By: Logistics Middle east

Air cargo demand continued to improve in September, with Middle Eastern carriers reporting year-on-year growth as the global market recorded a seventh consecutive month of rising volumes, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Middle East carriers saw demand increase by 2.3% compared with September 2024, supported by growth on key trade lanes. Capacity in the region rose by 0.9% year-on-year.

Global growth continues, led by export demand

Globally, air cargo demand rose 2.9% year-on-year in September. Capacity increased by 6.5% compared with the same month last year, driven by improvements in belly capacity as passenger traffic continued to recover.

Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, said “Air cargo demand continued its modest growth trend in September, with seven consecutive months of year-on-year increases. This is being supported by a robust economic backdrop and improving business confidence, particularly in the manufacturing sector.”

Walsh added that the outlook remained dependent on macroeconomic trends, “While the industry’s fundamentals are trending positively, we continue to closely monitor the broader economic environment and any emerging risks.”

Asia-Pacific airlines recorded the strongest regional performance, with demand up 5.6% year-on-year, supported by growth on the Asia–Europe and intra-Asia routes. Capacity in the region increased by 8.7%.

European carriers reported a 2.1% rise in demand, while North America saw a 0.8% increase. African airlines recorded a 1.5% decline in demand compared with a strong performance a year earlier, although capacity rose 3.4%.

Middle East trade lanes remain resilient

IATA reported that Middle East–Asia and Middle East–Europe routes continued to support regional performance, secured by long-haul connectivity and hub capacity. The region’s cargo operators maintained competitive transit times and frequency across core markets.

Latin American carriers saw demand increase by 1.9% year-on-year, with capacity expanding by 2.4%.

IATA said industry performance in the coming months will depend on global economic conditions, inventory cycles, and the pace of manufacturing activity. The association noted that supply chain stability and cost pressures remain key factors to watch.