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An Emirates SkyCargo 747 freighter. The airline operates eight weekly freighter flights to Germany supporting a multi-billion dollar trade relationship between Germany and UAE. Image Credit: Supplied

Dubai: Dubai moved a little over 2.4 million tonnes of cargo traffic in 2014, enabling them to retain third position after South Korea and Hong Kong.

“We are looking at 4 million tonnes volumes by 2020, with an annual average growth rate of 6.7 per cent. Dubai would play a key role in cargo strategy,” Paul Griffiths, chief executive officer at Dubai Airports, told Gulf News.

About 24 cargo airlines currently operate out of DWC due to capacity constraints.

“Hong Kong and Korea has got huge manufacturing bases prompting traffic through there. I’m quietly optimistic that we would be able to achieve that growth projected,” said Griffiths.

The tonnage moved through Hong Kong during 12 months to September was 4.3 million tonnes, and through Seoul it was 2.46 million tonnes, he said.

December’s freight volumes decreased by 7 per cent with 202,836 tonnes passing through the facility compared to 218,138 tonnes recorded during the same month last year.