Africa’s Air Cargo Demand Up 3% As Capacity Jumps 14% – IATA – Independent Newspaper Nigeria

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Africa’s air cargo demand increased by 3.0 per cent year-on-year in August 2026, while cargo capacity on the continent surged by 14.0 per cent, according to the latest data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The performance placed African airlines among all regions that record­ed growth in air cargo demand during the month, although Africa’s growth remained below the global average of 4.4 per cent.

IATA’s August 2026 global air cargo market report showed that worldwide demand, measured in cargo tonne-ki­lometres (CTK), rose 4.4 per cent com­pared with August 2025, while interna­tional demand increased by 5.3 per cent.

Global capacity, measured in avail­able cargo tonne-kilometres (ACTK), declined marginally by 0.1 per cent year-on-year.

Africa, however, recorded the largest capacity expansion among all regions, with available cargo capacity increasing by 14.0 per cent.

The sharp increase in capacity out­paced the 3.0 per cent growth in demand, resulting in a 3.9 percentage-point de­cline in the region’s cargo load factor to 36.5 per cent.

Africa accounted for 2.1 per cent of global industry cargo tonne-kilometres in 2025. The figures highlight a key chal­lenge for African airlines: converting increased cargo capacity into corre­sponding demand, particularly amid weakness on some important interna­tional trade routes.

One of the biggest concerns was the Africa-Asia trade lane, where cargo traf­fic fell by 11.9 per cent year-on-year in August. IATA said the route had now recorded three consecutive months of contraction and accounted for 1.3 per cent of global industry air cargo de­mand.

The contraction contrasts sharply with some of the strongest-performing global trade corridors.

Asia-North America recorded 13.2 per cent growth in August, extending its expansion to seven consecutive months, while intra-Asia cargo traffic grew 6.1 per cent, marking 34 consecu­tive months of growth.

Europe-Asia increased by 3.1 per cent, extending its growth streak to 42 consecutive months, while Eu­rope-North America rose 4.3 per cent.