India’s air cargo exports to the United States climbed 15 per cent year on year in the week of January 19–25, 2026, extending the strong momentum seen through the closing months of 2025, according to WorldACD’s Weekly Air Cargo Trends. This growth came despite higher US tariffs introduced in the second half of last year, underscoring the resilience of India–US trade lanes and sustained demand for time-sensitive exports.
India remained the largest origin market within the broader Middle East and South Asia region in week 4, as total air freight tonnages from the region rose 10 per cent year on year. Shipments from Middle East and South Asia to the US were up 11 per cent, while exports to Europe increased 7 per cent compared with the same week a year earlier, pointing to broad-based strength in outbound flows.
Globally, air cargo demand stabilised after the usual year-end dip, with worldwide chargeable weight up 1 per cent week on week and 3 per cent higher year on year. Capacity, however, expanded faster at 6 per cent above last year’s level, keeping average freight rates under pressure; global rates were 1 per cent lower year on year even though they edged up 2 per cent week on week to 2.43 dollars per kilo.
WorldACD noted that volumes from Asia-Pacific to the US and Europe flattened in week 4 after two weeks of strong recovery, with flows to the US marginally lower year on year and shipments to Europe still ahead of last year’s levels. For Indian exporters, the latest figures suggest that, despite tariff-related headwinds and shifting capacity dynamics, the India–US air cargo corridor continues to offer robust uplift for key product categories moving by air.
