Geneva – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released data for global air cargo markets in April 2025, highlighting significant growth:
Total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs), increased by 5.8% compared to April 2024 (+6.5% for international operations).
Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTKs), grew by 6.3% year-on-year (+6.9% for international operations).
"Air cargo demand experienced robust growth in April, with volumes up 5.8% compared to the previous year, building on March’s solid performance. Seasonal demand for fashion and consumer goods—driven by front-loading ahead of U.S. tariff changes—and declining jet fuel prices have contributed to this boost. With available capacity reaching record levels and yields improving, the air cargo outlook remains positive. However, ongoing shifts in trade policy, especially in the U.S., are reshaping demand and export dynamics. Airlines must stay agile as these trends evolve over the coming months," said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
Key Factors Influencing the Operating Environment
World Industrial Production: Year-on-year, global industrial production rose by 3.2% in March. Air cargo growth outpaced global goods trade, which increased by 6.5% month-on-month.
Jet Fuel Prices: Prices dropped 21.2% year-on-year and 4.1% month-on-month, marking the third consecutive monthly decrease.
Global Manufacturing PMI: The index rose to 50.5 in April, signaling expansion for the fourth consecutive month. However, the PMI for new export orders fell 2.8 points to 47.2, remaining below the growth threshold of 50.
Detailed Air Cargo Market Performance – April 2025
| Region | % World Share | CTK YoY Growth | ACTK YoY Growth | Load Factor Change (%-pt) | Load Factor (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Market | 100% | +5.8% | +6.3% | -0.2 | 43.9 |
| Africa | 2.0% | +4.7% | +9.7% | -2.0 | 41.6 |
| Asia-Pacific | 34.2% | +10.0% | +9.4% | +0.3 | 44.8 |
| Europe | 21.5% | +2.9% | +3.3% | -0.2 | 51.9 |
| Latin America | 2.9% | +10.1% | +8.5% | +0.6 | 39.0 |
| Middle East | 13.6% | +2.3% | +5.5% | -1.3 | 43.5 |
| North America | 25.8% | +4.2% | +4.6% | -0.2 | 38.6 |
Regional Performance Highlights
Asia-Pacific: Demand grew by 10.0%, with capacity up 9.4% year-on-year.
North America: Demand increased by 4.2%, while capacity rose 4.6% year-on-year.
Europe: Recorded a 2.9% rise in demand and a 3.3% increase in capacity.
Middle East: Posted a 2.3% growth in demand, the lowest among regions, with capacity up by 5.5%.
Latin America: Experienced the highest demand growth at 10.1%, with capacity increasing by 8.5%.
Africa: Demand rose by 4.7%, while capacity expanded 9.7% year-on-year.
Trade Lane Analysis
| Trade Lane | YoY growth | Notes | Market share of industry* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asia-North America | +1.9% | 2 consecutive months of growth | 24.4% |
| Europe-Asia | +11.3% | 26 consecutive months of growth | 20.5% |
| Europe-Middle East | -4.6% | 5.7% | |
| Middle East-Asia | +6.7% | 2 consecutive months of growth | 7.3% |
| Within Asia | +10.0% | 18 consecutive months of growth | 7.0% |
| Europe-North America | +9.6% | 15 consecutive months of growth | 13.3% |
| Africa-Asia | -7.9% | 1.4% | |
| Within Europe | -8.8% | 2.0% |
(*Market share is based on full-year 2024 CTKs.)
Conclusion
April 2025 marked another month of encouraging growth for global air cargo markets, with rising demand fueled by strong seasonal factors and declining operational costs. Despite favorable developments, challenges persist, including trade policy shifts and fluctuating export dynamics. Airlines must remain adaptive to navigate the evolving market landscape effectively.
Air cargo traffic to and from the Middle East & South Asia (MESA) has fallen sharply in the last two weeks due to the effects of Eid Al-Adha holidays and the escalating conflict...
President Trump’s recent visit to the Middle East marks a strategic shift toward commercial diplomacy, prioritizing economic initiatives over traditional political engagement....
Global supply chains continued to display signs of slack in May 2025, as trade friction and tariffs reshaped procurement strategies across key regions. According to the GEP...
Businesses reliant on goods manufactured in the US and China are beginning to see relief in global supply chain bottlenecks as the world’s two largest economies reached a...
Global air freight rates increased marginally last week, according to the latest data from the TAC Index. The global Baltic Air Freight Index recorded a 0.4% rise in the week...
The second quarter of 2025 has brought significant disruptions to global freight markets, with U.S. trade policies intensifying volatility in both ocean and air cargo sectors.
In recent years, airlines prioritized the soaring demand for e-commerce shipments on trans-Pacific and Asia-Europe routes, often at the expense of traditional general air...
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), global air cargo traffic, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTKs), increased by 5.8% year-on-year in April...
The air cargo market has witnessed a significant increase in the volume of laptops transported from Vietnam to the U.S. in recent months, as highlighted by recent data from...
After rebounding in the latter part of May, air cargo tonnages from China and Hong Kong to the US dropped back sharply in the first full week of June, according to the latest...
ALS