Partners and guests of the airport, media representatives, got a chance to see the “Moscow Cargo” terminal, including visits to the reception and delivery departments, sorting, handling and storage of cargo, baggage loading areas for further transportation to the aircraft and by customers. During the tour, representatives of LLC “Moscow Cargo” also told the guests about the technical capabilities of the new terminal and demonstrated the operation of automated cargo handling and storage systems.

Cargo terminal "Moscow Cargo" is the largest cargo complex in Russia, the CIS and Eastern Europe with an area of 42,300 square meters. m, designed to handle 380 000 tons of cargo per year. The first stage of the cargo complex was commissioned in September 2017, the construction of the second stage is scheduled for 2021.

The terminal is equipped with modern warehouse equipment, including systems which are unique for Russia: an automated system for handling and storing goods on storage pallets and an automated processing system for packing facilities. The degree of automation of operations of the production cycle in the cargo terminal is 60%, which makes it possible to handle all types of cargo in the required amount efficiently, quickly and with the least possible cost.

The seven-tier system of storage and movement of cargo racks is designed to accommodate 3198 pallets. The cargo complex is equipped with a four-tier container storage zone with an automated ULD processing system (aircraft container) with a total capacity of 576 cells, including 60 cells, intended for the storage of ULD with temperature-sensitive cargo (t from +2 to + 8 ° С).

During the construction of the terminal, Sheremetyevo focused on the successful experience of world industry leaders, investing, first of all, in modern storage equipment and advanced IT solutions. The complex has 13 conveyor lines with access to the airfield, 29 points for receiving / issuing goods, two of which are designed to handle bulky cargo (including cars).

The cargo complex is equipped with all the necessary systems for handling cargo of special categories: 26 chambers with individually adjustable temperature conditions, a humidity control system and a gas fire extinguishing system in premises for valuable cargo, and soundproof rooms for animals. The terminal is capable of handling cargo of all hazard classes, including radioactive materials.

At the moment, LLC “Moscow Cargo” serves daily from 10 to 15 cargo flights and more than 500 passenger flights. As a result, the complex handles over 600 tons of shipments in 24 hours.

After the tour, the representatives of the Russian and Chinese sides held a joint press conference for airport guests and media representatives. The event was attended by the First Deputy General Director of MASH JSC Andrei Nikulin, First Deputy General Director - Production Director of Moscow Cargo LLC Mikhail Chuvilkin, Deputy Director of the Department of Asia, Africa and Latin America of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Alexey Meshkov, representative of the China Assistance Committee International Trade and the Chinese Chamber of International Trade in the Russian Federation, Mr. Xu Jinli, representatives of Sheremetyevo Customs, top managers of Chinese and companies and importers.

China is an important strategic partner of Russia. The trade turnover between Russia and the PRC grew by 28% in 2018 alone, exceeding a record high of 100 billion. Russia ranks first among China's ten largest trading partners in terms of turnover growth. The new cargo terminal "Sheremetyevo" is designed to meet growing demand in the market, to offer modern high-quality infrastructure for cargo handling and mail in Chinese destinations. During the construction of the terminal, the experience of leading enterprises of the global industry was taken into account. The use of automated systems of storage and cargo handling has reduced the processing time and cargo picking, improved its safety, made tracing transparent, and expanded the IT area of ​​interaction with customers and airlines. Taking into account the high growth rates of cargo turnover, it is already planned to build the second phase of the cargo terminal in 2021.

“Relations between Russia and China are developing very actively now. Last year we reached a record number - more than $ 100 billion. The most important thing in development is the regulation of freight traffic. Now not only shipments from China, but also Russian shipments to China are actively moving. Moreover, today Russia sells to China more than Russia buys from China. Now the main thing is the organisation and optimisation of cargo transportation between our countries, and especially the air transportation in the modern terminal “Moscow Cargo”, which is not only the best and most modern in Sheremetyevo, but also in our country as a whole. And that is why Russia proposes to actively use this terminal to increase the flow of goods and to increase interaction between Russia and China in the area of ​​“one belt, one path,” said Alexey Maslov, head of the HSE School of Oriental Studies, at the presentation.

