Global air cargo tonnages up 6% in Oct despite drop in China-Europe volumes

Global air cargo tonnages in October grew by +6% compared with their level this time last year, according to the latest figures from WorldACD Market Data, as growth in most parts of the world offset steep declines in China-to-Europe volumes and continuing challenges due to the conflict in the Arabian Gulf.

Preliminary full-month figures for October, based on the more than 2 million monthly transactions covered by WorldACD’s data, indicate that the +6% year-on-year (YoY) rise in October was led by YoY chargeable weight increases of +10% from both Africa and Middle East & South Asia (MESA) origins, a +7% YoY rise from Asia Pacific, +5% growth from North America origins, and a +4% YoY increase from Europe, with Central & South Asia (CSA) volumes stable compared with the equivalent month last year. Tonnages in October also increased by +5% compared with September, thanks to increases from all the world’s main air cargo origin regions, including a +9% month-on-month (MoM) tonnage increase from Africa, +6% rises from North America, Europe, and CSA, a +4% MoM rise from Asia Pacific origins and +3% from MESA.

The growth from MESA origins, despite ongoing challenges to Arabian Gulf capacity and volumes due to the US-Iran conflict, mainly reflects continuing strong demand for air exports from India, which in October was also boosted by the later timing of India’s Diwali holiday period – taking place this year around 6-11 November compared with 18-23 October last year.

This story was originally published by STAT Times. Read the full story at STAT Times →