April Sees a 5.8% Increase in Air Cargo Demand
The global air cargo market experienced a notable rise in demand during April 2025 compared to the previous year, influenced by various economic factors.
Air Cargo Demand up 5.8% in April
Total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTK), rose by 5.8% compared to April 2024 levels (+6.5% for international operations).
Air Cargo
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data showing that air cargo demand grew robustly in April with a year-on-year increase of 5.8%. Factors such as seasonal demand for fashion and consumer goods, along with reduced jet fuel prices, have contributed to this upward trend. Despite positive growth, ongoing trade policy changes, especially in the US, are expected to influence future demand.
Key Points:
- Industrial Production: Increased by 3.2% year-on-year in March.
- Jet Fuel Prices: Dropped 21.2% compared to last year.
- PMI: The global manufacturing PMI rose to 50.5, indicating growth situational, but new export orders decreased.
Regional Performance:
- Asia-Pacific: 10% demand growth.
- North America: 4.2% demand growth.
- Europe: 2.9% demand growth.
- Middle East: 2.3% increase in demand.
- Latin America: 10.1% growth, the highest among all regions.
- Africa: 4.7% demand increase.
Summary:
All international routes showed growth in April, excluding a few specific routes like Middle East-Europe. Airlines must stay flexible in response to ongoing trade policy shifts.
