Singapore Changi Airport handled a total of 1,853,087 tonnes of cargo in 2015, a 0.5% growth over 2014, according to statistics released by Changi Airport Group.

Even though the overall throughput remained relatively unchanged, the pharmaceuticals segment registered particularly strong growth for the year, with a 44% year-on-year growth, according to CAG.

The airport’s throughput is expected to rise significantly in the next few years because of two major projects.

DHL Express is building a 24-hour hub which will triple DHL’s throughput and increase processing speed by six times, and is scheduled to be completed later this year.

SATS is also constructing an e-commerce hub that will be completed in December 2016, with Singapore Post as the first customer.

Lee Seow Hiang, CEO of Changi Airport Group, said that Asia would continue to present growth opportunities, such as secondary cities in China, India and Indonesia. He also said that economic uncertainty would hinder the aviation industry, but that low fuel prices would support airlines’ profitability.

“The outlook for Changi is also bolstered by positive developments such as the addition of new city links and airlines in the coming months,” said Lee. “These include Singapore Airlines’ new services to Dusseldorf, Canberra and Wellington in the second half of this year, as well as the arrival of Fiji Airways’ new direct service from Nadi in April.”

My Indo Airlines, Polar Air Cargo and AirBridgeCargo started flying freighter services to Singapore in 2015, while Air New Zealand, Batik Air, Thai Lion Air and Myanmar National Airlines began passenger flights.

In terms of new destinations, Cincinnati was added on the cargo side, and Changi saw new passenger flights to Changchun, Quanzhou, Sanya, Yinchuan, Cairns, Lucknow, Luang Prabang and Pattaya.