Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) – A cargo plane from Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, landed at Ezhou Huahu International Airport in Hubei Province, Asia's first dedicated cargo airport, on the evening of the 1st.
This is the first cargo flight from Africa to Ezhou to enjoy the zero-tariff policy since China implemented a zero-tariff policy on goods imported from 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations with China on May 1st this year.
The plane was loaded with African specialty products such as coffee beans, flowers, and fruits. These goods will be quickly shipped from Huahu Airport to various parts of China, allowing more high-quality African agricultural products to enter the Chinese market with the help of this policy.
On February 6, 2024, the Ezhou-Addis Ababa cargo route, operated by Ethiopian Airlines, was launched, becoming an important air corridor connecting Huahu Airport to the African continent. Huahu Airport continues to increase flight frequency and capacity. In 2025, the route will operate 4 to 7 flights per week, with nearly 200 flights throughout the year, and cargo volume exceeding 20,000 tons, a year-on-year surge of 215.9%. This year, the route will maintain 5 to 7 flights per week.
On April 14th this year, the Addis Ababa Overseas Cargo Terminal of Huahu Airport was officially opened, providing one-stop logistics services including warehousing, distribution, and transshipment, thus bridging the "last mile" of China-Africa cargo transportation. Since the beginning of this year, the total volume of imported goods transported via this route and relying on Huahu Airport has exceeded 2,500 tons, including salmon and grapes, making Huahu Airport an important hub for China-Africa fresh produce trade.
Ethiopian Airlines Group Chief Commercial Officer, Lema Yadecha Gudeta, stated that with the implementation of the zero-tariff policy and the development of the overseas cargo terminal, the volume of African exports to China is expected to increase significantly in 2027, and the value of the Addis Ababa Overseas Cargo Terminal of Huahu Airport as the primary entry hub for Central Africa to China will be fully realized.
Currently, Huahu Airport is collaborating with airlines to connect with Africa's unique foreign trade industries, providing customized charter flights and priority cargo space for local agricultural products, minerals, textiles, and other categories. Simultaneously, leveraging the benefits of the zero-tariff policy, it is continuously improving the customs clearance and distribution efficiency for fresh produce, pharmaceuticals, and high-value-added goods, flexibly allocating capacity according to trade volume, increasing the frequency of flights on major China-Africa routes as needed, and planning seasonal freight lines to continuously explore market growth potential. (End)
