High-value technology and urgent shipments, Middle East network recovery and North America strong performance contributed to year-on-year air cargo demand growth in June, according to IATA.
The trade body said that total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTK), increased by 8.5% compared to June 2025.
Demand grew faster than global trade, which increased 5.2% year on year, supported by high-value technology products, and urgent shipments, found IATA.
In comparison, capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTK), increased by 4.4% year on year.
Capacity growth was “below the pace of demand growth, resulting in higher cargo load factors (CLF)”, said IATA.
The organisation added: ” Supply expanded across most regions, although African carriers reduced available lift.”
Additionally, jet fuel prices fell by 20% month-on-month, but remained 45.8% above year-earlier levels.
Monthly fuel prices eased as oil flows through the Persian Gulf improved, while USD-denominated air cargo
yields recorded their first month-on-month decline following a sustained period of increases. Cargo yield, however, remained well above prior-year levels
Global manufacturing activity eased slightly in June but remained supportive, while export orders weakened. The Global Manufacturing Output Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell 0.5 points to 53.0, while the New Export Orders Index remained below the 50-mark for a fourth consecutive month at 49.4.
“This suggests that air cargo growth was driven by specific trade flows rather than a broad-based increase in global exports,” said IATA.
Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general, commented: “Air cargo demand grew 8.5% year-on-year in June. While North America was the strongest contributor to growth, demand in all regions was in positive territory compared to last year.
“Demand growth outpaced capacity at the global level and in all regions except Latin America and the Caribbean. Demand also grew faster than global trade, supported by high-value technology products, and urgent shipments.
“While this all gives strong reasons for optimism in the second half of 2026, risks remain—continuing hostilities in the Middle East and a renewed focus on tariffs by the US among them.”
Regional performance
International cargo traffic expanded by 9.6% year on year. “North American carriers led growth, while the sharp
acceleration among Middle Eastern carriers marked the most significant regional improvement on YoY growth,” said IATA.
Asia-Pacific airlines saw a 7.9% year-on-year growth in air cargo demand in June. Capacity increased by 4.3% year-on-year.
North American carriers saw a 13.1% year-on-year increase in air cargo demand in June, the strongest performance of all regions. Capacity increased by 6.2% year-on-year.
European carriers saw a 6.9% year-on-year increase in demand for air cargo in June. Capacity increased by 3.7% year-on-year.
Middle Eastern carriers saw a 5.6% year-on-year increase in demand for air cargo in June. Capacity increased by 2.5% year-on-year. While the results for the month were in growth territory, they are skewed to the positive as the comparison is to June 2025 which was particularly weak for carriers in the Middle East as a result of disruptions due to military conflict.
Latin American and Caribbean carriers saw a 3.5% year-on-year increase in demand for air cargo in June, the weakest performance of all regions. Capacity increased by 9.8% year-on-year.
African airlines saw a 4.7% year-on-year increase in demand for air cargo in June. Capacity decreased by -7.1% year-on-year.
Air cargo performance diverged across major trade lanes in June. Asia–North America recorded the strongest growth, followed by Within Asia, Europe–Asia, and Africa–Asia. In contrast, Gulf-linked corridors remained disrupted by the conflict in the Middle East.
The Asia-North America trade lane was up 14.7% year on year, with five consecutive months of growth, while the Europe-Middle East trade lane was down 41.1%, and recorded four consecutive months of contraction.
