COSCO
SITC
PACIFIC LINES
Tuesday, 29/04/2025, 11:00 (GMT +7)
416
IATA: March sets new record for air freight as cargo builds up ahead of tariffs
IATA reports record demand for air freight in March as businesses build up cargo ahead of US tariffs, despite global trade policy uncertainties.
Air freight demand returned to growth in March as businesses rushed to move cargo ahead of US tariffs.
Data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) shows that demand – measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTK) – rose 4.4% year-on-year. Meanwhile, capacity increased 4.3% and the cargo load factor remained unchanged at 47.5%.
IATA said that air cargo demand in March hit its highest level on record for the same month, reversing a 0.1% decline in February.
Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general, said the increase was likely related to businesses building up inventory ahead of the Trump administration’s new tariffs.
“March cargo volumes were strong. It is possible that this is partly a front-loading of demand as some businesses tried to beat the well-telegraphed 2 April tariff announcement by the Trump Administration,” Walsh said.
“The uncertainty over how much of the 2 April proposals will be implemented may eventually weigh on trade. In the meantime, the lower fuel costs, which are also a result of the same uncertainty, are a short-term positive factor for air cargo.”
“And, within the temporary pause on implementation, we hope that political leaders will be able to shift trade tensions to reliable agreements that can restore confidence in global supply chains.”
IATA’s assessment appears to be supported by recent economic reports. The US trade balance increased by more than 9% in March to $162 billion.
Analysts attributed this to US businesses rushing to import goods to avoid tariffs.
On trade indicators, IATA said global industrial output rose 3.2% year-on-year and global trade volumes rose 2.9%.
US inflation was 2.4%, down 0.4 percentage points from February. Consumer inflation in the EU was 2.5%, while Japan’s rate fell 0.1% to 3.6%.
“China remains in deflation but this eased to -0.1%,” IATA said.
By region, Asia-Pacific airlines recorded a 9.6% increase in cargo traffic in March, the strongest growth of any region.
North American carriers followed closely behind with a 9.5% increase. European carriers grew by 4.5%, while the Middle East fell by 3.2%.
In Latin America, cargo traffic increased by 5.8%, while Africa fell sharply by 13.4%.
“The Europe-North America route was the busiest trade lane in March. The largest trade lane by market share, Asia-North America, also grew strongly, possibly encouraged by front-loading shipments ahead of potential increased tariffs,” IATA said. “Europe-Middle East and Africa-Asia were the only trade lanes to decline in March.”
See more:
- Kuehne+Nagel: Air freight continues to grow strongly despite tariff tensions
- International shipping and logistics market update - Week 17/2025
- Blank sailings soften drop in container spot rates
- Drewry: Global container volume forecast to fall 1% due to trump tariff war
- Shipping industry braces for demand collapse
- WorldACD Global Air Freight Trends – Week 15 (7–13 April)
- Trans-Pacific blank sailings surge as ocean freight volumes plummet
- COSCO Shipping Lines: US port charges threaten global supply chain
- International shipping and logistics market update - Week 16/2025
- Trump's tariffs plunge global trade forecast
- China says it won't care about Trump's 'tariff numbers game'
- Imports to the US increased in March but may decline due to impact of tariffs, reports S&P Global Market Intelligence
- “Tariff shockwave” causes sharp decline in global container shipping bookings
- IMO approves global net zero emissions regulation for shipping
Source: Phaata.com (According to Aircargo News)
► Find Better Freight Rates & Logistics Service Providers!
Featured News
- Hapag-Lloyd applies Peak Season Surcharge from East Asia to USA and Canada
- The world\'s largest container ships MSC Irina and MSC Loreto floated
- MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) - The world\'s leading container shipping lines
- Information you need to know about Maersk Line
- Top 10 export and import goods between Vietnam - Philippines in the first 5 months of 2020
Market News
.webp)
_(2).webp)
HOT PROMO
See more
2933
Other
Expiry date
CÔNG TY TNHH DỊCH VỤ LOGISTICS BẢO VẬN
2.6
1877
FCL
23 Days
Freight cost
Expiry date
NP LOGISTICS CO.,LTD
2.5
24
Other
Expiry date
INTERLOG CORP - CÔNG TY CỔ PHẦN GIAO NHẬN TIẾP VẬN QUỐC TẾ
Verified
1.3
82
FCL
25 Days
Freight cost
Expiry date
 Nền Trắng.webp)
CÔNG TY CỔ PHẦN THT CARGO LOGISTICS
0.2
74
FCL
25 Days
Freight cost
Expiry date
CÔNG TY CỔ PHẦN THT CARGO LOGISTICS
0.2
WHY PHAATA.COM?
