Global air cargo volumes grew by 2.9% year-on-year in 2025, reaching nearly 128.9 million metric tonnes, according to the latest airport rankings released by Airports Council International (ACI World). The data underscores the continued dominance of major international hubs in shaping global trade flows and supply chain resilience.
Despite broader geopolitical and economic uncertainties, air freight activity remained concentrated at a relatively small group of major gateways. The top 10 cargo airports accounted for approximately 26% of global volumes, reinforcing the structural centralisation of international air cargo operations.
Hong Kong and Shanghai retain leadership as Anchorage climbs
Hong Kong International Airport retained its position as the world’s busiest air cargo hub in 2025, handling 5.07 million tonnes of freight, followed by Shanghai Pudong International Airport with 4.10 million tonnes. Both hubs continue to benefit from their strategic roles in Asia’s manufacturing and export-driven supply chains.
A notable shift in the rankings came from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, which moved into third place with 3.85 million tonnes. Its growth reflects its expanding role as a critical transpacific cargo transshipment point, leveraging its geographic position between Asia and North America.
Express and e-commerce demand reshapes cargo flows
The 2025 rankings highlight divergent performance trends among global cargo hubs. Airports heavily exposed to express logistics and e-commerce continued to outperform, while others experienced structural declines.
Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport recorded strong double-digit growth of 13.5%, handling 3.40 million tonnes, driven largely by integrator operations. Similarly, Miami International Airport posted a 13.6% increase to 3.13 million tonnes, reflecting robust Latin American trade flows and growing cross-border e-commerce activity.
In contrast, Memphis International Airport saw a significant 20.9% year-on-year decline, falling to 2.97 million tonnes, indicating a redistribution of integrator volumes across competing hubs.
Asia-Pacific maintains strong cargo concentration
Asia-Pacific airports continued to anchor global freight volumes. Incheon International Airport handled 2.95 million tonnes, remaining stable year-on-year, while Taipei Taoyuan International Airport recorded strong growth of 10.1% to 2.50 million tonnes.
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport also posted a 2.4% increase to 2.43 million tonnes, reflecting continued strength in China’s export manufacturing base.
Meanwhile, Hamad International Airport handled 2.61 million tonnes, remaining broadly stable year-on-year, supported by its role as a key Middle East transit hub linking Asia, Europe, and Africa.
Structural concentration defines global cargo network
ACI World’s data highlights the persistent concentration of global air cargo activity within a limited number of strategic hubs across Asia and North America. This concentration reflects long-standing trade patterns, integrator network optimisation, and the continued expansion of e-commerce-driven logistics flows.
The combined performance of leading airports underscores their critical role in sustaining global supply chains, particularly as airlines and logistics providers adapt to evolving demand patterns, capacity constraints, and shifting trade dynamics.
Outlook: resilient but increasingly centralised market structure
While global air cargo volumes continue to grow modestly, the 2025 rankings reinforce a structural reality: international freight flows remain heavily dependent on a small group of mega-hubs. Growth in express logistics, alongside sustained Asia-Pacific export strength, is expected to further reinforce this concentration in the medium term.
As a result, airport capacity planning, infrastructure investment, and cargo handling efficiency at these leading hubs will remain central to the stability and performance of the global air freight system.
Top 10 Busiest Air Cargo Airports (2025)
- Hong Kong (HKG)
- 5.07 million tonnes
- +2.7% YoY | +5.4% vs 2019
- Shanghai Pudong (PVG)
- 4.10 million tonnes
- +8.6% YoY | +12.7% vs 2019
- Anchorage (ANC)
- 3.85 million tonnes
- +4.2% YoY | +40.4% vs 2019
- Louisville (SDF)
- 3.40 million tonnes
- +13.5% YoY | +21.7% vs 2019
- Miami (MIA)
- 3.13 million tonnes
- +13.6% YoY | +49.5% vs 2019
- Memphis (MEM)
- 2.97 million tonnes
- -20.9% YoY | -31.3% vs 2019
- Incheon (ICN)
- 2.95 million tonnes
- +0.3% YoY | +6.9% vs 2019
- Doha (DOH)
- 2.61 million tonnes
- -0.1% YoY | +18.0% vs 2019
- Taipei (TPE)
- 2.50 million tonnes
- +10.1% YoY | +14.6% vs 2019
- Guangzhou (CAN)
- 2.43 million tonnes
- +2.4% YoY | +27.0% vs 2019
