WorldACD reported that part of air cargo figures in April is back to 'normal level' although uncertainty remains as other measures were not even near ‘normal.’
The air cargo data provider said worldwide volumes were up by 53% and wide-body capacity by a ‘matching’ 51% year-over-year as air cargo increased by a much more ‘normal’ 3% when compared to April 2019.
"April 2021 may be remembered by some as the month in which at least part of the air cargo figures returned to some kind of normality," WorldACD said in a statement.
"Yet, it is not unjustified to speak of a business continuing to be turned upside down, as many other measures were not even near ‘normal,’" it added.
WorldACD said the average rate/kg went up from an already ‘unheard of’ level of US$3.12 in March to US$3.30, even though it came down by 12% from the crazy level of April 2020.
Meanwhile, wide-body freighter capacity increased by 1% year-on-year — producing one-fifth of total cargo capacity in April 2020, when many passenger flights were cancelled.
"A year later, the figures are completely different: in April 2021, cargo capacity on w/b passenger aircraft almost tripled year-on-year, and comes very close to the total capacity produced on w/b freighters," WorldACD added.
Breaking down the data for the month, it added that the results vary. It said that general cargo was up 61%, live animals rose by 78% and flowers also did 67% better than average, as the latter two categories also managed to further increase their rates compared to April 2020.
"The usual drivers of special cargo did not fulfil their role this month: vulnerable/high-tech (+30%) and pharma (-3%) were lagging far behind the average growth of 53% realised this month, but they increased most when comparing them with April 2019," the statement added.
WorldACD said The Americas gained most in air cargo exports (+8%), a bit more than the Asia Pacific region (+7%) and Europe (+1%).
Africa (-5%) and the Middle East & South Asia (MESA, -17%) were less fortunate and one level lower, is Mexico (+14%), North-East Asia (+12%) and USA (+10%) as clear winners, while Australasia (-27%), the Gulf Area (-22%), South Asia (-19%) and Southern Africa (-17%) show seriously weakened positions.
"Continuing this comparison, the growth of Express business has been most impressive (+59%), shipments in excess of 5,000 kilograms increased by 32%, reflecting the growing importance of charters during the COVID-period," WorldACD added, noting that all other so-called ‘weight breaks’ showed a volume decline.
Rates worldwide still up 83%
The air cargo data provider noted that rates are still 83% up worldwide, but continue to show very large regional differences: from Asia Pacific they have more than doubled (+117%), but from the Americas and Africa they increased by 30% ‘only’.
"Judging by some daily news messages, one would think that the rate increases from China to Europe (+117%) and to North America (+152%) are in a class of their own. Yet, this view completely overlooks the fact that rate increases from Europe to North America were 137%," WorldACD's statement added.
"A look at the 20 largest country-to-country markets, shows that rates in markets other than those originating in Asia Pacific, more than doubled from Germany to USA Midwest and from Germany to USA Atlantic South. In the other Top-20 markets, rate increases were comparatively modest," it added.
