Asia-Africa-Gulf lanes top e-commerce cargo flows

In an interview with CargoTalk Middle East, Hamdi Osman, CEO of SolitAir said, e-commerce has emerged as the top cargo segment in global freight flows, with strong movement from China into Africa via the Middle East, and return shipments from Africa going into the Indian subcontinent and onward into China. He said the pattern is shaping air cargo demand during periods of disruption.

Osman said e-commerce currently ranks number one in freight movement, ahead of pharmaceuticals and dangerous goods, as supply chains continue to shift across regions. He said this reflects how trade flows are being reshaped between Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

He added that while China remains the main driver of e-commerce cargo, new opportunities are emerging from India and Turkey, which are expanding their presence in global online trade. He said Turkey is now one of the fastest-growing contributors, while India has several home-grown e-commerce companies entering international markets.

Osman also noted growing activity from Saudi Arabia and the UAE, as well as continued flows from Europe into the region. He said these developments are strengthening e-commerce networks across the Global South. He added that over the next two years, e-commerce will remain a dominant force in air cargo, with no major shift expected in its position as the leading driver of freight demand.