Air cargo demand rose 3.4 per cent in 2025, driven by shipments of high-value technology goods tied to artificial intelligence supply chains, reports China Daily.

IATA data showed international cargo demand grew 4.2 per cent, with AI-related shipments up 20 per cent year-on-year. These accounted for 53.5 per cent of the value of all goods carried by air, despite representing just seven per cent of total cargo volume.

China's air cargo volume rose 13.3 per cent to 10.17 million tonnes, supported by cross-border e-commerce and exports of high-value manufactured goods. The Civil Aviation Administration of China said investment in cargo hubs is central to aviation logistics growth.

Ezhou Huahu International Airport in Hubei, operated by SF Express, is China's first cargo-focused airport. SF Airlines launched a direct UK route to East Midlands Airport this month, cutting China-UK delivery times to four days.

Analysts said Chinese airlines benefit from shorter Asia-Europe flight times by continuing to use Russian airspace, unlike many Western carriers. Rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East could further tighten global capacity, giving Chinese operators an advantage.

IATA forecasts global cargo demand growth will moderate to 2.4 per cent in 2026, supported by AI-related shipments and events such as the FIFA World Cup. Director-General Willie Walsh said air freight remains indispensable for high-value, time-sensitive goods.