Middle East and Africa airfreight: Shared growth drivers, similar challenges ahead

Middle East and Africa airfreight: Shared growth drivers, similar challenges ahead

The Middle East and African airfreight markets, while geographically distinct, share several common factors in their current dynamics and face similar prospects moving forward.

Both regions are experiencing robust demand driven by global trade realignments. The Middle East, particularly Gulf hubs like Dubai and Doha, continues to act as a key transshipment point between Asia, Europe, and Africa. Similarly, major African hubs, such as Addis Ababa and Nairobi, are positioning themselves as strategic airfreight centres linking Africa to the rest of the world.

Secondly, infrastructure investment is a common theme. Massive expansions of airport cargo facilities are underway across both regions. For example, the Middle East boasts world-class logistics zones like Dubai World Central, while African countries are upgrading facilities in cities like Accra and Johannesburg. These developments are not only aimed at improving handling capacities but also at integrating multimodal logistics to reduce transit times.

Third, e-commerce growth is significantly influencing air cargo volumes in both markets. With rising internet penetration and a growing middle class, demand for fast international and regional delivery services is surging. Companies like Amazon and Alibaba have shown increased interest in the Middle East and Africa, boosting regional logistics ecosystems.

Lastly, both markets are heavily reliant on bellyhold cargo space from passenger aircraft. With the post-pandemic recovery of global air travel, capacity constraints seen in 2020–2022 are easing, though freight rates remain volatile.

Future Prospects 

Prospects for the Middle East’s airfreight market are generally positive. The region’s strategic location, ambitious infrastructure projects and aggressive airline expansion strategies, such as Emirates SkyCargo and Qatar Airways Cargo, position it well to capture growing demand. However, risks exist, notably geopolitical instability in parts of the region, and intensifying competition from Turkey and India, which are developing their own logistics hubs.

Africa’s future in airfreight is promising but faces more significant hurdles. On the positive side, Africa’s young population, economic diversification, and intra-African trade growth, bolstered by initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) are creating long-term opportunities for air cargo. Ethiopian Airlines Cargo, for example, has expanded aggressively and serves as a model for others.

Market growth 

The Middle East airfreight market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.8% from 2024 to 2030, reaching a revenue of $27.81 billion by 2030. This growth is driven by factors such as economic development, trade liberalisation, and increasing demand for air cargo services.

The development of new trade corridors, such as the Africa-Asia air cargo route, is expected to triple in volume over the next 20 years. This diversification reduces reliance on traditional routes and opens up new markets for airfreight services. 

There is a growing emphasis on sustainability within the airfreight industry. Investments in green logistics and the adoption of eco-friendly practices are becoming integral to operations, aligning with global environmental goals in the two regions. However, challenges remain. Infrastructure gaps, regulatory hurdles, high operational costs, and political instability in several African countries can restrict growth.

Conclusion 

Both the Middle East and African airfreight markets share strong short-term momentum, spurred by infrastructure investment, strategic geography, and growing demand from e-commerce and global trade shifts. In the long term, the Middle East is better positioned for consistent growth, provided it navigates geopolitical tensions. Africa, while offering substantial growth potential, must overcome significant structural and political challenges to fully realise its airfreight opportunities.

Overall, the outlook for both regions leans positive, but the pace and scale of success will vary based on the ability to resolve underlying risks and continue modernising logistics frameworks.

Picture of James Graham

James Graham

James Graham is an award-winning transport media journalist with a long background in the commercial freight sector, including commercial aviation and the aviation supply chain. He was the initial Air Cargo Week journalist and retuned later for a stint as editor. He continues his association as editor of the monthly supplements. He has reported for the newspaper from global locations as well as the UK.

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