- African airlines recorded a 9.4% rise in air cargo demand in July
- The Africa-Asia trade lane delivered a 12.1% jump, making it a top-performing market
African airlines posted a 9.4% year-on-year increase in air cargo demand in July, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), even as capacity contracted marginally by 0.1%.
Linden Birns, Public Relations Adviser to IATA, said the rise underscores the role of air cargo as a key barometer of economic and trade activity.
“The air cargo market is a solid indicator of economic performance and trade. Items typically transported by air include high-value, low-weight goods like smartphones, IT components, pharmaceuticals, gems, jewellery, some automotive components, perishables such as cut flowers, fruits and meats,” Birns said.
Africa-Asia trade lane leads growth
The Africa-Asia route continued to shine as one of the world’s top performers, with a 12.1% year-on-year increase in traffic. The lane now represents 2.0% of the global air cargo market.
Globally, air cargo demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTKs), rose 5.5% in July compared with the same month last year. Available capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometres (ACTKs), increased by 3.9%.
IATA Director General Willie Walsh hailed the result.
“Air cargo demand grew 5.5% in July, a strong result,” Walsh said. “Most major trade lanes reported growth with one significant exception, Asia-North America, where demand was down 1.0% year-on-year.”
Walsh noted that a sharp decline in e-commerce following the expiry of US de minimis exemptions on small shipments was partly offset by shippers moving goods ahead of new tariffs.
Global trade shifts in focus
Walsh cautioned that August data may better capture the effects of shifting US trade policies.
“While much attention is rightly being focused on developments in markets connected to the US, it is important to keep a broad perspective on the global network,” he said. “A fifth of air cargo travels on the Europe-Asia trade lane, which marked 29 months of consecutive expansion with 13.5% year-on-year growth in July.”
IATA, which represents some 350 airlines and more than 80% of global air traffic, reported the following regional shares of cargo traffic (CTKs):
Asia-Pacific: 34.2%
Europe: 21.5%
North America: 25.7%
Middle East: 13.6%
Latin America: 2.9%
Africa: 2.0%
