Cargo throughput results for the beginning of 2019 were mixed, with certain regions performing significantly better than others. Airports in North America saw the majority of growth in cargo volumes in January, while airports in Mainland China saw modest rebounds and European airports experienced a continued decline in cargo volumes following an overall diminished 2018 peak season.
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Airfreight rates on the transpacific trade lane continued to come under pressure in January as contacts say that demand at the start of 2019 has been lacklustre. Figures from Tac Index show that airfreight rates on services from Hong Kong to North America declined by 0.8% year on year to an average of $3.66 per kg.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced global passenger traffic results for 2018 showing that demand (revenue passenger kilometres or RPKs) rose by a healthy 6.5%, whilst air freight grew by 3.5% (both compared to full-year 2017).
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) forecasts the global airline industry net profit to be $35.5 billion in 2019, slightly ahead of the $32.3 billion expected net profit in 2018 (revised down from $33.8 billion forecast in June).
Asian Pacific airlines recorded an “encouraging” increase in air cargo volumes in 2018, despite a slowdown towards the end of the year. The latest figures from the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) show that air cargo volumes increased by 3.9% year on year in 2018. However, growth continued to slow as the year progressed, in December, for example, the member airlines registered a 0.7% decrease compared with a year earlier.
The current United States federal government shutdown is already the longest in history with no clear end in sight, and industry associations and participants are concerned that aviation and airfreight will suffer in the short- and long-term if it is not resolved soon.
The air cargo industry failed to register an increase in demand in November for the first time since March 2016 in what has been described as a big disappointment. The latest figures from airline association IATA show that cargo traffic was flat in November compared with a year earlier, following 31 consecutive months of year-on-year increases.
Every January brings with it anticipation of the months to come and what they hold for airfreight logistics. Trade wars, recent WorldACD reports and the impending finale of Brexit have instilled uncertainty into the market, but the outlook for this year still suggests growth.
Carrier pricing for air cargo shipments is also expected to remain on a steep trajectory, says Chuck Clowdis, managing director of the consultancy Trans-Logistics Group, Inc.
Air cargo volumes for November bucked normal seasonal trends and declined compared with October levels. The latest figures from analyst WorldACD show that there was a 1.4% year-on-year (YoY) decline in cargo volumes in November, but more surprisingly there was a slip of 2% compared with October. Usually air cargo demand increases in November as the industry enters its peak season.