Air cargo experiences a 6% increase in December 2025, but Xeneta raises concerns about the outlook for 2026.

Global air cargo demand ended 2025 positively, with a 6% year-on-year increase in December, driven by a shift from other transport modes to air freight due to its speed and reliability amidst economic uncertainty. Overall, air cargo demand grew 4% for the year, but future growth is projected to slow to 2-3% in 2026, influenced by weaker cross-border e-commerce signals, particularly from China. Despite rising demand, airfreight rates fell 4% year-on-year to USD 2.83 per kg. Policy changes and market volatility may further impact future demand and growth dynamics.