Softening growth in tonnages and rates

Worldwide air cargo finished the year at its lowest year-on-year full-month growth, with global tonnages in December around +6% higher than in the final month of 2023, although they were already at relatively high levels back then. Average full-market rates in December were around +7% higher, year on year (YoY), which is half of the growth reported in September, according to the latest figures and analysis by WorldACD Market Data. This means tonnage growth for both November (+8%) and December (+6%) had softened to single-digit figures, possibly indicating the beginning of a new more moderate growth trend. This does not come as a surprise, because Q4 was the first quarter of 2023 showing strong growth, so we are now comparing with a higher base.

Total worldwide air cargo tonnages at the start of 2025 recorded only +2% YoY growth in week 1 (30 December to 5 January), although a comparison with the previous year is less straightforward due to the seasonal drop this time of the year, as well as the impact of s…