• African airlines lead with 14.7% cargo volume growth in September 2025
• Africa-Asia routes drive gains; cargo capacity up 7.4% year-on-year
• Global air freight up 2.9% amid shifting trade patterns and tariff changes

African airlines recorded a 14.7% year-on-year increase in cargo volumes in September 2025, the strongest performance of any region, according to data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Cargo capacity in Africa rose 7.4% over the same period, supported by sustained growth on Africa-Asia routes, where volumes climbed 9.6% for the third consecutive month.

The Asia-Pacific region posted the second-highest growth at 6.8%. European carriers saw traffic rise 2.5%, followed by Latin America with 2.2%, North America with 1.2%, and the Middle East with 0.6%. Globally, air cargo demand increased 2.9% compared with September 2024, marking the seventh consecutive month of expansion. International freight volumes were up 3.2%.

IATA attributed the gains to shifting trade patterns amid evolving tariff policies. “Buried in that growth is a significant alteration of trade patterns as US tariff policies, including the ending of de minimis exemptions, kick in,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general. “On one side of the equation, a decline in North America-Asia demand has set in over the last five months. But this has been more than compensated for with strong growth within Asia and on routes linking Asia to Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. While many had feared an unwinding of global trade, we are instead seeing air cargo adapting successfully to serve shifting market demands.”

If current trends continue, IATA said, the industry is on track to meet its 2025 forecast of 5.8% global cargo growth. In 2024, global air freight traffic rose 11.3%, including an 8.5% increase among African carriers.

Henoc Dossa