12 March 2026

E-commerce volumes surged to 5.4M tonnes in 2025, representing ~18% of international air cargo

E-commerce continues to reshape global hashtag#aircargo. It is no longer just part of the aircargo story it’s a primary growth engine. Some great insights from Aevean on e-commerce and aircargo presented at IATAWCS.

➡️ 5.4 million tonnes of e-commerce shipments moved by air cargo in 2025 representing 18% of international air cargo.

➡️ Nearly half of shipments (48%) now come from e-commerce flows.

➡️ Global air trade grew 6.7% in 2025, but when you remove e-commerce, growth drops to 4.6%.

Another interesting trend: beyond high-tech goods, low-value e-commerce shipments were among the fastest-growing segments, reinforcing how platforms, marketplaces, and direct-to-consumer models are driving new logistics patterns. For airlines, forwarders, and logistics providers, this raises important questions:

1. How do networks adapt to higher shipment volumes but lower individual shipment values?
2. What infrastructure is needed to support speed, scale, and customs efficiency?
3. And how will this shift influence capacity planning and hub strategies?