The International Air Transport Association (IATA) today released a report (pdf), showing air cargo’s vital role in sustaining global trade and supporting economic growth in 2025 amid severe trade policy uncertainty. Two key report findings are that:
- Air cargo enabled the frontloading of $157 billion US imports in the first quarter of 2025.
- Air cargo transported more than two thirds of global AI-related goods in 2025.
These activities supported global trade growth of 2.4% in 2025—well above initial forecasts by the World Trade Organization. Global GDP also expanded by 3.2% despite significant policy headwinds.
