Mixed messages from April air cargo data

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Mixed messages from various data providers today. World ACD reported that despite air cargo volumes growing 2.5% year-on-year in April, there were reasons other than a brighter market for the growth. April included five weekends, which are good for air cargo, as opposed to four in 2014. And it wasn’t exposed to Easter, which was early this year. Once those factors are taken into account, things look much the same as they have so far this year: not great, with ever-declining yields.

Drewry was more upbeat, with its air freight rate index for April rising to $2.61/kg, up from $2.58 in March. It is still considerably lower than last year’s rates, which were $3.01 in April. The consultant said it expected pricing to remain under pressure, especially in the northern hemisphere over the summer when capacity is at its peak.

Better news from Danske Bank, whose monthly European Freight Forwarding Index showed an increase in volumes and confidence across all modes.