Industry insights
The 10-Million-Ton Milestone: Upgrades and Opportunities Across China's Air Cargo Chain
- Source organisation
- Gitu Aviation
- Original publication date
News overview
China's air cargo sector crossed a historic threshold in 2025. According to the CAAC's 2025 Statistical Bulletin on Civil Aviation Development, national air cargo and mail traffic reached 10.17 million tonnes, up 13.3% year on year — the third consecutive year of double-digit growth — with international routes contributing 4.4 million tonnes, a 22.1% surge that lifted their share above 40%. Cross-border e-commerce and the global expansion of Chinese manufacturing are the primary engines. For context, IATA data show global air cargo demand grew just 3.4% in 2025, meaning China's market is expanding several times faster than the world average. Capacity and networks are scaling in step. By the end of 2025, China's in-service freighter fleet stood at roughly 290 aircraft, 22 more than a year earlier, and 252 new cargo routes were opened during the year, 214 of them international. SF Airlines surpassed 90 freighters — Asia's largest privately owned all-cargo fleet — Air China Cargo signed a firm order for six Airbus A350Fs, JD Airlines introduced its first A330 widebody freighter, and ZTO Express launched its first China–Europe freighter service in 2026. Hub infrastructure is being reshaped. Ezhou Huahu International Airport, Asia's first dedicated cargo hub, handled 1.15 million tonnes of air cargo in 2025, up 32.4% — the fastest growth of any airport worldwide — with 111 cargo routes spanning over 170 countries and regions. Six Chinese airports now rank among the global top 30 for cargo. New growth curves are emerging: the low-altitude economy is forecast by the CAAC to reach RMB 1.5 trillion in 2025 and RMB 3.5 trillion by 2035, while the COMAC C919 delivered about 15 aircraft in 2025 with a target of 28 or more in 2026, deepening localization of the aviation supply chain. Rising traffic places heavier demands on ground operations. Denser flight banks, expanded terminals and higher freighter utilization all multiply the need for certified cargo restraint — pallet nets, straps and fittings. As a manufacturer of air cargo restraint equipment, Gitu Aviation remains committed to supporting airlines and cargo hubs with airworthiness-compliant products for safe, efficient operations.