Air cargo demand rises by over three percent in January

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for January 2025 global air cargo markets, revealing a rise in total demand by 3.2% compared to January 2024 levels. This marks the 18th consecutive month of growth.

Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTK), increased by 6.8% compared to January 2024.

“January marked 18 consecutive months of growth for air cargo, but the month’s 3.2% year-on-year growth is a moderation from double-digit peaks in 2024,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. “While external factors such as trade growth, declining fuel costs and expanding e-commerce remain positive for air cargo, it is important to closely watch the evolution of market conditions at this time. “

Several factors in the operating environment were noted:

– Industrial production rose 2.6% in December.
– Global goods trade grew for a ninth consecutive month with a 3.3% increase in December.
– The Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for global manufacturing output was above the growth threshold at 50.62.
– Consumer inflation increased slightly in the US and Europe to 3.0% and 2.8% respectively; Chinese consumer inflation rebounded to 0.5%.

Regional Performance:

– Asia-Pacific airlines saw a7 .5 %year-on-year demand growthforaircargoinJanuary ,withcapacityincreasingby10 .9 %.

– NorthAmerican carriersreported5 .3 %year-on-year demandgrowth ,withcapacityupby7 .5 %.

– Europeancarriersexperienced1 .3 %year-on-year demandgrowth ,withcapacityrisingby3 .5 %.

– MiddleEastern carriersfacedan8 .4 %decreaseindemand—the slowestamongregions—withcapacitydownby1 .2 %.

– LatinAmerican carriersrecordedan11 .2 %increaseindemand—the strongestgrowthamongregions—withcapacityupby10 .6 %.

– Africanairlinessawadecreaseof3 .4 %indemand ,whilecapacityincreasedby5 .4 %.

Trade Lane Growth:Most international routes experienced growth in January:

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