• African airlines cargo traffic rises 18.2% year-on-year in January
• Africa-Asia routes drive growth, up 41.6% from 2025
• Global air cargo traffic increases 5.6%, IATA says

African airlines recorded an 18.2% year-on-year increase in cargo traffic in January 2026, while capacity rose 6.5%, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The increase was the strongest of any region globally and was driven largely by routes between Africa and Asia, where traffic rose 41.6% compared with January 2025.

The Middle East, Asia-Pacific and Europe also recorded stronger growth, with volumes rising 9.3%, 7.8% and 6.9% respectively. Growth was weaker in Latin America and the Caribbean and in North America, where volumes increased by 2% and 0.5%.

Globally, cargo traffic rose 5.6%. The increase was supported by growth in global goods trade in December 2025, lower jet fuel prices in January 2026 compared with a year earlier, and improving business conditions in the global manufacturing sector.

However, the outlook for air cargo remains challenging. According to IATA, the sector will continue to face persistent uncertainties linked to the evolution of U.S. trade policy. The resumption of hostilities in the Middle East, notably the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, could also weigh on the sector.

In 2025, global volumes increased 3.4% from 2024, while African carriers recorded growth of 6%. For 2026, IATA forecasts slower expansion, with traffic expected to grow by 2.4%.

Henoc Dossa