WorldACD: Global Air Cargo Volumes Up 4% in Q3 2025, Super Typhoon Challenges Supply Chains in Late September

The latest data from WorldACD reveals that global air cargo volumes in the third quarter of 2025 rose by 4% year-on-year, though rates saw a slight decline. However, Super Typhoon Ragasa caused severe disruptions across Asia in late September, posing a significant challenge to supply chains ahead of the Golden Week holiday.

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Air freight (Photo: Freepik)

Chargeable weight for the three months ending in September continued the stable quarterly year-on-year (YoY) growth pattern, following a +4% increase in Q2 and +3% in Q1. For the first nine months of the year (YtD), air cargo volumes are up +4% YoY, while overall rates for 2025 so far have been broadly on par with those of the first nine months of 2024.

The regional growth model in Q3 largely mirrored the year's overall performance. Specifically, all origin regions posted YoY growth, with Asia-Pacific leading the pack at +7%, followed by +3% gains from Europe, North America, and Central & South America (CSA). Intra-Asia-Pacific lanes, already the world's largest regional market, showed the most robust expansion, surging by +10% in Q3 compared to the same period last year.

Quarter-on-Quarter Volume Growth

Compared to the previous quarter (QoQ), chargeable weight in Q3 increased by an additional +3%. This was driven by a +4% rise from the Asia-Pacific region, +9% from the Middle East & South Asia (MESA), and increases of +3% and +2% from North America and Europe, respectively.

On the pricing front, the average global rate in Q3 was equivalent to Q2. However, compared to Q3 last year, this year's third-quarter average was -3% lower. This decline is mainly because air freight rates last year rose steadily throughout the year, particularly from the Asia-Pacific and MESA regions. In contrast, average rates this year have remained quite stable from all major origin regions.

Preliminary figures for the full month of September show that the final month of the quarter also followed the general trend of 2025, despite some significant fluctuations in certain markets—including those caused by new and revised U.S. import tariffs.

The average global rate was $2.43/kg in September, very close to the levels of August, July, and June. But compared to September of last year, the global average this year was -6% lower, as 2025 rates have not yet begun the end-of-year surge that had already appeared by September last year, especially out of Asia-Pacific markets.

Asia-Pacific Disrupted by Super Typhoon

Looking at week 39 specifically, total global flown volumes in the final week of September dropped by -2% compared to the preceding week. This was primarily caused by a decline in volumes from Asia-Pacific markets, linked to cancellations and other disruptions caused by "Super Typhoon Ragasa."

The storm, considered the world's most powerful this year, led to significant flight disruptions and cancellations in the first half of week 39 across Taiwan (China), Hong Kong (China), and southeastern China. Hong Kong (China) and Shenzhen were particularly hard-hit, but a large number of flights were also canceled from Guangzhou and Shanghai. This was reflected in the week 39 air cargo figures, with volumes from Hong Kong (China) to the USA falling -17% week-on-week (WoW). Similarly, volumes from Taiwan (China) and China to the USA also dropped by -7% and -4%, respectively. A similar picture emerged on lanes to Europe, with volumes from Hong Kong (China) down -19% (WoW) and from China down -7% (WoW).

This drop in capacity and volume occurred during a period when demand is typically higher than normal in preparation for China's "Golden Week" holiday in the first week of October. The 2025 Golden Week was already anticipated to be an unusual supply chain challenge due to the convergence of the traditional National Day holiday and the Mid-Autumn Festival, creating an extended 8-day break (from October 1-8). However, the impact of Super Typhoon Ragasa in late September on both air and ocean supply chains is expected to add further complexity and prolong the recovery period for freight industry stakeholders.

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