The cargo throughput at Dubai Cargo Village (DCV) is likely to cross 1.8 million tonnes in 2008, said a top official.

Ali Al Jallaf, vice president, cargo - Dubai Airports, said the DCV had been consistently achieving year-on-year double-digit growth since it was established in 1991.

“DCV handled a total of 1.66 million tonnes of freight in 2007 when compared to just over 1.5 million tonnes in 2006, posting an increase of 10.96 per cent,” he noted.

“November and December were the busiest months in 2007 in terms of tonnage with 149,527 and 147,754 tonnes of freight respectively, while February recorded the highest growth over the corresponding period in 2006, at 17.31 per cent,” he added.

Import, export and transhipment constituted 1.59 million tonnes of the total figure in 2007 while mail and courier rose by 53 per cent over 2006 contributing 77,765 tonnes, he added.

Jallaf said the facility was intrinsically connected to Dubai's economy, and reflected the rise of Dubai as the region’s business hub.

'Cargo has enjoyed exceptional growth right from the first year the facility was established over a decade and half ago, and has been limited, to certain extent, by available capacity. Soon with the completion of the expansion works in the Cargo Mega Terminal, I am certain there will be a further spurt in growth of cargo in Dubai,' he added.

Abdullah Bin Khediya, DCV senior general manager expressed satisfaction with the double-digit growth.

'Dubai Cargo Village was ranked 11th on ACI's list of the world's cargo centres last year, up from the rank 61 we occupied on that very list a decade and a half ago. We expect cargo tonnage at DCV to continue growing at the current rate, transforming Dubai from a regional centre to a global hub for cargo and logistics.' –TradeArabia News Service