The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released its monthly data on 29 September 2026, showing that air cargo demand for African airlines increased by 3% in August 2026 compared with August 2025, confirming a positive growth rate but one that lags other regions.
In the same analysis, carriers on the continent sharply boosted supply: air cargo capacity in Africa surged by 14% year-on-year in August, driving a 3.9‑percentage‑point drop in the cargo load factor to 36.5%, the lowest level among the major regions tracked by IATA.
This divergence between demand growth and the surge in capacity lies at the heart of the concerns surrounding Africa’s air cargo sector. The association’s figures show that Africa posted the fastest capacity increase but one of the more modest traffic gains, mechanically weighing on the profitability of African cargo operations.
The published data underline that, despite this moderate rise, African airlines remain part of a global market that recorded a 4.4% increase in air cargo demand in August across all regions, according to IATA.
L’Afrique, maillon fragile dans un marché mondial plus porteur
While IATA notes a global rebound in cargo volumes since the start of the year, African indicators confirm the region’s status as a niche market, sensitive to fuel price swings and global trade conditions. Jet fuel reached 157 US dollars a barrel in August, 79.2% higher than a year earlier, pushing up operating costs for cargo flights, especially for operators with older fleets, a common situation in Africa.
Historical data show that Africa has already experienced periods of strong cargo momentum. In August 2024, African airlines recorded a 7.5% year‑on‑year increase in cargo demand, with capacity up 11.4% and a load factor of around 37.8%. This comparison illustrates the slowdown in freight traffic growth measured in CTKs.
Capacité en surchauffe et contraintes structurelles
The 14% capacity increase highlighted by IATA does not stem solely from additional freighter flights. Sector analyses indicate that the ramp‑up in passenger services, particularly on intercontinental routes, is also inflating bellyhold supply, even as regulatory and regional integration constraints are regularly cited as obstacles to the development of intra‑African air transport.
The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) has repeatedly stressed that the incomplete implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) constrains the development of freight flows between regional capitals, despite rising logistics needs for e‑commerce, pharmaceuticals and perishables.
On major international lanes, signals are more mixed. IATA notes that the Africa–Asia corridor again posted an 11.9% contraction in volumes in August after several months of decline, reflecting a downturn in freight flows between Africa and Asia.
Une surveillance accrue des prochains bulletins mensuels de l’IATA
For investors and banks exposed to the African aviation sector, the freight trajectory will be closely watched in IATA’s forthcoming statistical releases. The association’s monthly air cargo market analysis includes a regional breakdown that tracks movements in the African cargo load factor, currently at 36.5%, and the gap between capacity growth and transported volumes.
The August 2026 figures will serve as a benchmark to assess whether African carriers can, in the coming months, better align supply with demand, a key condition for restoring margins in an environment of persistently high fuel costs.
