Based on figures from Armstrong & Associates, the leading 25 airfreight forwarders recorded a 4.2% increase in volumes to 16.7m tonnes last year.

In most years this would be considered a very good performance, but the result follows on from a strong increase of 11.1% in 2017.

Last year started strongly with growth of around 5% in the first quarter before dropping off to around 1% in the final quarter of the year.

DHL Global Forwarding managed to maintain its position as the world’s largest airfreight forwarder despite its main rivals continuing to close the gap.

The Germany-based company registered a year-on-year decline of 4.4% in airfreight volumes to 2.1m tonnes, which was the biggest drop of any forwarder on the list.

Its closest rival, Kuehne+Nagel, was up by 11% to 1.7m tonnes and there was a 0.3% increase at number three placed DB Schenker to 1.3m tonnes.

The number four air forwarder, Panalpina, was up 4.3% to over 1m airfreight tonnes for the first time in its history.

Source: Air Cargo News / Armstrong & Associates