 41% of the state's total air and sea trade combined.

Flower, gold imports up

In a statement, MIA said the airport's leading import in weight last year continued to be flowers, at 327,881 tons valued at nearly US$1.6 billion, which represents a 39% increase in weight and a 34% in value.

Flower imports are currently in full bloom at MIA, with the Association of Floral Importers of Florida projecting a 10% year-over-year increase in flower shipments before Mother's Day on May 8.

MIA handles 89%of all flower imports to the US by air.

Meanwhile, MIA's largest import category in value was gold, jewelry, and gems, at US$4.4 billion in 2021, which was up 9% year over year. The largest export commodity in weight from MIA was vehicle parts and tires, which doubled in size from 18,703 tons in 2020 to 37,607 tons last year.

The Florida hub said that while the leading export in value was aviation/spacecraft parts at US$6.5 billion, an increase of 2% over the previous year.