Upply - Market insights

Air freight: all indicators on go as 2021 gets under way

Written by Anne Kerriou | March 12 2021

Demand for air freight has been sustained in the early part of 2021. In this favourable climate, transport prices remain at high levels even if they have shown a seasonal reduction.

The year has begun on a "positive note" for the air freight industry, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in its latest monthly market analysis. The sector is benefiting from robust manufacturing output and encouraging export trends, even if there are some clouds on the horizon in this latter area.

To escape from the exceptional events which occurred in 2021, IATA has chosen to compare its 2021 data against the levels recorded before the public health crisis. On this basis, the figures show that air freight traffic increased 1.1% in January 2021 by comparison with January 2019, and several positive economic indicators have raised hopes that activity will stay at a good level in this early part of 2021.

According to Upply database, Transport prices have certainly levelled off after their traditional end-of-year peak but, on the main routes, they have settled at a high level.