International air cargo volumes across Asia Pacific continued to rise in June, as regional airlines reported a 5.6% year-on-year increase in freight tonne kilometres (FTKs), according to preliminary figures released by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA).
The growth reflects a rebound in global manufacturing activity—particularly in consumer goods and intermediate products—alongside ongoing front-loading of shipments and route adjustments in response to global trade uncertainties.
Freight capacity also rose, increasing by 7.1% compared with June 2024. However, this outpaced demand growth and resulted in a slight 0.8 percentage point dip in the average international freight load factor, which stood at 62.1% for the month.
Subhas Menon, AAPA Director General, said: “International air cargo demand remains resilient, growing by 6% year-on-year over the first half of 2025.
“Strong demand for e-commerce fulfilment and time-critical shipments continues to support the sector, even as global trade faces multiple headwinds.”
Passenger traffic across the region also grew, though at a moderated pace. Asia Pacific carriers transported 31.2 million international passengers in June—a 7.1% increase year-on-year.
Revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) rose 8.0%, with seat capacity climbing by 8.5%. The average passenger load factor edged down 0.4 percentage points to 81.7%.
Menon noted that Asia Pacific airlines carried 190.5 million international passengers in the first six months of 2025—up 12% on the same period last year—demonstrating the underlying strength of the region’s economies.
However, he warned that inflationary pressures, driven in part by the growing introduction of tariffs, may weigh on future demand for both cargo and travel.
“The moderation in business confidence reflects wider concerns over the global economic outlook,” said Menon.
“Asia Pacific carriers remain alert to these pressures and are responding by adapting capacity, controlling costs, and exploring new market opportunities.”
With summer holiday demand expected to buoy passenger traffic in the near term, the cargo outlook remains more measured, shaped by volatile trade conditions and geopolitical uncertainties that continue to redefine global supply chains.
Source: https://caasint.com/asia-pacific-air-cargo-volumes-continue-upward-trend/
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