After several months of mixed performance, African airlines recorded a sharp 9.4% increase in air cargo volumes in July 2025 compared to the previous year. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), this growth was partly driven by intensified trade between Africa and Asia. However, cargo capacity slightly declined by 0.1%.
A Growing Global Market
The growth trend is global. IATA reported volume increases across all regions:
- Asia-Pacific: +11.1% (the strongest growth)
- Europe: +4.1%
- Middle East: +2.6%
- Latin America: +2.4%
- North America: +0.7%
Worldwide, volumes rose by 5.5% compared to July 2024, while overall capacity expanded by 3.9%.
Growth Drivers
Several factors explain this momentum, including:
- Anticipation of orders ahead of new U.S. import taxes taking effect.
- A 9.1% drop in jet fuel prices in July, making air transport more affordable.
IATA noted that the impact of reduced e-commerce, following the expiration of U.S. customs exemptions, was likely offset by order anticipation.
Outlook and Forecasts
Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, stressed that the impact of new U.S. trade policies on cargo will become clearer in August. He also highlighted the importance of the global network, noting that the Europe-Asia trade lane — which accounts for one-fifth of air cargo — grew by 13.5% in July, marking its 29th consecutive month of growth.
According to IATA’s forecasts, global cargo growth is expected to reach 5.8% for the whole of 2025. In 2024, it had already increased by 11.3% worldwide and by 8.5% for African airlines.
