Global Air Freight Volumes Fall 4% as Asian Exports Face New Challenges

Global air freight activity weakened during the first full week of August, highlighting continued volatility across international cargo markets.

According to the latest data from WorldACD Market Data, global chargeable air freight weight declined by 4% during week 32, covering 3–9 August 2026. The decline reversed the modest increase recorded during the previous week.

The latest figures show that the global air freight market remains sensitive to weather disruptions, regional trade conditions, and changes in international e-commerce flows.

For importers and exporters, particularly businesses that depend on time-sensitive international cargo, these developments are worth watching closely.

At Global Africa Logistics (GAL), we monitor changes in international freight markets to help businesses better understand the factors that can influence cargo movement, transit times and transportation costs.

Global Air Freight Demand Declines Across Major Regions

The latest WorldACD figures show that the decline in global air freight was widespread.

Chargeable weight decreased across all major origin regions during the week.

The Middle East and South Asia (MESA) experienced the largest decline, with air cargo volumes falling 6% week on week.

Other major regions recorded the following changes:

• Europe: -4%
• North America: -4%
• Asia Pacific: -3%
• Africa: -2%
• Central and South America: -2%

Despite the weekly contraction, the overall global air freight market remained slightly stronger than it was a year earlier.

Global chargeable weight was approximately 1% higher than during the same week in 2025.

This suggests that the latest decline does not necessarily indicate a sustained collapse in air cargo demand. Instead, the market continues to experience short-term fluctuations.

Air Cargo Market Remains Volatile

The latest figures underline the unpredictable nature of the global air freight market.

WorldACD reported that international air cargo traffic had moved within a relatively narrow range during the previous four weeks, alternating between weekly increases and declines.

When the latest two-week period was compared with the preceding two weeks, global chargeable weight was down approximately 1%.

Asia Pacific exports declined by around 2%, while North American exports fell 3%.

Meanwhile, MESA and Europe recorded approximately 1% growth, while Central and South American and African volumes remained broadly stable.

Industry data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) also shows that air cargo demand remained resilient during 2026, despite significant regional and geopolitical disruptions.

For businesses using air freight, these fluctuations demonstrate why shipment planning should take both market conditions and operational disruptions into account.

Asia Pacific Exports Come Under Pressure

Asia Pacific was one of the regions most closely watched during the latest reporting period.

Exports from the region declined on routes to Europe and North America, as well as on intra-regional services.

The only major destination showing growth from Asia Pacific was MESA, where volumes increased by approximately 1%.

Several Asian origins recorded significant changes.

Japan was one of the exceptions to the broader decline. Japanese exports to the United States increased by approximately 12%, while shipments to Europe grew by 3%.

Malaysia also recorded growth in exports to the US, with volumes increasing by around 4%.

Other markets experienced sharper declines. Taiwan’s exports to the US fell by approximately 11%, while Indonesia recorded a decline of around 10%.

These changes demonstrate how uneven the global air freight market can become across different origin-destination pairs.

Typhoon Disruptions Affect Asian Air Freight

Weather-related disruption was another major factor affecting Asian cargo movements.

According to WorldACD, Typhoon Dolphin disrupted air cargo operations in China, with evacuations reported in Shanghai and Beijing and more than 1,000 flight cancellations reported in Shanghai.

The impact was not limited to aviation.

The storm also disrupted operations at Shanghai and other Chinese maritime gateways, creating additional uncertainty for exporters relying on ocean transportation.

When maritime services are disrupted, some businesses may consider moving urgent cargo from sea freight to air freight to reduce potential delays.

This can create additional pressure on air cargo capacity, particularly for time-sensitive products.

Shanghai Air Cargo Volumes Decline

Shanghai was among the Asian origins significantly affected during the week.

Chargeable air cargo weight from Shanghai fell by approximately 8% week on week.

The decline included:

• North America: -4%
• Europe: -7%
• Intra-Asia Pacific: -12%

The decline demonstrates how weather disruptions can quickly affect several trade lanes simultaneously.

For businesses sourcing goods from China, disruptions affecting major logistics hubs such as Shanghai can have consequences beyond the immediate transportation delay.

A disruption at the origin can affect production schedules, cargo availability, warehouse planning, vessel bookings and delivery commitments.

Mainland China’s Air Freight Exports Decline

Exports from mainland China decreased by approximately 5% during the reporting week.

China remains one of the world’s most important manufacturing and export markets, meaning changes in Chinese air freight activity can have implications for international supply chains.

The latest figures also showed continued weakness in some China-Europe e-commerce flows.

