Cargo throughput at Hong Kong International Airport grew to 3.58 million tonnes last year from 2.07 million in 2001, seeing it retain its position as the world's premier cargo-handling airport.

According to the October 2007 issue of the Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics published today by the Census & Statistics Department, growth was mainly contributed to outward air cargo which rose by 1.1 million tonnes to 2.28 million.

Over the same period inward air cargo grew by 406,000 tonnes to 1.3 million.

The report also carries two other features - Comparing Hong Kong's International Investment Position with Selected Economies 2006, and Chain Volume Measures of Hong Kong's Gross Domestic Product.