Average airfreight volumes exceeded a million kilograms a day on the back of significant in- and outbound increases at OR Tambo International Airport, the last Cargo Movement Update (CMU) has found.
Compiled by the South African Association of Freight Forwarders and Business Unity SA, the CMU for last week’s airfreight data found that “the daily average amounted to 713 000 kg inbound and 383 000 kg outbound”.
Respectively the figures represent increases of 11% and 9%.
Additionally, year-on-year (y-o-y) “the current levels remain significantly above last year’s level”, up by 38%, “and have exceeded the comparative levels of pre-pandemic February 2020”, the update says.
On the global side of airfreight performance, the International Air Transport Association, has reported volumes reaching record levels in the fourth quarter of 2025, increasing 4.6% “and extending the industry’s growth streak to ten consecutive quarters”.
Capacity expansion keeping up with demand has enabled the current above-average achievement.
The CMU furthermore states: “African carriers were among the strongest performers, with cargo volumes rising by 15,1% (y-o-y) and capacity increasing sharply, reflecting the region’s strengthening integration into global air freight networks.”
There’s also a downside to the current set of dynamic data.
“Concerning high-frequency metrics, global air freight volumes declined by 7% (week-on-week) in mid-February, ending a five-week growth streak, as seasonal flower shipments concluded and demand softened ahead of the Lunar New Year.”
However, “despite this short-term decline, underlying market conditions remained resilient, with global tonnage up 7% (y-o-y), capacity up 10% (y-o-y), and average rates increasing to $2,45/kg”.
The update’s assessment is that it reflects continued structural strength in pricing and international air cargo demand.
