African air cargo carriers are experiencing steady growth despite ongoing political and economic challenges, driven largely by the increasing demand for fresh produce exports, which continue to expand cargo routes and strengthen regional trade connections.
According to IATA, African airlines saw an 8.5% year-on-year growth in cargo volumes in 2024, with capacity increasing by 13.6%. Much of this growth is being fuelled by rising exports of perishables such as fruit, vegetables, meat, and flowers as published by freshplaza.com.
Kenya continues to lead as Africa’s largest vegetable exporter and the third-largest flower exporter globally. Its national carrier, Kenya Airways Cargo (KQ Cargo), has a CEIV-certified warehouse at Nairobi Airport and is expanding its capacity to better handle ambient, chilled, and frozen perishables. “We are developing dedicated handling lanes for meat, fresh produce, and flowers,” says Peter Musola, head of cargo commercial at KQ Cargo.
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Export success is bolstered by trade agreements with the UAE, the UK, and Europe, giving Kenyan produce preferential access. However, Astral Aviation CEO Sanjeev Gadhia warns of a trade imbalance. “We’re seeing strong perishables exports to Europe and the Middle East, but inbound volumes remain low due to recessionary pressure,” he says, calling for diversification into Asian markets.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) are expected to further ease intra-Africa trade and improve fresh produce logistics. Still, capacity and infrastructure remain hurdles. During route disruptions—such as the pandemic or the Red Sea crisis—foreign freighters often leave the market, which can be devastating. “Farmers had to destroy flowers when freighters exited during COVID,” recalls Musola.
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Astral Aviation is also expanding its perishables network into the Middle East and Asia while targeting underserved Chinese airports to tap into e-commerce potential. The carrier recently formed interline partnerships with Emirates SkyCargo and Turkish Cargo to widen its reach.
As Africa’s produce exports continue to grow, carriers are focused on securing reliable capacity, entering new markets, and strengthening partnerships to ensure the continent’s fresh goods reach the world quickly and efficiently.