“Everything that we do is undoubtedly made to improve the quality of service for our airlines, for the quality of service for our passengers and cargo. In 2019, we received the highest rating of passenger service - 5 stars Skytrax. We were allowed to do this by investing in the development of the airport over several years. Now we have the most modern terminal in Russia: automated, with the ability to pass up to 380 thousand tons of cargo per year. We are the only airport in Europe that serves 8 Chinese airlines. Already, 19 flight directions to China from our airport are open. In 2018, our passenger traffic growth in the Chinese destinations was 14% - about 2 million 360 thousand Chinese passengers flew in and flew away from us. The growth of transfer passenger traffic in our country grew by 12% and amounted to 1 million 200 thousand passengers. We hope that passenger and cargo traffic will develop. We are doing everything possible for this - the first to join the China Friendly program. We understand the needs of airlines and are ready to fully meet them, ”- Andrey Nikulin.

“For the Ministry of Industry and Trade it was extremely important to support Sheremetyevo Airport in its work to attract foreign customers and partners. We consider this cargo terminal as a serious practical tool for establishing our trade and economic ties. Despite a slight drop in our turnover in 2015 and 2016, it was fully restored in 2017. I would like to celebrate the year 2018, in which our trade exceeded $ 100 billion, reaching $ 108 billion. Certainly, the development of our trade tools will be important in the future, and it’s important to note the importance and quality of air transportation service, ”- said Alexey Meshkov.

“The tasks of my organisation include, inter alia, increasing bilateral trade turnover. It must be said that trade is an important and integral part of the process of trade and economic cooperation between our countries. It is precisely due to the increase in the volume of commodity circulation that the volume of bilateral trade rises. Last year, we really reached a new level of mutual trade, and this is very important. Therefore, under these conditions, I can say that cargo transportation and bilateral cooperation are actively developing, ”- Xu Jinli stressed.

“Our organisation is engaged in the development of business relations between Russia and Asian countries. Our main strategic partner and partner of Russia is China. We are engaged in attracting Chinese partners for Russia and helping our business to work in China. It is very important that “Moscow Cargo” shows us its capabilities and great achievements. We will recommend “Moscow Cargo” to our partners and our members for cooperation, ”- said President of the Russian-Asian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Vitaly Mankevich at the presentation.

“In our cargo complex we are using modern technologies and equipment.When designing the terminal, all global trends were taken into account. The big advantage of our terminal is the availability of space for processing express products. Today, the main requirement of customers is speed. Speed ​​gives advantages in the market. This is not just a cargo warehouse - it is a comprehensive solution due to the work of the IT system, equipment and personnel. Not only speed appears - the quality of processing increases, each parameter is fixed in the process of cargo handling, the client can see how much time the cargo is unloaded from the aircraft, there is transparency and controllability of processes The new infrastructure allows us to fully meet the high demands of our customers and even exceed their expectations ” - said Mikhail Chuvilkin at the presentation.

Successful growth of commodity turnover is possible only if there is a developed transport infrastructure that allows you to maintain and promote the growth of imports of goods. Keeping for many years unconditional leadership among Russian airports in terms of cargo turnover, MASH JSC pays great attention to the development of freight traffic and increasing the attractiveness of the airport as an international cargo hub. In the framework of this task in the period from 2014 to 2018. A lot of work has been done to develop airport cargo infrastructure and improve the quality of customer and airline service. By making large-scale investments in the development of infrastructure for handling cargo and mail in Chinese destinations, increasing production capacity and improving the quality of customer and airline service, Sheremetyevo International Airport not only creates favourable conditions for Chinese airlines and importers on the Russian market, but also contributes to further successful the growth of trade between Russia and China. Imports of goods from China to Sheremetyevo grew by more than 40%, exports by 26%. Sheremetyevo is confidently leading the Moscow aviation hub market, occupying a share of 47.12% in terms of passengers and 62.79% in terms of cargo.