Dubai: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released data indicating that global air cargo markets experienced a 5.5% increase in demand for July 2025. The rise, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTK), also saw international operations grow by 6.0% compared to July 2024. Additionally, capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTK), rose by 3.9%, with international operations seeing a 4.5% increase.
According to Emirates News Agency, IATA's Director General Willie Walsh highlighted the robust growth in air cargo demand in July, noting that most major trade lanes experienced increases, except for the Asia-North America corridor, which saw a 1.0% year-on-year decline. This decrease was largely attributed to a significant drop in e-commerce following the expiration of the US de minimis exemptions on small shipments. However, this was somewhat mitigated by shippers frontloading goods ahead of anticipated tariff increases on imports to the US. Walsh suggested that the true impact of evolving US trade policies would likely become clearer in August.
Furthermore, Walsh emphasized the importance of maintaining a comprehensive view of the global air cargo network, despite the focus on US-related market developments. He pointed out that the Europe-Asia trade lane, which accounts for a significant portion of air cargo traffic, continued its growth streak with a 13.5% year-on-year increase in July, marking 29 consecutive months of expansion.
The report also detailed growth across major trade corridors in July 2025, with the exception of the Middle East-Europe corridor, which saw only a slight increase, and the Asia-North America corridor, which continued its decline for the third consecutive month. Several factors influenced the operating environment, including a 3.1% year-on-year growth in global goods trade in June and a 9.1% year-on-year decrease in July jet fuel prices, which, although higher than in June, remained below 2024 levels, thereby reducing airlines' operating costs.
Middle Eastern carriers reported a 2.6% year-on-year increase in demand for air cargo in July, with a corresponding 5.9% increase in capacity, highlighting the region's continued contribution to the global air cargo market.