Changi Airport’s cargo figures have passed the two million tonne mark for the first time with throughput growing 7.9 per cent in 2017.

The Singapore airport handled 2.13 million tonnes in 2017, with registering strong growth in every month of the year, ending with a 6.4 per cent year-on-year increase in December to 188,742 tonnes.

China was the top cargo market, followed by Australia, Hong Kong, the USA and India, with imports growing eight per cent, exports by 14 per cent and transhipments by four per cent.

E-commerce was the largest cargo segment, with perishables in second and pharmaceuticals in third place.

Changi Airport Group formalised the Pharma@Changi initiative in October 2017, where together with nine other partners from across the supply chain, they jointly pursue best practices in pharmaceutical handling and promote Changi as a trusted an reliable pharma hub.

In addition, Changi became the first airport community in Asia Pacific to attain IATA CEIV Pharma certification.

E-commerce also received a boost with SATS opening its eCommerce AirHub in April, enhancing Changi’s mail sorting capability to support the growing market with its state-of-the-art automated airside eCommerce mail sortation facility.