IATA: Global Air Cargo Sees July Jump
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released data for global air freight markets showing that demand, measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTKs), rose 2.1% in July 2018, compared to the same period the year before.
Despite it being the slowest pace of growth seen since May 2016 and well below the five-year average growth rate of 5.1% globally, the Middle East has rocketed ahead, with an increase in demand of 5.4%
Freight capacity, measured in available freight tonne kilometers (AFTKs), grew by 3.8% year-on-year in July 2018 - this is the fourth time in five months that capacity growth outstripped demand growth.
Air Cargo Market to Hit Highest CAGR by 2025
While the temporary grounding of the Nippon Cargo Airlines fleet may have exaggerated a slowdown in growth at the beginning of July, there are three indications that slower growth will continue:
- The inventory re-stocking cycle, which requires quick delivery to meet customer needs, ended at the beginning of the year
- There has been a broad-based weakening in manufacturing firms’ export order books
- Longer supplier delivery times are being reported by manufacturers in Asia and Europe, the top two global trading areas by volume
Alexandre de Juniac, IATA's Director General and CEO, said: “July demand for air cargo grew at its slowest pace since 2016. We still expect 4% growth over the course of the year, however the downside risk has increased.
“The tariff war and increasingly volatile trade talks between the world’s two largest trading nations - China and the US - are rippling across the global economy putting a drag on both business and investor sentiment. Trade wars only produce losers."
Air Cargo Growth Takes May Hit
All regions reported year-on-year demand growth in July 2018, except Africa which contracted.
All regions, except Africa and Latin America, reported that capacity growth exceeded growth in demand.
Middle Eastern carriers posted the fastest growth of any region in July 2018 with an increase in demand of 5.4% compared to the same period a year earlier.
Capacity increased 6.3%.
Seasonally-adjusted freight volumes continue to trend upwards, however, at a comparatively modest pace by the region’s standards.
