Chongqing airport recorded a 53 per cent growth in import and export cargo volume to 2,702 tonnes in the first quarter of 2010, reported Xinhua. In terms of foreign trade cargo value, the airport registered a 19.7 per cent growth to US$170m.

Air cargo traffic is becoming increasingly important as more export-oriented manufacturers are setting up operations in the municipality. Last year, Canada was one of the main destinations for air cargo freight from Chongqing. According to Customs data sourced by the Canadian Consulate in Chongqing, the four largest product categories were organic chemicals, auto accessories, machinery and precision instruments.

Just one company, Chongqing Carelife Pharmaceutical, was responsible for US$8m of the US$9.6m-worth of products transported by air from Chongqing to Canada in 2009. The company specialises in active pharmaceutical ingredients. It was followed by Chongqing Qinan Mechanical & Electric Manufacturing, which makes auto accessories, Chongqing Sipat Electrical Machinery, Chongqing Hua Zuyuan Trading and Chongqing Xixi Pharmaceutical.