Global air cargo volumes rose 9% year on year in September, with Asia and North America driving the expansion across the freight network.

The increase signals sustained demand strength on east-west trade lanes, where capacity constraints and manufacturing output from Asian export hubs continue to support tonnage growth.

What is driving the 9% rise?

Asia and North America stand out as the two regions powering the global figure. Asian origin markets have repeatedly anchored airfreight growth this year, as factory output and e-commerce flows out of the region fill belly hold and freighter capacity alike.

North American demand adds a second engine. Volumes tied to the region reflect robust consumer and industrial intake, keeping load factors firm on trans-Pacific services.

For carriers, a 9% volume increase at the global level points to a market where capacity additions have not outrun demand. For shippers and forwarders, the same dynamic keeps pressure on available space, particularly out of Asian gateways during the build toward peak season.

Why does September matter for the market?

September sits at the front edge of the traditional airfreight peak, when e-commerce promotions and year-end restocking lift shipments ahead of the holiday period. A strong volume reading this month suggests shippers booked capacity earlier than usual, a pattern forwarders have watched closely as they secure space for Q4.

A 9% global increase also implies the growth is broad-based rather than isolated to a single lane. When Asia and North America rise in tandem, the effect spreads across connecting routes, airport cargo hubs, and trucking legs feeding airport gateways.

For cargo airports, higher throughput means busier terminals and tighter handling slots. For airlines, it supports yield discipline at a moment when freighter operators weigh capacity deployment for the final quarter.

What comes next for rates and capacity?

If the September pace holds, carriers will likely keep capacity tight through the peak, which historically supports rate levels on major east-west corridors. Shippers moving volume out of Asia in particular should expect firm pricing and tighter booking windows in the final months of the year.

The trajectory now depends on whether October and November volumes sustain the momentum September established, with capacity decisions by freighter operators set to shape rate direction into 2025.