Air Cargo Demand of African Airlines Up by 9.4% in July 2025, According to IATA
The global air cargo market experienced a significant surge in demand in July 2025, according to the latest data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Globally, total demand measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTK) rose by 5.5% compared to July 2024. This growth was driven by strong performances across various regions, with Asia-Pacific carriers leading the way with an impressive 11.1% increase in air cargo demand.
In Latin America, air cargo demand saw a 2.4% increase in July 2025, with a 3.8% increase in capacity. The Europe-Asia corridor expanded by 13.5%, extending a 29-month growth streak. Europe-Asia routes expanded by the same percentage in July 2025, marking the 29th consecutive month of gains.
The Middle East-Asia corridor climbed 8.5% with five months of steady growth, while the North America-Europe lane grew by 9.6% after 18 months of continuous gains. However, North America delivered the weakest result with a 0.7% growth in air cargo demand in July 2025.
African airlines recorded a 9.4% year-on-year increase in air cargo demand in July 2025, despite a 0.1% decrease in cargo capacity compared to the same month last year. Africa-Asia traffic delivered a robust 12.1% increase, though it represented just 1.4% of global volumes.
Asia-North America volumes fell 1.0% in July 2025 due to the US ending de minimis exemptions on small e-commerce shipments. The Asia-North America route contracted by 1.0%, marking its third consecutive monthly decline.
In contrast, demand within Asia rose by 10.3%, supported by 21 straight months of expansion. Middle Eastern carriers grew by 2.6% in air cargo demand in July 2025, while capacity increased by 5.9%.
Interestingly, airlines in the regional markets with the strongest growth rates in air cargo development in 2025 are not explicitly detailed in available sources. However, Fraport's international airport holdings, including Ljubljana Airport, recorded significantly higher growth rates in passenger and cargo traffic compared to their Frankfurt home base, which saw a 3.7% increase in cargo volume in July 2025, indicating strong regional growth in those markets.
Finally, European airlines recorded a 4.1% increase in air cargo demand in July 2025. International operations for air cargo demand increased by 6.0%, with available cargo capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTK), growing by 3.9%.
This surge in global air cargo demand is a positive sign for the recovery of the aviation industry, as it indicates a strong rebound in international trade and economic activity. As we move forward, it will be interesting to see how these trends continue to develop and what challenges and opportunities they may bring.
