Global Air Cargo Demand Expands 3.9% in July

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Global air cargo demand rose by 3.9 percent year-on-year in July 2026, while international demand increased by 4.7 percent, according to data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The measure is calculated in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTK). Total capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTK), increased by 1.7 percent year-on-year, with international capacity expanding by 1.8 percent.

Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA's Senior Vice President of Sustainability and Chief Economist, noted that while all regions recorded growth, carriers in the Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America accounted for over 90 percent of the overall gain. Dedicated freighters captured additional market share as belly-hold cargo traffic declined, which she indicated may reflect demand for larger or specialized shipments alongside the operational flexibility provided by cargo aircraft. She added that while manufacturing activity, export orders, and global trade keep the broader outlook positive, rising fuel prices, geopolitical tensions, and tariff uncertainties require close monitoring.

IATA outlined several operational factors, noting that global trade rose 7.5 percent year-on-year. Jet fuel prices increased 12.2 percent month-on-month in July and stood 56.9 percent higher than a year earlier. Global manufacturing activity eased slightly in June while remaining supportive; the Global Manufacturing Output Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) dropped 0.3 points to 52.7, whereas the New Export Orders Index rose to 50, reaching a three-month high.

Regionally, Asia-Pacific carriers saw demand grow 4.1 percent year-on-year against a 3 percent capacity increase. North American airlines posted the strongest demand growth at 4.8 percent despite a 1.5 percent capacity reduction. European carriers recorded a 4.4 percent increase in demand alongside a 1.3 percent expansion in capacity.

Middle Eastern airlines registered a 1.7 percent demand increase against a 4 percent capacity growth. Latin American and Caribbean carriers logged a 4.1 percent demand gain while capacity rose 7 percent. African airlines recorded the lowest regional demand growth at 1.1 percent alongside a 4.1 percent capacity expansion.

Major trade routes showed varied results. The Asia–North America corridor grew 9.2 percent, marking its sixth consecutive month of expansion. The Europe–Asia route grew 3.1 percent for a 41st consecutive month, while Europe–North America rose 2.1 percent for a third straight month. Intra-Asia traffic grew 6.1 percent, extending its growth streak to 33 months. Conversely, Middle Eastern trade lanes continued to face disruptions; Middle East–Asia traffic contracted 14.1 percent and Europe–Middle East traffic fell 16.1 percent, both marking a fifth consecutive month of decline. The Africa–Asia route dropped 14.7 percent, shrinking for a second month.