Global Air Cargo Demand Rises 5.6%, Africa Growing the Fastest

DALLAS — According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), global air cargo demand rose by 5.6 per cent/year in January 2026, and international traffic increased by 7.2 per cent.

Capacity growth slowed to 3.6%, raising the overall cargo load factor to 45.1% and indicating that utilization was improving, though regional performance remained uneven.

Africa makes waves as the Americas slow down growth 

African carriers had the highest growth at 18.2% and continued to grow consistently in emerging trade corridors. The Asia-Pacific and Middle Eastern operators also outperformed world averages, thanks to manufacturing recovery and network expansion.

Conversely, the Latin and North American markets continued to shrink due to lower demand levels.

Trade routes and market forces

Large cargo passages were performing sporadically. Routes Africa–Asia and Europe–Asia continued growing in the double digits, and Asia-North America traffic deteriorated in the wake of the tariff-related inconveniences.

The demand was supported by improvements in global trade activity and lower jet fuel prices, but the main threats to cargo markets in 2026 remain geopolitical tensions and supply chain uncertainty.