Air cargo demand is slowing but capacity is up (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Air cargo volumes were sluggish in Africa compared to other global regions during March, according to the latest analysis from the International Air Transport Association (IATA)

During March 2025, African airlines recorded a -13.4% year-on-year decrease in demand for air cargo services, the slowest among all regions globally.

This is in stark contrast with the global industry average, which saw a 4.4% rise in air cargo demand, measured in cargo-tonne-kilometres, versus March 2024, IATA reported.

Demand for air cargo is a useful barometer of trade, with many high-value items transported by air, such as smart phones and IT equipment, automotive components, precious metals and gems, perishable food items and pharmaceuticals.

E-commerce shipments and other courier items are also a growing component of the air cargo industry.

However, Africa also recorded a 10.5% year-on-year increase in cargo capacity, most of which is belly cargo hold space on passenger aircraft, according to the IATA analysis.

Africa also posted a cargo load factor of 37.1%, representing a year-on-year fall of -10.4%. In other words, a little more than one third of available capacity was taken up by the market.

It makes Africa the weakest-performing region monitored by the airline group, according to Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general, who noted that, globally, air cargo volumes overall fared well.

“March cargo volumes were strong,” he said. “It is possible that this is partly a front-loading of demand as some businesses tried to beat the well-telegraphed 2 April tariff announcement by the Trump Administration.”

He said the uncertainty over how much of the 2 April proposals in the USA will be implemented may eventually weigh on trade.

“In the meantime, the lower fuel costs — which are also a result of the same uncertainty — are a short-term positive factor for air cargo. And, within the temporary pause on implementation, we hope that political leaders will be able to shift trade tensions to reliable agreements that can restore confidence in global supply chains.”

While the Europe-North America route was the busiest trade lane in March, Africa-Asia and Europe-Middle East were the only trade lanes to record declines.

The Africa-Asia route has now recorded four consecutive months of decline.

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Cargo ships in Durban South Africa

A new report exploring southern Africa’s logistics sector suggests that supply chain investments and improved infrastructure could boost intra-regional trade by as much as 50% over the coming five years

As trade corridors expand and the demand for sustainable supply chain solutions grows, the report, by Reload Logistics, points to a promising future for the region, with trade also surging on the back of the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA).

The report — Unlocking Southern Africa’s Trade Potential in 2025 and Beyond — projects that by 2030, the ACFTA will boost intra-African trade by over 50%, creating new commodity flows while regional infrastructure investments address network gaps.

It also sheds light on the transformative trends shaping infrastructure, trade integration and digital innovation that are driving southern Africa’s logistics landscape.

Satellite tracking, for example, has reduced cargo theft by 40% along high-risk mining corridors by identifying unauthorised stops and route deviation.

Similarly, port congestion algorithms are assisting bulk carriers in predicting optimal loading windows, reducing demurrage costs at major ports and terminals across southern Africa by up to 20%.

Key insights from the report include:

Critical minerals driving growth: Southern Africa provides around 30% of the world’s critical minerals for electric vehicles, including cobalt and copper, contributing to the transition towards cleaner energy.

Strategic infrastructure investments: The Kasomeno-Mwenda Road Project is removing over 300 km from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to Tanzania routes, while the Dar es Salaam Maritime Gateway Project plans to double port capacity to 30 million tons by 2030.

Technological transformation: Technological logistics solutions have improved route optimisation by up to 15%.

Sustainability imperatives: By 2030, demand for green logistics could reach approximately US$350bn globally, with exporters increasingly adopting lower-carbon transport options.

Transformative trade corridors: Port developments at Dar es Salaam, Durban, Walvis Bay and Beira are enhancing efficiencies and opening cross-border opportunities.

“Southern Africa’s logistics sector is at a pivotal turning point, shaped by rising trade activity, major infrastructure investments and the growing demand for efficiency,” the report noted.

“With the region’s economy expected to grow by 4.2% in the coming years — driven by commodity exports and transport network improvements — producers, traders and manufacturers must adapt to an increasingly dynamic and interconnected environment.”

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Maersk opens a state-of-the-art warehouse in Dakar to streamline supply chains and drive regional logistics efficiency. (Image source: Maersk)

A.P. Moller – Maersk has officially opened its advanced warehousing facility in Senegal, marking a major step in expanding its integrated logistics footprint across West Africa

The new 10,000 sq m site is ideally located between the Port of Dakar and the city's industrial zone, offering close access—just 10 km—to essential logistics infrastructure, industrial operations, and consumer markets.

