Concerns have re-emerged across Africa over the widening imbalance between inbound air freight and lower-value outbound cargo, with Zambia providing a recent case in point.
Zambia Airports Corp (ZACL) recently reported outbound cargo volumes had remained stubbornly low, even after the development of new cargo terminals at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) in Lusaka, and Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport (SMKIA) in the
Copperbelt region.
The corporation’s data shows Zambia’s total cargo volumes falling, from 49,000 tonnes in 2005 to just under 19,000 tonnes in 2024, reflecting the long-term dominance of low-value perishables outbound and limited export diversification.
ZACL MD Urvesh Desai emphasised the need for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to grow two-way cargo flows, enhance export competitiveness, and expand Zambia’s participation in regional logistics networks.
The patterns observed in Zambia mirror a broader continental challenge. Raphael Kuuchi, director of government, legal and industry affairs, at the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), told The Loadstar outbound air cargo volumes remained low in many African markets, mainly due to structural trade imbalances and limited export diversification.
“Most African economies still depend heavily on bulk commodities, which are not suitable for air transport,” he noted. Additionally, he highlighted, sectors typically driving air cargo in other regions, like manufacturing and high-value agriculture, remained underdeveloped in much of Africa. He also pointed to systemic inefficiencies as a key factor constraining exports. In addition, inefficiencies along the supply chain, limited cold- chain capacity, fragmented logistics networks, and regulatory bottlenecks continued to raise operational costs. These factors make African exports less competitive globally, even with the presence of modern airport facilities. Mr Kuuchi stressed that the problem was not one of infrastructure but of integration across trade, industrial, and aviation policy. The problems that contain Africa’s potential are well known; however, AFRAA is seeking to tackle these challenges through coordinated advocacy and policy efforts. Mr Kuuchi explained that the association provided a platform for airlines through its Route Network and Cargo
Coordination Committee, which focuses on “creating an enabling aviation environment tailored to African realities”. It remains unclear how far local aviation policy changes actually drive meaningful reform in Africa, or how effectively trade advocacy can influence a region where political rhetoric often outweighs action. Notably, among the measures promoted by AFRAA are harmonised cargo regulations and standards across African states, improved intra-African connectivity to support regional trade, and stronger public–private partnerships to expand logistics and cold chain infrastructure. Policy reforms aimed at unlocking higher-value exports remain a central focus. According to Mr Kuuchi, the most urgent reforms include trade facilitation and customs modernisation, to reduce clearance times and operational costs, full implementation of the AfCFTA, to expand market access, and regulatory harmonisation across aviation, trade, and transport sectors to improve predictability. “Such reforms would lower barriers for time-sensitive and high-value goods, making air cargo a more attractive and competitive channel for African exporters,” he said. In Geneva this month, IATA acknowledged that Africa continued to face a structural imbalance between high-value inbound air cargo and lower-value outbound flows. Director of cargo Brendan Sullivan, said the imbalance was a concern shared by cargo operators globally, not just in Africa, as airlines must fill aircraft in both directions. He noted that, while some regions had benefited from strong outbound demand, such as China’s e-commerce-driven flows to new markets, finding viable return cargo remained “a persistent challenge”.Mr Sullivan said IATA continued to engage with operators across Africa to better understand how capacity can be built and diversified, including the potential development of higher-value export and import opportunities, while acknowledging that solutions are often highly market-specific.
Mr Kuuchi also pointed to success stories in the region that illustrated the potential of coordinated approaches. Kenya, he noted, had leveraged Nairobi’s JKIA as a regional cargo hub
through integration of agricultural policy, logistics investment, and air connectivity. Ethiopia, with Ethiopian Airlines at the centre, had built one of Africa’s most extensive air cargo networks and cold chain systems, supporting exports of flowers, meat, and other perishables. South Africa and Morocco, he added, had similarly improved outbound performance, through alignment of industrial policy, logistics development, and aviation planning.
Source: The LoadStar