CSMIA international cargo up 17% in 2024 on pharma, auto push

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) capped off 2024 on a high note, with international cargo volumes increasing 17 percent.

CSMIA’s cargo terminal in Mumbai achieved growth across both international and domestic cargo categories, says an official release. "In March 2024, the cargo operations set a new milestone by handling a record-breaking 60,659 tonnes of international cargo, underscoring its strategic significance and operational excellence."

CSMIA now serves 687 international destinations, including new destinations such as Tripoli, Khabarovsk, Kaliningrad, Zhukovsky, Tyumen, Damascus, Honinabi and Chisinau, the release added. International cargo volumes at CSMIA were split between 55 percent of exports and 45 percent of imports with London, Frankfurt, Chicago, Dubai and Amsterdam emerging as the top global destinations.

"Pharmaceuticals, agro products and automobile goods emerged as key drivers, recording year-on-year increases of 24 percent, 22 percent and 20 percent, respectively."

On the domestic front, automobile goods led the surge with a 31 percent growth, followed by engineering goods (22 percent) and post office mail (15 percent). "The festive season further amplified the e-commerce boom, with international shipments witnessing a 53 percent growth and domestic e-commerce goods achieving an 11 percent increase. Agricultural exports also reached new heights, with mango shipments hitting approximately 4,700 tonnes."

CSMIA's cargo operations were bolstered by the addition of six new cargo airlines in 2024, including Kenya Airways, SF Airlines and SolitAir, the release added. "The year also saw key infrastructure enhancement, including the installation of a 10 tonne weighing scale in the export section and the renovation of the main gate with advanced security and vehicle management systems, enhancing operational efficiency and safety."

Mumbai Airport is managed by Adani Airport Holdings (AAHL), a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises, the flagship company of the Adani Group. Mumbai Airport is a public-private partnership venture between AAHL, holding a majority stake of 74 percent and the Airports Authority of India, holding the remaining 26 percent.