This strategic placement enhances distribution within Senegal and supports cross-border logistics into neighbouring West African nations, reinforcing Maersk’s goal of offering fully integrated supply chain services tailored to customer needs.

"This investment in Dakar demonstrates our long-term commitment to Senegal and the broader West African region. By establishing this modern warehouse facility, we're delivering on our promise to create seamless, integrated logistics solutions that enable our customers to optimise their supply chains and accelerate growth," commented Thomas Theeuwes, managing director for Maersk West Africa.

Smart. Sustainable. Seamless.

The facility includes 5,100 sq m of indoor storage, 7,036 pallet positions, and an additional 500 sq m of outdoor space. It supports diverse product categories such as consumer goods, electronics, fashion, and retail items.

Value-added services like labelling, packaging, palletisation, order management, distribution, and pallet customisation are also available. This comprehensive offering enables clients to entrust all cargo-related processes to Maersk, simplifying operations.

"West Africa represents a dynamic and rapidly evolving market with unique logistics challenges," continued Theeuwes. "Our customers deserve reliable, efficient warehouse solutions that connect seamlessly with transportation services. This facility directly addresses those needs and will contribute to the economic growth in the region."

The warehouse is equipped with a modern Warehouse Management System (WMS) and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), allowing real-time transaction tracking and better supply chain transparency through integration with customer systems.

Designed with sustainability in mind, the warehouse draws 60% of its power from solar energy and uses electric material handling vehicles. Enhanced safety measures include forklift cameras, pedestrian sensors, a robust fire protection system, and 24/7 security surveillance aligned with international and local safety standards.

This Dakar site adds to Maersk’s extensive West African facility network spanning over 100,000 sq m across eight countries—Dakar, Abidjan, Tema, Douala, Lagos, Conakry, Lome, and Cotonou—all operating under uniform HSSE protocols.

Work begins on the Cross Rivers State SAPZ. (Image source: AfDB)

Nigeria’s Cross River State has commenced the construction of its Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SPAZ), set to play a key role in transforming agricultural trade and logistics in the area

The SAPZ aims to tackle food insecurity, enhance local production, and position Nigeria as a food export leader by leveraging Cross River’s ports and research assets to boost global trade, reduce food imports and drive prosperity through the agro-industrialisation of crops like cocoa and cassava.

The project is one of a number of similar schemes being supported in Nigeria by the African Development Bank (AfDB).

The groundbreaking in Cross River follows that of Kaduna, which took place days earlier, while six other states — Kano, Kwara, Imo, Ogun, Oyo, and the Federal Capital Territory — are included in Phase 1 of the US$538mn SAPZ programme.

There are plans to expand to the remaining 28 states this year pending approval for Phase 2 funding.

Nigeria’s vice-president Kashim Shettima said the SAPZ programme has been recognised as a national priority for food security in the country.

“There is no better time than now for the federal and state governments, development partners, the private sector, and our communities to work hand in hand to ensure the success of the SAPZ project.”

AfDB president Dr Akinwumi Adesina called it a “big day” for Nigeria, bringing “good news to farmers, agribusinesses and all rural areas of Nigeria. Good news of jobs, wealth and prosperity with agriculture as a business.”

He also highlighted Cross River’s export potential: “Bakasi deep seaport will turn the state into a logistics hub in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea, enabling trade with Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau.”

The 130-hectare Agro-Industrial Hub in Adiabo will leverage the ports of Calabar and Bakassi, plus a 23 kVA power plant in Tinapa and a 630 kVA Calabar power plant.

Its Agricultural Transformation Centre, supported by the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria and the University of Calabar, sits 45 minutes from Ikom, Etung, and Boki, boosting cocoa production for global markets.

Adesina added that the SAPZs will help Nigeria reduce food imports, conserve foreign exchange, expand local production and processing of food and agricultural commodities, strengthen the Naira, and attract significant private investment into the development of agricultural value chains.

The AfDB has committed US$934mn to SAPZs across 11 African countries.

In Nigeria, the initiative has also received funding from the Islamic Development Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the Green Climate Fund.

Cross Rivers State Governor Bassey Otu said the establishment of clusters of smallholder farmers focused on staple and cash crops such as rice, cassava, millet, cocoa, and oil palm marked a vital step toward agro-industrialisation.

“These initiatives are aimed at strengthening food security, diversifying our state’s economy toward export-oriented agriculture, and boosting our GDP,” he said.

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