Kuala lumpur: Asia-Pacific airlines reported a 6.8 percent year-on-year increase in air cargo demand in September, alongside a 4.8 percent year-on-year rise in cargo capacity, as revealed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, IATA highlighted a global air cargo demand growth of 2.9 percent year-on-year in September, marking the seventh consecutive month of growth. The shift in trade patterns is attributed to the United States’ tariff policies, including the termination of ‘de minimis’ exemptions, leading to a decline in North America-Asia demand over the past five months. However, this decline has been offset by robust growth within Asia and on routes connecting Asia with Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, according to IATA’s director general, Willie Walsh.

IATA identified several factors influencing this trend, such as a 3.7 percent year-on-year growth in global goods trade in August and a 5.4 percent increase in jet fuel prices in September, despite overall lower oil prices. The rise in jet fuel prices was driven by a tighter diesel market, which doubled the crack spread year-on-year. Additionally, global manufacturing sentiment showed improvement in September, with the purchasing manufacturers index (PMI) rising to 51.3 for the second consecutive month. New export orders saw a slight increase to 49.6, though they remained below the 50-point expansion threshold, indicating ongoing caution due to tariff uncertainties.

Furthermore, IATA reported an increase in air freight volumes across most major trade corridors in September 2025. Europe-Asia and Within Asia experienced strong double-digit growth, while Middle East-Asia, North America-Europe, and Africa-Asia also recorded notable gains. In contrast, declines were observed in Asia-North America, Middle East-Europe, and within Europe.