Global airfreight markets recorded a pronounced post-holiday rebound in early January, although volumes and pricing dynamics remain mixed, the latest Cargo Movement Update (CMU) reports.
Compiled by the South African Association of Freight Forwarders (Saaff) and Business Unity SA (Busa), the CMU states that worldwide chargeable weight rose sharply week-on-week by 26%, reversing the typical year-end contraction.
However, tonnages remain about 20% below mid-December peaks.
Also, Saaff and Busa report that yields remain under pressure, despite the volume recovery.
“Average global rates eased further to around $2.46 per kilogram, down roughly 10% from mid-December levels, although marginally above last year’s equivalent,” the CMU says.
Data from the latest update aligns with what has since been released by WorldACD.
According to the international intelligence tracker, air cargo rose 5% week-on-week for the first full week ending January 11, leading up to significant chargeable weight increase for the second week of January, recorded as 25% by WorldACD.
US-based freight-forwarding multinational, AIT Worldwide Logistics, has said that the airfreight surge was already on the cards in December, when it recorded a 6% year-on-year (y-o-y) demand increase.
AIT recorded Asia-Pacific to Europe volumes as particularly strong – up by 15% y-o-y.
It also predicted moderate growth of 2-3% across the sector for 2026, matching projections by freight intelligence consultancy, Xeneta, for the year ahead.
Referencing the December 2025 Global Outlook by the International Air Transport Association, Xeneta said it “explicitly projects 2.4% volume growth to 71.6 million tonnes, with stable yields, despite moderating e-commerce after 2025's +4-6% surge”.
