Whitepaper: How robust air cargo networks can unlock billions of dollars in opportunities and access to healthcare in Sub-Saharan Africa

• A new report from Pharma.Aero and TIACA reveals that Sub-Saharan Africa receives just 2% of global air cargo capacity, despite heavy reliance on air freight for vital medicines and growing demand for high-value agricultural exports. the Food and farm for health The report warns that this structural imbalance restricts access to essential medicines and hinders economic development across the continent.
• Drawing on a decade of data, the study highlights the opportunity to align inbound pharmaceutical shipments with outbound perishables exports, strengthening healthcare systems and local economies. It calls on airlines, logistics providers and governments to reshape their shipping strategies and invest in infrastructure.
• As China and India increase their presence on African trade routes, the report urges coordinated industry action to avoid missing a crucial moment for Africa’s growth and resilience.

A white paper published today by Pharma.Aero and TIACA (The International Air Cargo Association) reveals that structural gaps in global air cargo capacity allocation are holding back one of the world’s fastest-growing regions and limiting hundreds of millions of people’s access to essential medicines.

the Food and farm for health The White Paper provides compelling evidence that the current distribution of air cargo capacity – with Sub-Saharan Africa receiving just 2% of global cargo availability – not only limits access to medicines, but also suppresses the region’s ability to expand high-value agricultural exports.

Drawing on 10-year trend analysis, extensive market research, and an economic impact study, the white paper positions Africa as a critical but underserved node in global trade. It demonstrates that expanding two-way air freight flows can deliver significant economic gains, enhance supply chain resilience, and help address persistent health care disparities.

Key findings

The study identifies several structural issues and opportunities for rapid improvement:

• Severe shortage of freight capacity allocation despite massive population growth and increased demand for temperature-sensitive medicines and healthcare products

• Heavy reliance on air freight for healthcare, with up to 90 percent of vital medicines – including life-saving vaccines and treatments – arriving by air

• Perishables exports from Africa stagnate, in contrast to strong growth from Asia and Latin America, limiting job creation and foreign exchange earnings

• Predictable seasonal increases in vaccine needs and disease outbreaks (malaria, cholera, influenza), underscoring the need for more flexible and reliable improvement

• Intensifying competition from China and India, which are rapidly expanding their trade influence by investing in African logistics gateways

• A strategic opportunity for the air cargo industry to generate economic value while enhancing public health outcomes, through inbound pharmaceutical and outbound perishables flows

A wake-up call for the industry to reshape capabilities and strategy

Frank van Gelder, Secretary General of Pharma.Aero and expert coordinator of the project, emphasized the implications of the findings:
“When we launched Food and farm for health project, our goal was to understand the true power that the air cargo industry can bring to economic development and access to healthcare. Very quickly, our research pointed to sub-Saharan Africa, where only 2% of global air cargo capacity is allocated. This imbalance limits access to essential medicines in a region where demand is accelerating, and it equally limits the continent’s ability to expand agricultural exports.

By providing more air cargo capacity, we are opening up a dual opportunity: helping Africa grow stronger local economies and ensuring that healthcare products reach the populations who need them most. Today, other global players, especially China and India, are investing heavily in these trade lanes. “If we fail to act, we risk losing not only an economic opportunity, but also the opportunity to provide meaningful support for growth and health resilience in one of the world’s most dynamic regions,” Van Gelder added.

Glenn Hughes, Director General of the International Air Cargo Association, framed the implications of the White Paper in broader operational terms:
“This white paper is a wake-up call. Sub-Saharan Africa receives just 2 percent of global air cargo capacity, but relies on air freight for the majority of its essential medicines and to transport high-value agricultural products to global markets. These constraints are not just operational; they impact lives, livelihoods and long-term development. Strengthening air freight links between Europe and Africa represents a clear opportunity to improve access to healthcare, boost rural incomes, and build more resilient supply chains. But we can only achieve this through coordination and collaboration. It’s time to act across the industry.

the Food and farm for health The project is a joint initiative between Pharma.Aero and TIACA, in collaboration with CCA (Cold Chain Association), HLA (Humanitarian Logistics Association) and Fairmiles. Over the past months, the project has investigated how aligning pharmaceutical imports with exports of perishable products can expand access to essential medicines and promote export-led economic development.

A strategic resource for decision makers

The White Paper provides actionable recommendations to:

• Airlines and airports are developing capacity strategies for emerging markets

• Freight forwarders design trade lane solutions for health-critical goods

• Pharmaceutical companies seek more resilient supply chains

• Governments and economic agencies that design industrial and health policies