REPORT: CHINA AIR TRADE SURGED IN 1999

REPORT: CHINA AIR TRADE SURGED IN 1999    The U.S. imported 8.1 billion pounds of air freight last year, up 13.9 percent year-over-year, while air exports increased 4.5 percent to 6.3 billion pounds, an air cargo industry research company said in a new report.
   The value of air imports rose $39.1 billion in 1999 to $275.9 billion, sparked by demand for goods from China, The Colography Group said. The value of U.S. air exports reached $215.8 billion, up from $197.7 billion in 1998, led mostly by an increase in Asian consumer demand for U.S.-made products. Colography published the findings in its annual report of U.S. air cargo by commodity and country.
   China was the big story, the company said. More than 743.0 million pounds were air shipped from China to the United States last year, a 36.3-percent increase. The value of U.S. air imports from China reached $10.5 billion, up 32.3 percent. China now exports, by weight, more air freight to the United States than any other country, according to Colography.
   Japan was the top destination for U.S. air exports, importing 726.8 million pounds valued at $24.5 billion. That represents an 8.5 percent increase over 1998. The United Kingdom was second, importing 650.0 million pounds valued at $19.8 billion.
   By value, semiconductors and related devices was the top commodity shipped by air in the United States last year. More than $67 billion of semiconductors, representing 13.7 percent of total air trade, moved to and from the U.S. in 1999, Colography said.
   By weight, computers and peripheral equipment led the way, accounting for 5.4 percent of all air tonnage to and from the United States.