The global representative body for the airline industry, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), has reported that the air cargo sector showed good growth in April. Total air cargo demand last month increased by 5.8%, year-on-year (y-o-y). International demand grew by 6.3%, y-o-y. Total air cargo capacity rose by 6.3%, y-o-y (with international capacity going up by 6.9%).

“Air cargo demand grew strongly in April, with volumes up 5.8% [y-o-y], building on March’s solid performance,” highlighted IATA director-general Willie Walsh. “Seasonal demand for fashion and consumer goods – front-loading ahead of US tariff changes – and lower jet fuel prices have combined to boost air cargo. With available capacity at record levels and yields improving, the outlook for air cargo is encouraging.”

Air cargo was of course affected by developments in the wider economy. In March, global industrial production increased 3.2%, y-o-y, and the global goods trade increased by 6.5%, again y-o-y. Jet fuel prices fell by 21.2% in April, y-o-y, and by 4.1%, month-on-month. This was the third month in a row in which jet fuel prices dropped. The global manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) increased to 50.5, indicating growth (and for the fourth month in succession). On the other hand, the PMI for new export orders fell, by 2.8 points, to 47.2, signalling contraction.

In terms of IATA’s six regions, the one that saw the strongest y-o-y total air cargo growth in April was Latin America, at 10.1%, followed by the Asia-Pacific, with 10%. Africa was third, at 4.7%, followed by North America (4.2%), Europe (2.9%) and the Middle East (2.3%).

Regarding air cargo capacity, the region that saw the strongest y-o-y increase in April was Africa, with 9.7%, followed by the Asia-Pacific (9.4%) and Latin America (8.5%). Then came the Middle East (5.5%), North America (4.2%) and Europe (2.9%).

As for the main trade lanes, it was Europe-Asia that recorded the strongest y-o-y growth in April, at 11.3%. Next was within Asia, at 10%, then Europe-North America (9.6%), Middle East-Asia (6.7%) and Asia-North America (1.9%). The other main trade routes recorded y-o-y contractions last month, of which the least was Middle East-Europe, at -4.6%, followed by Africa-Asia (-7.9%) and within Europe (-8.8%).

“While April brought good news, stresses in world trade are no secret,” pointed out Walsh. “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.”