African airlines report a 4.7 percent, year on year rise in demand for air cargo transport.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) in the recently released data for June 2026 global air cargo markets shows that total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTK), increased by 8.5 percent compared to the same period in June 2025 (9.6% for international operations).

Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTK), increased by 4.4 percent compared to June 2025 (4.9 percent for international operations).

“Air cargo demand grew 8.5 percent year-on-year in June. While North America was the strongest contributor to growth, demand in all regions was in positive territory compared to last year.

Demand growth outpaced capacity at the global level and in all regions except Latin America and the Caribbean,” said the Director General of IATA, Willie Walsh.

“Demand also grew faster than global trade, supported by high-value technology products, and urgent shipments. While this all gives strong reasons for optimism in the second half of 2026, risks remain—continuing hostilities in the Middle East and a renewed focus on tariffs by the US among them,” Walsh added.

On the other hand, Global trade increased by 5.2 percent year-on-year.

Jet fuel prices fell by 20 percent month-on-month in June but remained 45.8 percent above year-earlier levels.

Global manufacturing activity eased slightly in June but remained supportive, while export orders weakened.

The Global Manufacturing Output Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell 0.5 points to 53.0, while the New Export Orders Index remained below the 50-mark for a fourth consecutive month at 49.4.

This suggests that air cargo growth was driven by specific trade flows rather than a broad-based increase in global exports.

June Regional Performance

Asia-Pacific airlines saw a 7.9 percent year-on-year growth in air cargo demand in June.

Capacity increased by 4.3 percent year-on-year.

North American carriers saw a 13.1 percent year-on-year increase in air cargo demand in June, the strongest performance of all regions.

Capacity increased by 6.2 percent year-on-year.

European carriers saw a 6.9 percent year-on-year increase in demand for air cargo in June.

Capacity increased by 3.7 percent year-on-year.

Middle Eastern carriers saw a 5.6% year-on-year increase in demand for air cargo in June.

Capacity increased by 2.5 percent year-on-year.

While the results for the month were in growth territory, they are skewed to the positive as the comparison is to June 2025 which was particularly weak for carriers in the Middle East as a result of disruptions due to military conflict.

Latin American and Caribbean carriers saw a 3.5 percent year-on-year increase in demand for air cargo in June, the weakest performance of all regions.

Capacity increased by 9.8 percent year-on-year.

African airlines saw a 4.7 percent year-on-year increase in demand for air cargo in June.

Capacity decreased by -7.1 percent year-on-year. 

Trade Lane Growth

Air cargo performance diverged across major trade lanes in June. Asia–North America recorded the strongest growth, followed by Within Asia, Europe–Asia, and Africa–Asia. In contrast, Gulf-linked corridors remained disrupted by the conflict in the Middle East