African airlines recorded a rise in air cargo demand in June despite a decline in available freight capacity, according to new figures released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), highlighting a mixed performance for the continent’s cargo market.
The global airline body reported that cargo demand among African carriers increased by 4.7 per cent compared with June 2025, while available cargo capacity fell by 7.1 per cent over the same period.
These recent figures form part of IATA’s monthly assessment of the global air cargo market, which tracks freight demand using cargo tonne-kilometres (CTKs) and available freight space through available cargo tonne-kilometres (ACTKs).
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Although demand strengthened on the continent, the reduction in capacity contrasted with the global trend.
Worldwide, total cargo demand rose by 0.8 per cent year-on-year in June, while international cargo demand increased by 1.6 per cent. Global cargo capacity also expanded by 1.7 per cent during the month.
Commenting on the report, IATA Director-General Willie Walsh said the industry continues to record stable demand despite uncertainties in international trade.
He noted that air cargo is an important component of global supply chains, particularly for goods that require rapid delivery.
The June figures showed varying performances across different regions.
Airlines in the Asia-Pacific region posted one of the strongest growth rates, while carriers in North America and Europe also recorded year-on-year increases in cargo demand. Some regions, however, registered weaker results, reflective of differing market conditions across the global aviation industry.
For African airlines, the report showed that cargo demand grew even as freight capacity contracted, and this has placed making the continent one of the regions where available cargo space declined during the review period.
IATA did not attribute the decline in African cargo capacity to any specific factor in its report.
The association publishes monthly cargo performance data to provide an overview of developments in the global freight market and to monitor changes in demand and available capacity across different regions.
The June report comes as air cargo continues to play a significant role in international trade, particularly in the movement of pharmaceuticals, agricultural produce, industrial equipment and other time-sensitive goods.
IATA’s latest data indicates that, despite differences in regional performance, global cargo demand remains above last year’s level, while African airlines maintained positive demand growth even with fewer available cargo resources.
The association’s report did not provide forecasts for subsequent months but noted that the figures reflect cargo activity during June 2026 based on data submitted by airlines across its member network.
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