Singapore Changi Airport handled 1.97 million tonnes of cargo in 2016, a 6.3% year-on-year increase and a new record for air freight throughput at the airport.

“2016 was a record-breaking year for Changi Airport, with passenger traffic and cargo throughput both registering new peaks,” said Seow Hiang Lee, CEO of Changi Airport Group. “We are also pleased with the introduction of many new city links, including to Europe and Oceania, as well as the launch of non-stop services to the United States. Despite a backdrop of economic and socio-political uncertainties, we maintain a positive outlook for the year ahead. We see opportunities in emerging markets within Africa and Eastern Europe. At the same time, we will continue to grow our long haul routes to Western Europe, and strengthen our connectivity within the region to secondary cities in Southeast Asia, China and India.”

According to Changi Airport Group, growth was recorded across imports, exports and transhipments. Perishables and pharmaceuticals performed particularly well.

The top five markets for cargo were China, Australia, Hong Kong, the US and India.

During the year, Changi Airport formed a community of cargo partners to pursue the International Air Transport Association’s Center of Excellence for Independent Validators in Pharmaceutical Logistics certification and joined Pharma.Aero, an independent organization which aims to improve end-to-end transportation of pharmaceticals.

DHL opened its 24-hour express South Asia hub at Changi in October 2016.

In 2016, the airport also saw new freighter operations from Neptune Air and Silk Way West Airlines, as well as new passenger operations from China West Air and Fiji Airways. Changi also added Amritsar, Canberra, Dusseldorf, Jaipur, Nadi, Sapporo, Urumqi and Wellington to its network.