The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released global air cargo market data for September 2025. According to the report, total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTKs), increased by 2.9% compared to the same period last year. This growth was recorded as 3.2% for international operations.
Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometres (ACTKs), rose by 3.0% (+4.4% for international operations). Thus, the sector maintained a positive growth trend for the seventh consecutive month.
Commenting on the results, IATA’s Director General Willie Walsh said:
“In September, air cargo demand rose by 2.9% year-on-year, marking the seventh consecutive month of growth. Behind this performance lies the restructuring of trade patterns due to changes in US tariff policies. The decline on the North America–Asia route was offset by strong increases on intra-Asia routes and those extending from Asia to Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Despite uncertainties in global trade, we see that the air cargo market continues to successfully adapt to changing conditions.”
- Global Economic Outlook: Signs of Recovery
- Global goods trade grew by 3.7% year-on-year in August.
- Jet fuel prices rose by 5.4% in September.
- Global manufacturing confidence (PMI) increased for the second consecutive month to 51.3.
- New export orders stood at 49.6, reflecting cautious optimism.
Regional Performance
| Region | Global Share | CTK (Demand) | ACTK (Capacity) | CLF (Load Factor) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Market | 100% | +2.9% | +3.0% | 45.7% |
| Africa | 2.0% | +14.7% | +7.4% | 44.4% |
| Asia-Pacific | 34.3% | +6.8% | +4.8% | 49.3% |
| Europe | 21.5% | +2.5% | +4.4% | 51.3% |
| Latin America & Caribbean | 2.9% | -2.2% | +3.1% | 35.2% |
| Middle East | 13.6% | +0.6% | +5.5% | 45.4% |
| North America | 25.7% | -1.2% | -1.5% | 39.4% |
African airlines recorded the strongest growth with a 14.7% year-on-year increase, while the Latin America region posted the weakest performance with a 2.2% decline.
Trade Lane Growth – September 2025
Global air cargo volumes rose across most major trade corridors in September. Europe–Asia and intra-Asia routes recorded double-digit growth, while notable increases were also observed on the Middle East–Asia, Africa–Asia, and North America–Europe lanes.
| Trade Lane | Year-on-Year Change | Note | Global Market Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asia – North America | -3.5% | Decline for 5 consecutive months | 24.4% |
| Europe – Asia | +12.4% | Growth for 31 consecutive months | 20.5% |
| Middle East – Europe | -4.6% | Decline for 2 consecutive months | 5.7% |
| Middle East – Asia | +4.6% | Growth for 7 consecutive months | 7.4% |
| Intra-Asia | +10.0% | Growth for 23 consecutive months | 7.0% |
| Intra-Europe | -1.1% | Decline for 2 consecutive months | 2.0% |
| North America – Europe | +2.6% | Growth for 20 consecutive months | 13.3% |
| Africa – Asia | +9.6% | Growth for 3 consecutive months | 1.4% |
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