The world’s global air cargo markets are continuing to increase in demand, with recent growth showcasing a strong industry.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released its data for November 2025, with total demand in air cargo markets showing a 5.5 per cent year-on-year level of growth.
Capacity also rose by 4.7 per cent compared to the same time period in 2024.
“Air cargo demand grew 5.5 per cent year-on-year in November 2025, boosted by shippers prioritising timely delivery in the lead-up to the year-end holiday season,” IATA director general Willie Walsh says.
“Strong emerging market demand and selective Middle Eastern growth more than made-up for softness in the Americas amid ongoing adjustment to the new US tariff regime. Globally, the fourth quarter for air cargo was resilient as strategic re-routing of trade shaped performance across key markets.
“The strong end for 2025 bodes well for the air cargo industry as it enters the new year.”
The IATA says several factors in the operating environment should be noted, including the fact that global goods trade grew by two per cent year-on-year in October last year, while jet fuel prices rose 5.9 per cent in the same time despite falling crude prices.
The association says this has been driven by refinery disruptions, EU restrictions on Russian-derived products and limited spare refining capacity.
In Asia-Pacific specifically, airlines saw a 10.3 per cent year-on-year growth in air cargo demand, with capacity also increasing by 8.4 per cent. This was one of the largest growth areas globally, with only African airlines (15.6 per cent year-on-year increase for air cargo demand and 18.1 per cent capacity increase) surpassing its pace.