Exceptional Growth in Africa

Why It Matters

The acceleration of air cargo reshapes African supply chains, boosting competitiveness and attracting capital to a sector critical for the continent’s economic integration.

Key Takeaways

• 2025 airfreight growth forecast 6%, outpacing global market.
• Intra‑African trade and AfCFTA drive demand for faster logistics.
• Ethiopian Airlines handled 700k tons in 2023, regional hub leader.
• High costs, limited infrastructure, customs inefficiencies remain barriers.
• Integrated providers like Paps offer end‑to‑end air and sea services.

Pulse Analysis

The surge in African airfreight reflects a broader structural transformation driven by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). By linking 1.3 billion consumers, the agreement fuels demand for rapid, reliable transport of high‑value goods such as perishables, pharmaceuticals and technical textiles. Unlike the slower, cost‑focused sea routes, air cargo offers the speed needed for just‑in‑time inventory and market responsiveness, positioning logistics as a strategic differentiator for firms seeking to capture new regional market share.

Regional hubs are emerging as the backbone of this growth. Ethiopian Airlines moved over 700,000 tons in 2023, while Nairobi’s cold‑chain upgrades and Casablanca’s new link to Dakar illustrate how airports are expanding capacity and specialized services. New corridors, like Oman Air Cargo’s Kigali route, bypass traditional European gateways, further integrating Africa into global supply chains. Yet the sector faces steep hurdles: high fuel surcharges, aging runway infrastructure, limited refrigerated storage, and manual customs procedures that inflate costs and delay shipments. These constraints signal lucrative opportunities for investors in airport upgrades, digital customs platforms, and temperature‑controlled logistics.

For businesses, the shift toward integrated air‑freight solutions is reshaping procurement strategies. Companies such as Senegal‑based Paps now bundle air, sea, customs, and last‑mile delivery, delivering end‑to‑end visibility and reducing reliance on fragmented providers. This model not only mitigates risk but also aligns with the growing consumer expectation for faster delivery. As African firms prioritize resilience over pure cost savings, air cargo will increasingly dictate competitive advantage, prompting capital flows into technology, infrastructure, and service innovation that could sustain the continent’s logistics momentum for years to come.