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The global air cargo industry sustained its growth trajectory in June 2026, with demand rising by 8.5 per cent year-on-year, while African airlines delivered another month of positive growth despite operating with significantly lower cargo capacity, according to the latest figures released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The June data showed that worldwide cargo demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTKs), increased by 8.5 per cent compared with the same period in 2025. International cargo operations recorded an even stronger performance, growing by 9.6 per cent.
Cargo capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometres (ACTKs), also expanded globally, rising by 4.4 per cent year-on-year, while international capacity increased by 4.9 per cent.
The figures indicate that demand continued to outstrip available capacity across almost all regions of the world, reflecting healthy market fundamentals and sustained appetite for time-sensitive cargo movements.
IATA Director General, Willie Walsh, described the June performance as another encouraging sign for the global cargo market, noting that every region posted positive demand growth despite continued economic and geopolitical uncertainties.
He said North America was the strongest contributor to the global expansion, while all other regions also remained in positive territory compared with June 2025.
According to Walsh, global demand exceeded capacity growth in every region except Latin America and the Caribbean, demonstrating the continued resilience of the air freight sector.
He observed that air cargo demand also outperformed the growth recorded in global merchandise trade, largely driven by shipments of high-value technology products and urgent consignments that depend on the speed and reliability of air transport.
While expressing optimism for the remainder of the year, Walsh warned that the industry still faces significant risks, including the continuing conflict in the Middle East and the possibility of fresh tariff measures by the United States, both of which could disrupt international trade flows.
For Africa, the latest report presents a mixed picture of resilient demand amid tightening capacity.
African airlines recorded a 4.7 per cent increase in air cargo demand during June compared with the corresponding month last year.
Although the growth lagged behind North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Middle East, it remained comfortably ahead of the Latin America and Caribbean region, which posted the weakest performance globally.
More significantly, African carriers were the only operators worldwide to record a decline in cargo capacity.
Available cargo capacity on the continent fell by 7.1 per cent year-on-year, suggesting airlines operated with fewer available freight spaces despite increasing demand.
The tightening capacity pushed Africa’s cargo load factor higher by 5.4 percentage points to 48.1 per cent, indicating that available cargo space was utilised more efficiently during the month.
Africa accounted for 2.1 per cent of total global air cargo traffic during the reporting period. The continent also maintained positive momentum on one of its key international trade routes.
According to IATA, the Africa–Asia trade corridor expanded by 0.9 per cent in June, extending its uninterrupted growth streak to 12 consecutive months.
The association said the continued expansion reflects strengthening commercial links between African and Asian economies despite persistent global economic headwinds.
North America Tops Regional Rankings
North American airlines emerged as the industry’s strongest performers in June.
Carriers in the region recorded a 13.1 per cent increase in cargo demand, while expanding capacity by 6.2 per cent.
Asia-Pacific airlines followed with demand growth of 7.9 per cent alongside a 4.3 per cent increase in capacity.
European airlines maintained stable performance, posting a 6.9 per cent rise in demand while increasing capacity by 3.7 per cent.
Middle Eastern airlines registered a 5.6 per cent increase in cargo demand and expanded capacity by 2.5 per cent.
However, IATA cautioned that the region’s positive figures should be viewed in context because they were measured against an unusually weak June 2025, when military conflict severely disrupted airline operations across the Middle East.
Latin American and Caribbean airlines delivered the weakest regional performance.
Demand increased by just 3.5 per cent, while capacity surged by 9.8 per cent, making it the only region where supply expanded faster than demand.
Trade Lanes Show Uneven Performance
IATA said performance across major international cargo corridors varied considerably during the month.
The Asia–North America route remained the fastest-growing market, recording a robust 14.7 per cent increase in cargo demand and marking its fifth consecutive month of growth.
Europe–Asia continued its remarkable long-term expansion, growing by 7.1 per cent and extending its growth streak to 40 consecutive months.
Within Asia, cargo traffic increased by 7.2 per cent, marking the thirty-second successive month of expansion.
By contrast, trade lanes involving the Middle East remained under pressure from ongoing regional instability.
Cargo traffic between Europe and the Middle East declined sharply by 41.1 per cent, extending its contraction to four consecutive months.
Similarly, the Middle East–Asia corridor fell by 4.1 per cent during the month, also recording a fourth straight month of decline.
Meanwhile, cargo volumes between Europe and North America remained unchanged from June 2025.
Beyond aviation, broader economic indicators also pointed to favourable conditions for air cargo growth.
Global trade expanded by 5.2 per cent year-on-year in June, providing additional support for international freight demand.
Jet fuel prices dropped by 20 per cent compared with May, easing cost pressures for airlines, although prices remained 45.8 per cent higher than those recorded a year earlier.
The Global Manufacturing Output Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) eased slightly by 0.5 points to 53.0, remaining above the 50-point threshold that signals expansion.
However, the New Export Orders Index stayed below 50 for the fourth consecutive month, standing at 49.4.
According to IATA, the divergence suggests that the current strength of the air cargo market is being driven less by a broad-based increase in global exports and more by specific high-value trade flows, particularly technology products and urgent shipments that rely on air transport.
The association said that despite persistent geopolitical tensions and trade uncertainties, the industry’s ability to sustain demand growth above capacity expansion reflects continued resilience and positions the global air cargo market for a potentially strong second half of 2026.
