According to International Air Transport Association IATA air cargo demand data, Africa’s air cargo market delivered the strongest regional performance in November 2025, with demand surging by 15.6 per cent year on year, providing a major boost to global results released. The African performance stood out within the latest IATA air cargo demand data, reinforcing the continent’s growing relevance in global logistics flows and helping sustain worldwide momentum during a complex trading environment.
According to IATA air cargo data, total global air cargo demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres, expanded by 5.5 per cent compared with November 2024. International operations performed even more strongly, recording growth of 6.9 per cent, while overall cargo capacity rose by 4.7 per cent, indicating a market that remains tight but broadly balanced as 2025 draws to a close.
Africa’s contribution was particularly notable. While the region accounts for just two per cent of global cargo tonne-kilometres, its double-digit growth rate significantly outpaced every other market. Capacity on African routes expanded by 18.1 per cent year on year, slightly exceeding demand growth and leading to a modest softening in load factors. Even so, the continent’s performance underscored strengthening trade links, especially on Africa–Asia corridors, and reaffirmed Africa’s rising profile within IATA air cargo demand trends.
Globally, the strong November outcome reflected seasonal shipping patterns, with shippers prioritising speed and reliability ahead of the year-end holiday period. However, underlying market dynamics varied widely by region. Asia-Pacific airlines recorded a robust 10.3 per cent increase in demand, supported by sustained manufacturing output and resilient intra-Asian trade. European carriers also delivered solid growth of 5.8 per cent, benefiting from stable consumer demand and continued strength on Europe-Asia routes.
By contrast, North American and Latin American markets experienced contractions. North American carriers saw demand decline by 1.6 per cent year on year, reflecting ongoing adjustments to the United States’ evolving tariff regime. Latin American and Caribbean airlines posted the weakest performance, with demand falling by 4.8 per cent, highlighting uneven recovery patterns across emerging markets despite pockets of resilience elsewhere.
Commenting on the results, Director General Willie Walsh, said IATA air cargo demand had shown notable resilience during the final quarter of the year. He explained that shippers continued to favour air freight for time-sensitive goods, even as trade patterns were reshaped by tariff uncertainty and selective re-routing across major corridors. Walsh noted that strong emerging market demand and growth in parts of the Middle East had more than offset softness in the Americas, leaving the industry well positioned entering 2026.
The broader operating environment offered mixed signals. Global goods trade expanded by 3.2 per cent year on year in October, supporting cargo volumes moving into November. At the same time, jet fuel prices rose sharply by 5.9 per cent during the month, despite falling crude oil prices. This increase was driven by refinery disruptions, European Union restrictions on Russian-derived products, and limited spare refining capacity, all of which pushed crack spreads close to double last year’s levels and added cost pressure for cargo operators.
Manufacturing sentiment provided cautious optimism. The global Purchasing Managers’ Index strengthened for the fourth consecutive month in November, reaching 51.17, signalling expansion. However, new export orders remained below the 50-point threshold, indicating that businesses were still wary amid ongoing geopolitical and trade policy uncertainty. These conditions shaped regional outcomes within IATA air cargo demand, with airlines adapting capacity deployment to shifting trade flows.
Trade lane data further illustrated the market’s complexity. Volumes increased across most major corridors, with particularly strong growth within Asia and on Europe-Asia routes, which extended their long-running expansion streak. Africa-Asia trade also continued its upward trend, recording growth of 9.5 per cent and marking five consecutive months of expansion. This corridor has become increasingly important for African exporters moving perishables, pharmaceuticals, and high-value manufactured goods to Asian markets.
Capacity trends revealed a similar story of strategic adjustment. While global capacity growth broadly tracked demand, some regions expanded faster than traffic, leading to softer load factors. Africa and the Middle East both recorded capacity increases that exceeded demand growth, reflecting airlines’ efforts to secure market share and position for longer-term trade expansion. Europe and Asia-Pacific, by contrast, maintained more disciplined capacity growth, supporting relatively stronger load factors.
Overall, the November figures confirmed that IATA air cargo demand remains resilient despite cost pressures, policy uncertainty, and uneven regional performance. Africa’s standout growth provided a clear reminder that emerging markets are increasingly shaping global air freight dynamics, not merely responding to them. As airlines enter 2026, the combination of steady trade growth, cautious manufacturing sentiment, and evolving geopolitical conditions is expected to keep air cargo strategically important within global supply chains, even as operators remain vigilant on costs and capacity discipline.
