Air cargo traffic and rate growth have been negatively impacted by seasonal events in week 7 of 2026, according to WorldACD air cargo data.
“After a run of five consecutive week-on-week increases in global airfreight tonnage, worldwide volumes dropped 7% as all flowers had been delivered for Valentine's Day and and global trade activity slowed down in the run-up to the Lunar New Year holiday," said WorldACD.
Lunar New Year fell on February 17.
Tonnages fell in all regions, led by a 24% drop in volume from Central and South America. This was a result of flower exports peaking at the beginning of February ahead of Valentine's Day.
A weekly 5% drop in outbound volume from Africa as a result of the pre-Valentine's Day flower export ending.
However, compared to a year prior, global tonnages are 7% higher, driven by traffic originating from Asia Pacific and MESA, both up 22% and 9%, respectively.
Tonnages from Africa were up 4% and 1% from Central and South America, while tonnages were flat out of North America and fell 8% out of Europe.