June air cargo demand up 0.8% despite disruptions: IATA

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for June 2025 global air cargo markets showing Total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTK), rose by 0.8 per cent compared to June 2024 levels (1.6 per cent for international operations). Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTK), increased by 1.7 per cent compared to June 2024 (2.8 per cent for international operations).  “Overall, air cargo demand grew by a modest 0.8% year-on-year in June, but there are very differing stories behind that number for the industry’s major players. Trade tensions saw North American traffic fall by 8.3% and European growth stagnate at 0.8%. But Asia-Pacific bucked the trend to report a 9.0% expansion. Meanwhile disruptions from military conflict in the Middle East saw the region’s cargo traffic fall by 3.2%,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. “The June air cargo data made it very clear that stability and predictability are essential supports for trade. Emerging clarity on US tariffs allows businesses greater confidence in planning. But we cannot overlook the fact that the ‘deals’ being struck are resulting in significantly higher tariffs on goods imported into the US than we had just a few months ago. The economic damage of these cost barriers to trade remains to be seen. In the meantime, governments should redouble efforts to make trade facilitation simpler, faster, cheaper and more secure with digitalization,” said Walsh.