Africa’s air cargo demand rose by 7.7% in April year-on-year, even as capacity on the continent fell by 9.4%, according to new global data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The increase came as Africa-Asia trade led global growth, highlighting the continent’s growing role in long-haul air freight flows despite wider disruption in the Middle East.
The latest figures show that global air cargo demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers, increased by 4.0% in April compared with the same month last year, while capacity slipped by 0.4%. IATA said the overall rise was driven mainly by strong Asia-linked trade flows, but warned that the gains were being shaped by conflict-related disruptions in the Middle East and higher operating costs .
For Africa, the strongest signal was on the Africa-Asia lane, which grew by 12.8% year-on-year and marked 10 consecutive months of expansion. That performance suggests continued demand for time-sensitive cargo moving between African exporters and Asian markets, even as regional airlines faced tighter capacity. The data also points to Africa’s increasing integration into global supply chains, particularly in sectors that rely on speed and reliability.
IATA said African airlines recorded the demand growth despite a decline in capacity, a combination that may reflect both operational constraints and changing routing patterns in global freight. The association noted that major Gulf hubs were badly affected by the war in the Middle East, forcing trade routes to shift and creating strain on key corridors used by cargo carriers.
The broader freight environment remains mixed. Global trade contracted by 2.1% in March after four months of growth, underlining how quickly geopolitical shocks can interrupt momentum. At the same time, jet fuel prices jumped by 121.1% year-on-year in April, while crude oil prices rose by 77.7%, adding cost pressure for carriers already operating in a volatile market.
Despite those pressures, manufacturing conditions remained supportive. The global Purchasing Managers’ Index climbed to 53.4 in April, while new export orders reached 50.2, both above the 50-point threshold that signals expansion. That suggests underlying demand for air freight remains intact, even if the trade environment is unstable.
Africa’s performance also stands out when compared with other regions. Asia-Pacific airlines saw demand rise by 10.5%, Europe by 6.0% and North America by 5.0%, while Middle Eastern carriers posted an 18.2% drop in demand, the weakest performance globally. The decline in the Middle East is closely tied to disruption in Gulf-linked routes, which IATA said were severely affected by the conflict.
The Africa-Asia lane was not the only strong performer. Within Asia, cargo demand rose 13.0% for the 30th consecutive month of growth, while Europe-Asia increased 16.2% and within Europe grew 14.0%. By contrast, Europe-Middle East fell 25.9% and Middle East-Asia dropped 22.4%, underscoring the uneven impact of the conflict on global freight corridors.
For African exporters and logistics operators, the data suggest both opportunity and strain. Higher demand toward Asia may support revenues, but lower capacity could mean tighter space, more volatility in rates and greater pressure on airlines to maintain service reliability. If conflict-related rerouting persists, African carriers could face both stronger demand and higher costs at the same time.
IATA Director General Willie Walsh said the industry’s recent gains are being supported by dedicated freighters, which continue to play a central role in keeping supply chains moving amid trade disruptions. He said the coming months will test how well the sector can absorb geopolitical uncertainty and elevated operating costs.
