鄂州花湖机场迎来首个国际“咖啡豆航班”

Core Insights - The first international cargo flight carrying 66 tons of Ethiopian specialty coffee beans landed at Ezhou Huahu International Airport, marking a significant step in China-Africa cooperation and trade [1][3] Group 1: Ethiopian Coffee Industry - Ethiopia is a key player in the coffee market, being the birthplace of coffee and a major exporter, with coffee accounting for a significant portion of its foreign exchange earnings [3] - Approximately 25% of Ethiopia's population relies on coffee production for their livelihoods, highlighting the importance of this crop to the local economy [3] Group 2: Ezhou Huahu International Airport - Ezhou Huahu International Airport is recognized as the fourth largest cargo hub in the world and the first in Asia, facilitating rapid distribution of African products to the Chinese market [3] - The airport's efficient logistics system allows Ethiopian coffee beans to reach consumers across China the day after arrival, significantly reducing the previous shipping time of 25 to 30 days via traditional sea routes [3] Group 3: Ethiopian Airlines and Trade Growth - Ethiopian Airlines, the largest airline in Africa, has been operating the Ezhou to Addis Ababa route since February 2024, completing 248 flights and transporting over 12,000 tons of goods [6] - The airline plays a crucial role in enhancing trade between Africa and China by transporting Chinese manufactured goods to Africa while bringing African products like coffee and nuts to China [6] - Future plans include the establishment of an overseas cargo station in Addis Ababa to streamline logistics and reduce delivery times for cross-border e-commerce goods by 30% [6]