Ontario International Airport (ONT) reported another month of cargo decline in the month of July, reflecting a global slowdown in air freight volumes driven by continued economic uncertainties.

ONT said shipments of commercial freight and mail totalled 56,359 tons last month, showing a 17.32% drop compared to the 68,167 tons recorded during the same month in 2022.

July's air cargo performance is also lower than the 61,670 tons in June and shows a decline from May's 61,000 tons of air cargo tonnage.

Year-to-date (YTD) air cargo volumes totalled 422,514 tons in July 2023, declining by 11.4% from the 476,886 tons recorded during the same period in 2022.

Source: Ontario International Airport

"Commercial air cargo volumes continued to decrease in July, consistent with an ongoing worldwide slowdown, decreasing by 17% in July and 11.4% for the first seven months of the year," the airport said.

Atif Elkadi, chief executive officer of Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA), noted that despite the cargo slowdown, the airport continues to play an important role in the supply chain.

"Ontario International continues to play a critical role in the US supply chain with expanded and modernized cargo facilities that serve the needs of our shipping partners well," Elkadi said.