China's faltering volumes prove too tricky for freighter operators

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Freight forwarders are in a bind trying to serve China’s new promised land. The emerging centres of production in the country’s interior require freighter services  ? but are not yet turning out sufficient volumes to sustain longhaul all-cargo activities.

Things looked much brighter 12 months ago. As volumes elsewhere were dropping alarmingly, international carriers were eager to deploy freighters in the up and coming manufacturing areas around Chongqing, Chengdu and Zhengzhou, marching in the wake of electronics giants such as Foxconn. ...