Growth rates in the global airfreight market will start to pick up again in 2004. That is the conclusion reached by Lufthansa Cargo in its latest market survey "planet Trends & Forecasts". Following the dips in growth in the past three years, the industry will be able to return to the growth rates of the late 90s, the company predicts. Since the air cargo industry is an early indicator of international economic trends, the forecast carries great weight, and not only in the air transport sector.

The projected 5.9 per cent increase in tonnage in the international air cargo market in 2004 is based on the continuing strong expansion of the Asian market and the gradual economic recovery in North America.

The forecasts are part of a comprehensive market survey by Lufthansa Cargo which will be published for the third year running as a special edition of the company's customer magazine "planet".

The market survey is divided into several sections: short-term developments in the air cargo market, medium and long-term developments until 2010, also presented according to individual economic regions; an assessment of market trends for various categories of goods, such as machinery parts, computers and textiles; an analysis of the market segments General Cargo, Express Cargo and Special Cargo, and trends in average yields.

Lufthansa Cargo anticipates above-average growth, particularly in intra-Asian and trans-Pacific traffic. The reasons are China's accession to the WTO, Asia's gigantic internal market and entrepreneurial activity in this region combined with attractive conditions and the trend towards greater outsourcing to Asia.

The special edition "planet Trends & Forecasts / Global Airfreight Outlook" was pre pared in conjunction with the US consultancy firm Merge Global Inc. (MGI) and is published annually as a regular service for customers and partners.