"W
hat happens in
Africa matters for
Europe, and what
happens in Europe
matters for Africa. Our partnership is an
investment in our shared future. It is a
partnership of equals in which we support
each other, help each other to prosper
and make the world a safer, more stable
and more sustainable place to live." This
is what Jean-Claude Juncker, president
of the European Commission had to say
about the EU-Africa trade relations at
the 5th African Union-European Union
Summit EU-Africa in Abidjan, Côte
d'Ivoire in November 2017.
When it comes to air cargo, Europe has
been Africa’s primary partner. It is one
of the oldest routes in African air cargo
which started connecting the African
countries with their respective colonial
powers. Based on the region’s air trade
and airport statistics, the Africa-Europe
market accounts for approximately 2.
percent of the world’s air cargo tonnage,
Europe accounts for nearly 60 percent of
African cargo and commands the majority
of Africa’s international air trade largely
because of its proximity and longstanding
historical and investment ties.
This trade lane being fairly mature and
overtraded, the challenge lies in maintaining
yields. While perishables like flower, fruits,
vegetables and leather products are mainly
exported from Africa to the European
Union, on the import side, high value goods
such as pharmaceutical and consumer
electronics are seeing good growth.
“Currently, the export items from Africa
are temperature controlled cargo like
perishables like flower, fruits, vegetables
and leather products to some extent. On the
import side from Europe the main project
are cargo for government and other projects
like oil exploration, hydro-electric power
and other infrastructural developments.
There is also significant amount of
pharmaceutical and consumer electronics,
JAN - FEB 2018 LUA 5
Photo: Lufthansa Cargo
