Emirates Airlines sees fall in garments export from Gujarat

The ongoing global turmoil has affected garment exports from Gujarat. Garment exports, which used to have a significant share in the total air cargo exports from the state, have now drastically fallen.

Emirates Airlines, that operates ten cargo flights carrying 150 tonne every week from Ahmedabad, had a 12% to 14% share of garments export in 2008-09. This has shrunk to a mere 3%. However, at the same time, the operator had witnessed a rise in the exports of herbs, vegetables, fruits, pharmaceutical, chemical and engineering products.

"It looks like the manufacturing of garments has shifted to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Thus, we have seen a drastic fall in the exports of garments from Gujarat. Earlier, a pair of jeans and other apparels, made in Gujarat, were exported to US and European markets. Now, this has fallen," said Mahendra Pokhriyal, cargo manager, Gujarat, Emirates Airlines.

However, the overall size of cargo shipment has not reduced. "On one side, garment exports have come down and on the other side, vegetables, in particular herbs and fruits have picked up momentum. Even the exports of pharmaceuticals, chemicals and engineering goods have increased," said Keki Patel, cargo manager for India & Nepal, Emirates Airlines.

Interestingly, the trade scene in India has seen a rise, while the global scene is either stable or declining. "In 2011, the trade didn't go on expected lines. On the average, the air freight has been growing at a rate of 6% to 6.5%. But due to the crisis in Europe and US, air freight growth globally remained stable throughout the year. Now in 2012, the situation has not changed yet. We expect some growth or increase in air freight as well as trade in the second half of the year," said Pradeep Kumar, senior vice-president, cargo, Emirates Airlines.

 According to Kumar, in Asia, India still witnessed growth in the trade, this year. "Earlier there used to be a double digit growth in the trade from India. However, the same in the previous year rose to 7%. As Nokia has aggressively started exporting telecommunication equipment, the export in this segment has seen a phenomenal rise. We have 185 departures of cargo flights every week that carry 13,000 tonnes per month in the country," said Kumar adding that in the second half of 2012, Emirates is expecting a slightly higher growth in trade from India to the world.