Global air cargo demand rose +6% year-on-year in August, meaning shippers must wait longer for a bigger drop in still-elevated freight rates, says Xeneta.
Niall van de Wouw & Wenwen Zhang
Global air cargo demand remained strong in August, with volumes up +6% year-on-year, meaning shippers must wait a little longer to see a bigger drop in still-elevated freight rates, say industry analysts Xeneta.
OSLO, Norway, 4 September 2026
Air cargo's 'hot summer' of 2026 continued last month after the +5% year-on-year rise in volumes recorded in July, underlining the market's resilience through the traditionally quieter summer months. Year-on-year spot rate growth is easing again but global air cargo spot rates (valid for up to one month) remained +24% higher year-on-year in August at an average of USD 3.13 per kg.
The pace of rate growth eased for a third consecutive month, following +28% in July, +38% in June, and the +41% peak in May. Spot rates also fell -3% month-on-month, a smaller step down than July's -6% decline. (....)