Global air cargo tonnage surges 3% YoY in Q1 of 2025

Global air cargo tonnages rose by 3 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in the first quarter of 2025, with average rates increasing by 4 per cent YoY, according to WorldACD Market Data. In March alone, cargo volumes surged 19 per cent month-on-month (MoM) following seasonal factory shutdowns in February. Worldwide flown tonnages in March rebounded to near the monthly levels seen in the second half of 2024, with demand from Asia-Pacific surpassing that of the peak season months of October and November. Spot rates from MESA increased by 5 per cent week-on-week (WoW) to US$2.94 per kg, though they decreased 19 per cent lower than the elevated levels recorded during the same period last year.