The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released its global air cargo market data for August 2026, showing a 4.4% increase in total demand, measured in cargo ton-kilometers, compared to August 2025. This growth rate is slightly lower than the 5.3% increase recorded for international operations. The data also reveals that capacity, measured in available cargo ton-kilometers, decreased by 0.1% compared to August 2025, but remained stable for international operations.
According to Marie Owens Thompson, IATA's Senior Vice President for Sustainability and Chief Economist, the growth in air cargo demand was driven by strong trade growth and increased industrial activity. Global trade in goods rose by 6.0% on a year-on-year basis in July, marking the 33rd consecutive month of expansion. Additionally, the global industrial activity index increased by 0.3 points to 53.0, while the new export orders index rose by 1.4 points to 51.4.
The growth in air cargo demand was also influenced by the increase in jet fuel prices, which rose by 8.3% on a month-on-month basis in August and were 79.2% higher than in the same period last year. Despite this, airlines were able to offset some of the increased fuel costs due to strong demand and higher load factors. The global air cargo market is expected to continue growing, driven by the ongoing expansion of global trade.
Regionally, Middle Eastern carriers reported the weakest performance, with a 1.0% increase in demand on a year-on-year basis in August. In contrast, North American carriers recorded the strongest growth, with a 6.6% increase in demand. Asia-Pacific carriers reported a 4.3% increase in demand, while European carriers saw a 4.1% increase. Latin American and Caribbean carriers reported a 5.1% increase, and African carriers saw a 3.0% increase.
The performance of air cargo carriers varied across different trade lanes. The Asia-North America trade lane recorded the strongest growth, followed by intra-Asia, Europe-North America, and Europe-Asia. However, trade lanes related to the Gulf region were affected by the ongoing geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East.
The growth in air cargo demand is expected to continue in the coming months, driven by the ongoing expansion of global trade and industrial activity. IATA expects the air cargo market to remain strong, with demand likely to be supported by the growth in e-commerce and other emerging trends.
The air cargo market is also expected to be influenced by the ongoing developments in the global economy, including changes in trade policies and geopolitical tensions. However, for now, the outlook remains positive, with demand expected to continue growing in the coming months.
Key points
- Global air cargo demand rose 4.4% in August, driven by strong trade growth and increased industrial activity.
- North American carriers recorded the strongest growth, with a 6.6% increase in demand.
- The air cargo market is expected to continue growing, driven by the ongoing expansion of global trade and industrial activity.
