Hubei province recorded a year-on-year increase of 114 per cent in its trade cargo volume in the first five months of 2011 to 9.75m tonnes, Xinhua reported. Imports surged 154 per cent to 8.47m tonnes, while exports rose by a more modest 5 per cent to 1.28m tonnes.

The central Chinese province’s airports recorded an aircraft movement of 1,332 flights during this period, up 13.7 per cent.