HONG KONG, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Cargo throughput at Hong Kong International Airport topped the world at 3.63 million tons in 2008, followed by Seoul, Tokyo, Paris and Frankfurt, according to the latest Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics issued by the Census and Statistics Department on Wednesday.

    The trade value of the air cargo proportion of overall total trade value rose to 35 percent last year from 30 percent in 2003, showing the growing importance of the airfreight industry in Hong Kong.

    Compared to the 2.64 million tons recorded in 2003, last year's figure showed an average annual growth rate of 7 percent, which was higher than the 3 percent average annual growth rate for the total cargo throughput over the same period.

    The growth was mainly due to outward air cargo which rose from 1.61 million tons in 2003 to 2.3 million tons last year, with an average annual growth rate of 7 percent. Over the same period inward air cargo grew by 0.29 million tons from 1.04 million tons to 1.33 million tons, with an average annual growth rate of 5 percent.

    Air cargo throughput recorded year-on-year increases of 8 percent and 5 percent in the first and second quarters of 2008. Amid the global economic downturn, air cargo throughput amounted to 790,000 tons in the second quarter, down 17 percent on the same period last year.

    Outward and inward cargo in the second quarter recorded year-on- year decreases of 20 percent and 12 percent.