RUSSIA's invasion of Ukraine and lockdowns in China have put the brakes on growth as air cargo demand was flat in the first quarter of the year.
Figures from data provider WorldACD show that chargeable weight transported by air cargo increased by 2 per cent year on year in January and February but then slipped to a decline of 3 per cent in March.
WorldACD said that lockdowns in China had a big impact resulting in a 13 per cent decline on outbound air cargo and 23 per cent decline on inbound air cargo business to/from the country, reports London's Air Cargo News.
'However, we should point out that business from China south east (including Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Xiamen) was up 18 per cent, compared with minus 29 per cent from China east (including Shanghai),' the data provider said.
'When we further look at March on a country level, we observe that for 74 of the 155 countries for which WorldACD publishes individual data, we find negative outbound growth. That means there were still more countries with positive volume growth.'
Eastern Europe saw its cargo imports drop 38 per cent year on year in March and exports were 15 per cent down.
'From the worldwide region-to-region markets, Europe to/from Asia Pacific was hit hardest in March, as one would expect given the developments on both ends of this market: weight was down - 20 per cent eastbound and -29 per cent westbound.
'The Americas did best in March 2022 and first quarter 2022. Both North America and Central & South America have seen high single digit growth figures, for outbound as well as inbound air cargo volumes in this period.'
Looking at rates, WorldACD said that yields in the first quarter were 29 per cent up on last year in $ per kg terms.
In terms of product categories, live animals, vulnerables/high-tech and perishables contracted, whereas pharma, dangerous goods, express and valuables increased.
SeaNews Turkey
Figures from data provider WorldACD show that chargeable weight transported by air cargo increased by 2 per cent year on year in January and February but then slipped to a decline of 3 per cent in March.
WorldACD said that lockdowns in China had a big impact resulting in a 13 per cent decline on outbound air cargo and 23 per cent decline on inbound air cargo business to/from the country, reports London's Air Cargo News.
'However, we should point out that business from China south east (including Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Xiamen) was up 18 per cent, compared with minus 29 per cent from China east (including Shanghai),' the data provider said.
'When we further look at March on a country level, we observe that for 74 of the 155 countries for which WorldACD publishes individual data, we find negative outbound growth. That means there were still more countries with positive volume growth.'
Eastern Europe saw its cargo imports drop 38 per cent year on year in March and exports were 15 per cent down.
'From the worldwide region-to-region markets, Europe to/from Asia Pacific was hit hardest in March, as one would expect given the developments on both ends of this market: weight was down - 20 per cent eastbound and -29 per cent westbound.
'The Americas did best in March 2022 and first quarter 2022. Both North America and Central & South America have seen high single digit growth figures, for outbound as well as inbound air cargo volumes in this period.'
Looking at rates, WorldACD said that yields in the first quarter were 29 per cent up on last year in $ per kg terms.
In terms of product categories, live animals, vulnerables/high-tech and perishables contracted, whereas pharma, dangerous goods, express and valuables increased.
SeaNews Turkey