Staff Writer
Global air cargo demand reached a record level in 2025, according to full-year and December data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Full-year demand in 2025, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres, rose by 3.4% compared to 2024. International operations recorded higher growth of 4.2%.
Cargo capacity increased by 3.7% over the same period, with international capacity up by 5.1%.
December 2025 closed the year on a strong note. Global demand was 4.3% higher than in December 2024, while international demand rose by 5.5%.
Global capacity increased by 4.5%, with international capacity up by 6.4%.
IATA reported that full-year cargo yields fell by 1.5% year on year. This marked the smallest decline in three years as supply and demand moved closer to balance and the elevated yields seen during and after Covid-19 continued to ease. Despite the decline, yields remained 37.2% above 2019 levels.
“Air cargo delivered a strong performance in 2025, with demand up 3.4% year-on-year. Global e-commerce strength drove volumes, even as trading relationships with the US faced rising tariffs, the removal of de minimis tariff exemptions, and continuing policy uncertainty. Air cargo rose to the occasion. It adapted quickly to support global businesses and supply chains as they front-loaded product deliveries ahead of tariff impositions and adjusted to rising demand within Asia and between Asia and Europe as US-Asia trade stagnated,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general.
“Growth in 2026 is expected to moderate slightly to 2.4%, in line with historical trends. We can expect that demand will continue to be shaped by trade and geopolitical developments. Whatever trading patterns emerge, we can be confident that reliance on air cargo to keep global supply chains running will remain, with carriers responding to the challenge by deploying capacity and designing their networks for optimum flexibility,” Walsh said.
IATA noted that global trade in goods grew by 2.5% in 2024. From January to November 2025, trade expanded by 4.4%, compared to 2.4% over the same period in 2024.
Jet fuel prices fell by 3.1% in December and averaged 9.1% lower in 2025 than in 2024. However, higher crack spreads allowed refiners to capture more margin, reducing the benefit for airlines.
Global manufacturing sentiment strengthened to 50.9 in December. New export orders slipped to 49.1, remaining below the expansion threshold amid ongoing tariff uncertainty.
Asia-Pacific airlines recorded the strongest performance in 2025, with air cargo demand rising by 8.4% year on year. Capacity increased by 7.4%. In December, demand grew by 9.4% and capacity by 8.3%.
North American carriers recorded a 1.3% decline in air cargo demand in 2025, the weakest performance among regions. Capacity fell by 1.1%. In December, demand declined by 2.2% and capacity by 2.6%.
European carriers saw demand growth of 2.9% in 2025, while capacity increased by 3.1%. December demand rose by 4.9% and capacity by 3.9%.
Middle Eastern carriers recorded marginal demand growth of 0.3% in 2025, with capacity up by 4.5%.
December demand increased by 4.2%, while capacity rose by 10.6%.
Latin American and Caribbean carriers saw demand growth of 2.3% in 2025 and capacity growth of 4.5%. December demand declined by 4.1%, the weakest monthly performance among regions, while capacity increased by 4.5%.
African airlines recorded demand growth of 6.0% in 2025, with capacity rising by 7.8%.
December demand increased by 10.1%, the strongest performance across all regions, while capacity grew by 9.8%.
Caption
Full-year air cargo demand in 2025 increased by 3.4% compared to 2024, according to IATA.
- Photo: Contributed
