According to the latest report from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), air freight traffic on African airlines fell by 3.4% in January 2025 compared with the same period in 2024.
Paradoxically, capacity increased by 5.4%, revealing an under-utilization of infrastructure.
Africa, along with the Middle East (-8.4%), is one of the only regions in the world where air freight is down.
In contrast, Latin America posted a spectacular 11.2% increase, followed by Asia-Pacific (+7.5%), North America (+5.3%) and Europe (+1.3%).
A growing global market
Despite these regional disparities, global flows rose by 3.2%, marking 18 consecutive months of growth (+3.6% for international operations). This momentum is underpinned by a number of positive indicators:
– Global industrial production rose by 2.6% in December 2024.
– International merchandise trade grew for a ninth consecutive month (+3.3% in December).
– The manufacturing PMI index remained above the 50-point mark in January, signalling expansion in the sector.
Contrasting outlook for Africa
While other regions are benefiting from the economic upturn, Africa is struggling to capitalize on the air freight boom. Lack of modern infrastructure, high costs and weak intra-African trade integration are holding back the sector.
“Demand remains volatile in Africa, and the lack of a fluid logistics chain weighs on the continent’s competitiveness,” stresses one air transport expert.
In the short term, the African market will need to strengthen its infrastructure and improve connectivity to capture a larger share of global air freight growth.
Flory Musiswa