Air cargo has enabled frontloading of $157bn in US imports in the first quarter of 2025, IATA has revealed. The sector transports more than two thirds of global AI-related goods in 2025. Air cargo supports global trade growth of 2.4pc and GDP expansion of 3.2pc amid policy uncertainty.
The aviation body said US air imports increase 81pc year-on-year to 157 billion US dollars in Q1 2025. AI-related consignments are growing 20pc year-on-year and account for 53.5pc of air-transported trade value.
Julia Seiermann shared “Air cargo is a structural component of global economic resilience. In 2025, it helped businesses absorb tariff shocks, enabled rapid trade restructuring, and supported the expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) investment, helping sustain trade and economic growth in a challenging year.” naming Julia Seiermann
The rapid increase in demand for AI-related goods in 2025 was met thanks to air cargo, allowing investment to translate into economic activity rather than being constrained by logistics. As economies increasingly and strategically rely on high-value technology goods, air cargo will continue to play a critical role in ensuring their timely delivery.”
