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Schiphol cargo volumes on the rise in September

Schiphol Airport registered a 7.6% increase in cargo volumes to 127,750 tonnes in September, while its Belgian counterpart, Brussels Airport, also registered an increase. At Schiphol, exports saw a significant surge, rising by 12.5% to nearly 62,000 tonnes. This growth was primarily driven by traffic bound for Africa, the Far East, and destinations within Europe. Imports experienced a modest growth of 3.4%, with increases in shipments to Africa and other European destinations. Notably, cargo traffic to Latin America saw a sharp rise of nearly 44%. The total number of all-cargo flights last month reached 1,400 -- an increase of more than 11% compared to the same period last year. These positive figures for September align with the trend observed throughout the year so far. From January through September, Schiphol has recorded an overall increase of 9.6%, with both imports (+10.4%) and exports (+8.8%) contributing to this growth. Brussels sees growth in trucked freight Like Schiphol, Brussels Airport also experienced a strong September. The airport handled 6.8% more cargo, reaching a total of over 70,000 tonnes. This growth was primarily driven by trucked freight, which increased by more than 37%. For the first nine months of this year, the airport reached a total of 627,000 tonnes -- an increase of over 8% compared to the same period last year. Liege growth stutters Meanwhile, Liege Airport last week released its traffic figures for the third quarter of the year, which showed that cargo volumes were 0.1% down year on year at 334,950 tonnes, while aircraft movements dropped by 6% compared with last year to 6,826. To put the fall in context, the airport registered an 11% year-on-year increase in cargo volumes in the first half of the year. Liege said the fall in movements is mainly due to the introduction, on 1 July 2026, of a €3 tax on imported parcels valued at less than €150. The charge was introduced to try and stem the flow of e-commerce goods into the bloc. Since its introduction, volumes of small parcels have fallen by 42%, directly affecting part of the e-commerce- related business and reducing the number of flights dedicated to this segment.

Air France KLM Cargo automates perishable handling at CDG

Air France KLM Martinair Cargo (AFKLMP) is expanding and automating its perishables centre at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in response to rising demand within the vertical. The investment will see AFKLMP implement an elevating transfer vehicle (ETV) from Lödige Industries for the automated multilevel storage and retrieval of ULDs and pallets. The installation comprises a 10-ft wide edge ETV serving a total of 58 storage decks, including 17 located within temperature-controlled areas. The system is due to go live at the end of September. "Expanding our temperature-controlled cargo capabilities at Paris-Charles de Gaulle is an important step in strengthening our cold-chain operations," said the cargo business. "The new automated storage solution will enable us to handle growing volumes more efficiently and further enhance the cargo handling flow for temperature-sensitive shipments at CDG." Lödige Industries claimed that by automating storage and retrieval processes, the ETV system reduces manual handling, streamlines internal cargo flows and makes efficient use of the available storage capacity. Björn Ussat, director of airport logistics solutions at Lödige Industries, said: "Cold-chain logistics place particularly high demands on reliability, efficient use of space and consistent handling processes. "This project demonstrates how automation can help cargo operators optimise storage capacity and internal material flows while supporting the stringent handling requirements of temperature-sensitive shipments. "We are delighted to support Air France KLM Martinair Cargo with an efficient and scalable solution that also provides a solid basis for future expansion of automated storage processes at Paris-Charles de Gaulle."

DHL Express puts its faith - and its cash - in Africa's trade potential

DHL Express has committed €300m in investment across Africa through to 2030, as the logistics group urges UK businesses to diversify supply chains and pursue opportunities in an area expected to become a major global growth engine by 2035. Hennie Heymans, CEO of DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa, said the investment "reflected the company's confidence in the continent's long-term prospects", amid shifting global trade relationships, geopolitical tensions, and changes to supply chains. "We would not commit to €300m if we didn't believe in the future of this continent," he said today. The announcement followed UK-Africa trade reaching approximately £52bn ($69bn) last year, according to figures cited by Mr Heymans. While modest compared with the UK's overall trade, DHL executives argued that the relationship offered scope for expansion as businesses reassess traditional sourcing and export markets. John Cornish, CEO of DHL Express UK, warned that British companies risked missing opportunities if they overlooked African markets while other economies strengthened their commercial relationships across the continent. China's expanding trade presence provided a key point of comparison, while the UK's Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) could help facilitate exports from eligible African countries, the executives said. Mr Cornish said businesses should consider Africa both as a customer market and as a source of goods, rather than concentrating on established trading partners in Europe and the US. "To UK companies, ignore this market at at the peril of your business," he urged. South Africa remains the UK's largest trading partner on that continent, and Mr Heymans said UK imports from the country were worth approximately £7.5bn, with metals, agricultural products, and gold-related goods among the main categories. Speakers also highlighted opportunities in energy, critical minerals, electric vehicles, healthcare, and life sciences. Indeed, Mr Heymans reported double-digit growth in DHL's life sciences and healthcare business in the region, while engineering and manufacturing activity had declined. However, infrastructure deficits, customs barriers, regulatory differences, and limited connectivity continued to complicate trade, Mr Heymans warned. He said only 12% of African cities were connected by at least one commercial flight a week, underscoring the challenges facing companies seeking to expand manufacturing and distribution. DHL is looking to address some of these constraints through its existing network, which Mr Heymans said spanned every African country and territory. In sub-Saharan Africa, the company operates 12 dedicated aircraft, alongside road transport, facilities and other air connections. The executives stressed that businesses should not approach Africa as a single market, given the differences in languages, legal systems, currencies, and trade regulations. "Be specific to which countries in Africa you want to offer trade to," Mr Heymans said, and advised companies to identify markets and sectors best suited to their products before expanding. He also pointed to the African Continental Free Trade Area as an opportunity to boost intra-Africa commerce, arguing that implementation, infrastructure development, and greater confidence in locally produced goods would be essential to unlocking the continent's potential.