Global air cargo demand and rates edged higher in the first full week of February, as freighter capacity from Central and South America normalised after the peak of Valentine’s Day flower shipments and airlines reduced capacity from parts of Greater China ahead of Lunar New Year, data from WorldACD Market Data showed.

Global chargeable weight rose 2% week on week in week six (Feb. 2-8), marking the fifth consecutive weekly increase following the year-end slowdown.

Tonnages from North America rebounded 8% from the previous week as capacity returned after winter storms had disrupted flights, while volumes from the Middle East and South Asia increased 7%, partly reflecting earlier flight disruptions linked to tensions between the United States and Iran, according to WorldACD’s latest figures.

Shipments from Central and South America fell 4% week on week after surging 24% in the prior week, as the pre-Valentine’s Day rush eased. The seasonal spike had seen hundreds of freighter flights move flowers from Colombia and Ecuador to hubs in North America, it stated.

From Asia Pacific, overall volumes rose 1% week on week, although flows to the US and Europe were broadly flat. Spot rates from China to the US increased 6% to $4.69 per kg, while rates from Japan and South Korea declined.

Volumes from Asia Pacific to Europe were stable overall, with increases from Taiwan and Vietnam offsetting weaker flows from Japan and South Korea. Average spot rates on the corridor rose 2%, supported by higher prices from China.

Traffic from Middle East and South Asia to the US jumped 12% week on week, driven by higher volumes from Dubai, India and Bangladesh. The shipments to Europe rose 6%, though recent volatility has made trends less clear, WorldACD said.

For 2025 as a whole, combined air cargo tonnages to and from North America increased 2.5% year on year, with US volumes up 2.6% and Canada up around 8%, while Mexico declined nearly 5%.-TradeArabia News Service