India's Mumbai Airport handled 13,336 tons of air cargo imports in November, a 32 per cent rise compared to the same month in 2005, The Economic Times of India reported quoting official statistics.

However, exports from the western Indian airport slumped 1.9 per cent in the same month over last year, to 12,405 tons.

On the import side, Air India was tops with 1,925 tons handled in November, a rise of 24 per cent over the same month in 2005, followed by Cathay Pacific with 1,407 tons, representing a staggering 164 per cent year-on-year growth due to the increase number of flights to China from August 2006.

The report said Singapore Airlines came in third, with 1,376 tons, up 19 per cent and Lufthansa was fourth with 1,020 tons, up 20 per cent.

In all cases, high industrial activity and demand for materials resulted in rising imports cargo tonnage. With China-India opening up to trade with each other, imports of machines, tools, garments, raw material, samples are rising exponentially, which has benefited Cathay Pacific as the largest Hong Kong/ China-based carrier.

Air India was the top carrier in exports out of Mumbai, with 2,424 tons carried in November 2006 up 1 per cent. In the year 2005-06, it held 18 per cent market share of air exports from Mumbai, which has already moved up to 19.5 per cent in November last year. Taking second slot was Emirates, with 1,176 tons, up 4 per cent over November 2005.