Changi Airport recorded 1.99 million tons of air cargo throughput in 2024, representing an increase of 14.6 percent compared to the previous year. The growth was driven by improved merchandise flows between Singapore, China and the US, a recovery in electronics exports and re-exports, rising demand for cross-border e-commerce, and a paradigm shift from sea freight to air freight due to maritime transport disruptions.
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Changi Airport saw a steady rise in cargo volumes throughout the year, with all sectors – exports, imports and transit cargo – seeing positive growth. In the last quarter of 2024 alone, the airport handled 521,000 tons of air cargo, an increase of 15 percent compared to the same period in 2023.
The five largest cargo markets at the airport this year were:
- China
- Australia
- US
- Hong Kong
- India
Much of the freight growth was driven by demand for electronics, e-commerce and time-sensitive shipments, especially between Singapore and its major trading partners in China and the United States.
To accommodate the growing demand for air cargo, Changi Airport will expand its cargo network in 2024, adding new airline partners and routes. Two new cargo airlines have begun operations at the airport:
- Shandong Airlines, which also resumed passenger services during the year
- Incheon Air, strengthens cargo links between Singapore and South Korea
In addition, two new freight routes have been introduced, linking Singapore to Haikou and Nagoya, expanding Changi’s freight network.
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