U.S. DOMESTIC AIR CARGO INDUSTRY RESULTS SAG

U.S. DOMESTIC AIR CARGO INDUSTRY RESULTS SAG    The U.S. domestic air cargo industry continued to sag in the second quarter under the pressures of the economic slowdown, according to figures reported by The Colography Group Inc.
   Domestic shipments declined 3.2 percent to 711.5 million in the second quarter, the third straight quarter declines in total shipment volume were reported. Total domestic revenue fell 3.3 percent while tonnage dipped 11.4 percent.
   Yield per pound, however, rose $1.18 per pound, or 9.0 percent, over the same period in 2000. Average shipment weight declined 8.7 percent to 6.3 pounds per shipment.
   The Colography Group said only United Parcel Service, the U.S. Postal Service and Airborne Express registered positive growth in the quarter.
   USPS saw revenues rise 6.5 percent, due largely to rate increases in Express and Priority Mail. However, shipment volume fell 6.3 percent and total pounds carried was off 9.0 percent.
   Airborne Express reported a 3.4-percent rise in shipment volumes, while pounds and revenues both were down 1.7 percent.
   UPS posted a 1.1-percent increase in shipment volume and a 1.2-percent increase in weight, offset by a 0.4-percent decline in revenue.
   FedEx Express remained the market leader, with shipment and revenue share at 26.6 percent and 33.1 percent, respectively. FedEx's share of tonnage fell 0.8 percent to 29.6 percent.
   Internationally, U.S. air export shipments totaled 22.5 million, down about 240,000 shipments from 2000 levels. Nearly 80 percent of those export shipments comprised documents and packages weighing less than 70 pounds, the Colography Group said.