Kuala Lumpur: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported a year-on-year increase in global air cargo demand for April 2025. Total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTK), rose by 5.8 percent in volume, building on March’s solid performance, IATA said in a statement today.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, international operations saw a stronger increase of 6.5 percent. In terms of capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometres (ACTK), there was a global increase of 6.3 percent, with international routes seeing a rise of 6.9 percent. The same period in April 2024 had shown a 6.5 percent increase in total demand for international operations, with ACTK increasing by 6.3 percent compared with a 6.9 percent rise for international operations.

IATA director general Willie Walsh highlighted factors such as seasonal demand for fashion and consumer goods, front-loading ahead of the United States tariff changes, and lower jet fuel prices as contributors to the boost in air cargo. “With available capacity at record levels and yields improving, the outlook for air cargo is encouraging. While April brought good news, stresses in world trade are no secret. Shifts in trade policy, particularly in the US, are already reshaping demand and export dynamics. Airlines will need to remain flexible as the situation develops over the coming months,” he said.

Several economic indicators supported the uptick in air cargo performance, including a 3.2 percent year-on-year increase in global industrial production in March. Jet fuel prices declined by 21.2 percent from the previous year and 4.1 percent compared with March, marking the third consecutive month of falling fuel costs. Additionally, the global manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 50.5 in April, indicating continued expansion for the fourth month in a row. However, there are signs of caution as the PMI for new export orders dropped 2.8 points to 47.2, remaining below the 50-point benchmark that indicates growth.

In terms of regional performance in April, Asia-Pacific airlines saw a 10.0 percent year-on-year demand growth for air cargo, while capacity increased by 9.4 percent year-on-year. On trade lane growth, IATA noted that all international routes experienced growth in April, except for Middle East-Europe, Africa-Asia, and intra-European routes.

Overall, the data reflect a robust air cargo sector buoyed by economic and seasonal tailwinds, though the potential for policy-driven shifts remains a key risk in the months ahead. The IATA represents approximately 350 airlines comprising over 80 percent of global air traffic.

In terms of total cargo traffic measured by CTK, the Asia-Pacific region holds the largest market share at 34.2 percent. North America follows with 25.8 percent, while Europe accounts for 21.5 percent of the global share. The Middle East contributes 13.6 percent to the total cargo traffic, whereas Latin America and Africa represent smaller portions, with 2.9 percent and 2.0 percent, respectively. These figures highlight the dominant role of Asia-Pacific, North America, and Europe in global air cargo movement.