Adding value in Germany’s skies
BDL analysis of Germany’s airfreight structure. More than ever, airfreight is the first choice when shipping valuable goods between Germany and markets outside the EU – and the volumes are increasing.
The value of all goods flown by air reached a new high in Germany last year. The value of goods transported by air in Germany’s trade with countries outside the EU averaged EUR 152,807 / t. This means that this figure has risen by a total of 81% since the year 2000.
An analysis of the goods structure and development of the German airfreight market, which was presented in mid-September by the German Aviation Association (Bundesverband der Deutschen Luftverkehrswirtschaft, BDL), also shows that no other mode of transport transports anywhere near as many valuable goods as aeroplanes do (see bar chart above).
In aviation the average value of the goods transported has grown by 58% since the year 2000, to EUR 173,270 / t. In the export segment the value of goods rose by as much as 105% to EUR 139,729 / t during the period under review. By comparison, consumer prices have risen by around 38% since the turn of the millennium.
From 2000 to 2022 the volume of air cargo loaded at German airports in trade with countries outside the EU also increased significantly, namely by 54%. The goods that are exported from Germany by airfreight represent the strongest sectors of the German economy.
The five leading markets have expanded their share
Mechanical engineering as well as the chemical and pharmaceutical industries rely heavily on transport by aeroplanes. Electrical and electronic equipment accounts for the largest share of airfreight imports and exports in Germany, with around EUR 40 billion.
Since the start of the millennium the five most important countries of origin and destination outside the EU for German airfreight have remained almost unchanged. They are China, the USA, India, Japan and South Korea. The concentration on these important trading partners has increased significantly in this period, namely from 52% in the year 2000 to 64% last year.