Airports Council International (ACI) just released global air freight volumes for November 2019, showing a slight easing in the current downturn affecting the air freight industry.

The global airport association revealed that total air freight volumes fell by -2 per cent in November, up from -2.9 per cent in October. The results brought year-to-date decline to -3 per cent, with only one month of data left to compile in 2019.

The international segment saw a particularly large uptick, only falling by -1.8 per cent on a year-over-year basis, compared to October’s -4.5 per cent. The resulting year-to-date figure went sideways, however, standing at -4.4 per cent.

Europe remained in negative territory in November, with volumes falling by -0.2 per cent, bringing year-to-date growth to -2.5 per cent. The year-to-date figure was mostly in line with the region’s international freight market, which represents most of its market, and which stands at -2.7 per cent.

Asia-Pacific and the US

Asia-Pacific posted a decline of -1.5 per cent in November, after a much more difficult month of October (-4 per cent). Year-to-date results are still at -5.1 per cent, having fallen much more than the other major regional markets in 2019.

Here again, North America posted the lowest growth figure among major markets. The region’s total freight volumes fell by -4 per cent during the month, to reach -0.8 per cent on a year-to-date basis. Still, end-of-year growth for the region should remain much higher than its regional peers.

The Middle East’s air freight volumes fell by -1 per cent in November, while Latin America-Caribbean declined by -2 per cent. The two freight markets remained in comparable territory on a year-to-date basis, however, at -2.9 per cent and -3.3 per cent respectively.

Africa, despite the success of its passenger market, suffered a substantial decline in November, falling by -4.5 per cent. The region remained the only market with a positive year-to-date result, at +0.2 per cent with only December left to account for. The region started 2019 with particularly strong numbers, but akin to North America, July marked a trend change for its freight market.

Read more about Airports Council International at https://aci.aero.