KUALA LUMPUR: Air cargo traffic within Asia is expected to grow by nearly 6% annually over the next 20 years, driven by manufacturing diversification, e-commerce expansion and rising demand for high-value technology products, according to Boeing.

Boeing managing director of marketing for Asia Pacific Dave Schultz said intra-Asia cargo movements would remain an important growth driver for the regional aviation industry as manufacturers increasingly diversify production across different markets.

“What is also interesting is intra-Asia traffic. We are forecasting over the next 20 years intra-Asia to continue to expand in the air cargo market by almost 6% each year,” he said during a presentation on Boeing’s commercial market outlook at the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines’ (AAPA) 70th Assembly of Presidents here today.