USERS/MONTH
LOGISTICS COMPANIES
REQUEST FOR QUOTEŚ
QUOTATIONS
VIETNAM LOGISTICS COMMUNITY
5 Steps to Get the Best Quote
Find price quickly
and
Send quote request
Compare Quotes
and
Selection
Contact for Further Consultation
and
Send request booking
Get feedback
and
Direct Negotiation
Management
and
Evaluate
Freight rates
Sea freight
7
Days Transit
- ₫7,915,500 / 20'GP
Valid till: 2026-01-31
CÔNG TY TNHH SHIP LINK VIỆT NAM
0.4
20
Days Transit
- ₫21,503,775 / 20'GP
- ₫26,648,850 / 40'GP
Valid till: 2026-02-27
Chi nhánh tại Khu vực Bắc Bộ - Công ty TNHH Giao nhận vận chuyển Quốc tế Trường Hải
3
25
Days Direct
- ₫36,557,000 / 20'GP
- ₫46,288,000 / 40'GP
- ₫46,288,000 / 40'HQ
Valid till: 2026-01-31
SOV（越南海光）
0.1
45
Days Transit
- ₫89,709,000 / 40'HQ
Valid till: 2026-02-14
Công ty T&T Global Agency
1.8
16
Days Transit
- ₫4,749,300 / 20'GP
- ₫13,720,200 / 40'GP
- ₫13,720,200 / 40'HQ
Valid till: 2026-01-31
CÔNG TY CỔ PHẦN THƯƠNG MẠI VÀ TIẾP VẬN ĐẠI DƯƠNG
0.6
3
Days Direct
- ₫0 /cbm
Valid till: 2026-01-31
WR1 MASTER CONSOL
Verified
2.1
8
Days Direct
- ₫0 /cbm
Valid till: 2026-02-01
CÔNG TY TNHH VẬN TẢI BIỂN MINH NGUYÊN
0.1
19
Days Direct
-
Refund
₫1,978,875 /cbm
Valid till: 2026-01-31
CÔNG TY TNHH VẬN TẢI BIỂN MINH NGUYÊN
2.6
30
Days Direct
- ₫1,055,400 /cbm
Valid till: 2025-12-31
CÔNG TY TNHH THƯƠNG MẠI DỊCH VỤ 3N
0
30
Days Transit
- ₫1,319,250 /cbm
Valid till: 2025-12-31
KHAI MINH GROUPS CO., LTD – Ho Chi Minh Branch
2.6
Air freight
1
Days Direct
- 49,438 ₫/kg
Valid till: 2026-01-31
CÔNG TY TNHH EVERGLORY LOGISTICS VIỆT NAM
2.6
7
Days Transit
- 139,841 ₫/kg
Valid till: 2026-01-31
CÔNG TY CỔ PHẦN DỊCH VỤ VÀ HẠ TẦNG Ô TÔ THÀNH CÔNG
2.1
4
Days Direct
- 212,399 ₫/kg
Valid till: 2026-01-17
AN BÌNH EXPRESS
2.6
4
Days Transit
- 97,625 ₫/kg
Valid till: 2026-01-31
MAXTENA SHIPPING&FORWARDING AGENT CO., LTD
2.7
1
Days Direct
- 65,963 ₫/kg
Valid till: 2026-01-10
TTL Cargo Max
2.6
Rail freight
20
Days Direct
- ₫192,610,500 / 40'HQ
Valid till: 2026-01-31
CÔNG TY CỔ PHẦN VẬN TẢI VÀ THƯƠNG MẠI ĐƯỜNG SẮT
Verified
3.8
3
Days Direct
- ₫11,236,500 / 20'GP
- ₫14,982,000 / 40'GP
- ₫14,982,000 / 40'HQ
Valid till: 2025-09-30
SilverSea Co.,Ltd
2.5
26
Days Transit
- ₫170,836,600 / 40'GP
- ₫170,836,600 / 40'HQ
Valid till: 2024-12-31
WORLDLINK LOGISTICS VIET NAM COMPANY LIMITED
1.8
10
Days Direct
- ₫25,502,000 / 20'GP
- ₫25,502,000 / 40'GP
- ₫25,502,000 / 40'HQ
- ₫25,502,000 / 45'HQ
Valid till: 2024-12-31
VIPUTRANS
1.8
3
Days Direct
- ₫17,620,110 / 40'HQ
Valid till: 2024-10-31
CÔNG TY CP PROSHIP
1.8
Road freight
6
Hour
- ₫3,600,000 / 20'GP
- ₫4,100,000 / 40'GP
- ₫4,100,000 / 40'HQ
Valid till: 2026-01-31
CÔNG TY CỔ PHẦN THƯƠNG MẠI VÀ TIẾP VẬN ĐẠI DƯƠNG
0.6
1
Day
- ₫4,100,000 / 40'GP
Valid till: 2026-02-18
CÔNG TY TNHH THƯƠNG MẠI DỊCH VỤ 3N
0
9
Hour
- ₫15,039,450 / 20'RF
Valid till: 2025-11-30
Headway Joint Stock Compnay
3.5
2
Day
- ₫60,000,000 / 20'GP
- ₫80,000,000 / 40'GP
- ₫80,000,000 / 40'HQ
- ₫80,000,000 / 45'HQ
Valid till: 2026-10-31
CÔNG TY CỔ PHẦN MORNING LOGISTICS
2
1
Day
- ₫4,500,000 / 40'HQ
Valid till: 2025-09-30
CÔNG TY TNHH LOGISTICS FV
2.5
Request For Quotes
Help you send and receive quotes from Forwarders on the market quickly and efficiently.
See more
