Global demand for Air cargo transportation I was surprised again in October: volumes, measured by cargo tons per kilometer (CTK), rose by 4.1% on an annual basisand reached an all-time and serial high Eight consecutive months of growth.
Capacity (ACTK) has also expanded, with an increase 5.1%at an important moment for the peak season in the fourth quarter, when the aircraft becomes crucial for urgent shipments, e-commerce and inventory replenishment.
The data comes from the latest report of International Air Transport Association (IATA) In global air freight markets, this also represents a 4.8% increase in demand for international operations and a 6.4% increase in international capacity. According to the organization, the sector is entering the peak season with record volumes and a road map in full transformation.
In this appropriate global context, latin america It remains among the areas of greatest concern. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Latin American airlines have scored a He falls Follower 2.7% In demand Air freightIt is the worst performance with North America. the capacityHowever, it increased 2.8% on an annual basisThis translates into the largest deterioration in load factor among all regions.
For regional logistics, this means a complex scenario:
- More warehouse space available without corresponding demand,
- Greater pressure on prices and margins,
- And the need to adjust networks and frequencies so that supply is not bloated.
In a historically intense fourth quarter, the decline in volumes forced exporters, importers and freight operators in the region to review strategies: better selection of call centres, combining air transport with other modes and anticipating capacity negotiations in the most active corridors.
The global demand record supports a production environment that is beginning to show more dynamism. According to the International Air Transport Association report, in September Global trade in goods It grew by about 3% year-on-year, instead Global industrial production Advanced A 3.7%This is the fastest pace since March 2025 and the strongest monthly reading since late 2022.
Leading indicators partly accompany this improvement. Index Global Manufacturing PMI It rose for the third month in a row to 51.45 pointsexpansion sign. However, New export orders It was present in 48.31 pointsIt remains below the 50 threshold, reflecting caution in the face of tariff uncertainty and foreign trade that has not yet fully consolidated its recovery.
Added to this is the pressure he exerts Energy costs. The International Air Transport Association warns that despite the decline in crude oil, the price of jet fuel rose 2.5% in October, and the spread with Brent crude has almost doubled compared to last year. Meanwhile, freight revenues fell for the sixth straight month, down 4.7% year-on-year, in a market where capacity is growing faster than demand.
The IATA report shows that the pattern of growth across trade routes is being rearranged. The way Asia-North America Its contraction cycle extended to six months, while traffic stopped Within Asiabetween Europe and AsiaAnd between Middle East and Europe It recorded double-digit growth or close to that level.
The way Europe and Asia That was from Better performance In October, with a double-digit increase in demand, followed by the Middle East-Asia, Africa-Asia routes and intra-regional traffic in Asia. The path between Europe and North America showed more moderate but positive growth, while Europe and the Middle East remained practically stable.
This shift flows towards Eurasia and Asia He emphasizes that air freight serves as a tool for supply chains to adapt to the impact of the Coronavirus US tariffs and reshaping trade relations, as highlighted by the International Air Transport Association in its analysis.
Aside from the case of Latin America, the rest of the regions show mixed performance:
- Africa Growth led, with an increase 16.6% Upon request and 20% on capacity.
- Asia Pacific I made progress 8.3% In terms of size, with the accompanying ability to grow.
- Europe showed an increase in 4.3% Both in terms of demand and capacity, while maintaining high load factors.
- The Middle East A. grew up 5.7% In demand, despite a 10% capacity expansion, resulting in moderate occupancy levels.
- north americaLike Latin America, it has witnessed a decline 2.7% In demand, with almost stagnant capacity (+0.1%).
The IATA reading is clear: while some regions are benefiting from the new map of routes and flows, others are going through a period of adaptation that is straining costs and forcing them to rethink strategies.
The report also shows changes in management Payload capacity. The share of passenger aircraft in total international supply is growing and already represents more than half of available capacity, with strong growth on routes such as North America – Asia, Europe – Asia and within Asia.
In parallel, Pure cargo ships They lose participation in some lanes and are redirected towards routes with greater demand, e.g Europe and Asia and Europe – North America.
to Supply chains From Latin America and the rest of the world, this translates into several operational challenges:
- Plan more precisely Space availability On critical roads;
- Combining warehouse and shipping capacity according to goods type, value and urgency;
- Expect potential price tensions in corridors where demand continues to expand.
short, Air cargo transportation It ended the year with record volumes according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), but with a very clear geography of winners and losers. For Latin America, the challenge is twofold: take advantage of growing corridors and, at the same time, prevent the gap between capacity and demand from eroding the region’s logistics competitiveness by 2026.