WorldACD pointed to the continuing effects of changes to the European Union’s de minimis arrangements for e-commerce shipments, with mainland China’s air cargo volumes to Europe down approximately 8% year on year.

Hong Kong experienced an even sharper decline on the China-Europe route, with volumes down approximately 29% year on year.

These changes highlight the importance of monitoring both transportation conditions and trade-policy developments when planning international cargo.

What Does This Mean for Businesses Using Air Freight?

The latest global air freight data provides several important lessons for importers and exporters.

1. Air freight demand can change quickly

Businesses should avoid assuming that air cargo capacity and pricing will remain constant.

Market conditions can change rapidly because of weather, geopolitical developments, consumer demand and changes in other transportation modes.

2. Disruptions in ocean freight can affect air cargo

When sea freight routes experience significant delays, businesses may shift urgent shipments to air transportation.

This can increase demand for air cargo capacity and potentially affect freight rates.

3. Asian logistics hubs remain critical

Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore and other major Asian gateways play important roles in international supply chains.

Disruptions at these locations can affect businesses thousands of kilometres away.

4. Planning is essential for time-sensitive cargo

Companies moving urgent goods should build contingency plans into their logistics strategy.

Depending on the shipment, this could involve:

• Alternative airports
• Different airlines
• Sea-air solutions
• Alternative suppliers
• Additional inventory buffers
• Alternative ports
• Earlier booking

Implications for African Importers

Changes in the global air freight market are also relevant to African businesses.

Many companies across Africa depend on international suppliers for machinery, spare parts, electronics, pharmaceuticals, industrial inputs and other time-sensitive products.

For businesses in Cameroon, disruptions affecting major Asian or European cargo hubs can eventually influence the cost and availability of shipments arriving through international airports.

A company importing urgent equipment from China, for example, may need to consider whether air freight remains the most suitable option if maritime transportation is disrupted.

Likewise, an exporter shipping products from Cameroon to international markets needs to consider available airline capacity, transit times, cargo documentation and destination requirements.

Air Freight or Sea Freight: Which Should You Choose?

The latest developments also demonstrate why businesses should not view air freight and sea freight as completely separate logistics solutions.

Each transportation mode has its advantages.

Air freight is generally more appropriate for:

• Urgent shipments
• High-value goods
• Lightweight cargo
• Perishable products
• Time-sensitive spare parts

Sea freight can be more suitable for:

• Large shipments
• Heavy cargo
• Full containers
• Non-urgent goods
• Cost-sensitive transportation

A disruption in one mode can sometimes make the other more attractive.

This is why businesses should assess their cargo requirements before selecting a transportation method.

How GAL Can Help With Air Freight

At Global Africa Logistics (GAL), we understand that international cargo requires more than simply selecting a transportation method.

Our logistics coordination can support businesses with international shipment planning, including air freight, ocean freight, customs clearance, inland transportation, and 

For air cargo, important considerations include:

• Cargo type
• Weight and dimensions
• Origin airport
• Destination airport
• Required delivery time
• Documentation
• Customs requirements
• Available routing options
• Insurance requirements

Our goal is to help businesses evaluate the available transportation options and choose a logistics solution that matches their cargo requirements.

If your business needs to move urgent cargo between Cameroon and international markets, GAL can help coordinate the logistics process from origin to destination.

What to Watch in the Global Air Freight Market

The next few weeks will be important for determining whether the latest decline is temporary or part of a broader change in international air cargo demand.

Regular air cargo market analysis can help businesses monitor changes in demand, capacity, trade lanes, and market conditions.

Businesses should continue monitoring:

• Asian export activity
• Weather disruptions
• Airline capacity
• Air cargo rates
• E-commerce trade flows
• China-Europe cargo demand
• US-Europe trade
• Changes in customs and trade policies
• Ocean freight disruptions that could shift cargo to air

The interaction between these factors will continue to shape the global air freight market.

Final Thoughts

The latest WorldACD figures show that global air freight volumes fell 4% during the first full week of August, reversing the modest growth recorded a week earlier.

However, the year-on-year picture remains slightly positive, with global chargeable weight still around 1% above the same period in 2025.

The latest decline therefore appears to reflect continued market volatility rather than a clear downward trend.

For businesses involved in international trade, the key lesson is the importance of flexibility.

Weather events such as Typhoon Dolphin, changing trade policies and disruptions to ocean transportation can all influence the global air freight market and create new challenges for supply-chain managers.

For African importers and exporters, monitoring these developments and working with experienced logistics partners can help reduce the impact of unexpected transportation disruptions.

Global Africa Logistics — Your Cargo, Our Commitment.