First regular cargo route to South America opens

Shenzhen airport opened a cargo route with Sao Paulo, Brazil, the first regular cargo route to South America, with a full Boeing 747 cargo flight carrying 100 tonnes of freight, which left the city Sunday.

The flight, operated by U.S. Atlas Airlines, mainly carried general trade commodity products collected by Cainiao International Express from Shenzhen and neighboring cities. Upon arrival, the freight will be distributed through Cainiao’s intelligent service center in Sao Paulo to households and consumers in Brazil within a week.

Airport and airline staff pose for a photo with a banner marking the opening of the Shenzhen-Sao Paulo cargo route at the Shenzhen airport Sunday. Courtesy of the airport authority

The route will operate twice a week and is an auxiliary project under the cooperation of Shenzhen airport and Cainiao. The two parties signed an agreement yesterday to inaugurate Cainiao’s first air cargo center in China. The center will be officially put into operation within the month.

The route will enhance connection between Shenzhen and South America and help cross-border e-commerce enterprises from Shenzhen expand to South American markets, promote trade among BRIC countries and assist in global supply chain stability.

Customs data showed the trade between China and Latin America reached US$485.8 billion in 2022, a new historic record. Brazil is China’s biggest business partner in South America.

“We hope to have more high-quality products and commodities with high-added value from Brazil to enter the Chinese market through the direct cargo flight service,” Frederico S. Duque Estrada Meyer, Brazilian consul general in Guangzhou, said at the agreement signing ceremony yesterday.

Cainiao International Express’ Shenzhen Air Cargo Center is the first project operating at the airport’s e-commerce yard area. The customized yard, covering 40,000 square meters, is dedicated to cross-border e-commerce. The yard operates 24 hours a day, and the airport has signed agreements with DHL, SF Express, Cainiao and Yun Express to build the area into a world-leading cross-border parcel collection and distribution center.

Shenzhen airport’s air parcel and cargo turnover reached 334,00 tonnes in the first quarter this year. The growth of its international cargo turnover also took the lead among major Chinese airports.