In the first three months of 2025, Liège Airport handled 296,188 tons of cargo, up 5.6% on the same period of 2024 and putting the Belgian gateway ahead of the rest of the world.
According to preliminary data published by WorldACD Market Data, global air freight tonnage rose by 3% in the first quarter of 2025, compared with the same period in 2024.
“Liege Airport’s growth is therefore almost double that of the global market, in an international context marked by uncertainty: slowdown in world trade, rising US customs duties, and the end of de minimis duty-free treatment in the United States for covered goods from China and Hong Kong as of May 2, 2025,” the airport said in a statement.
Going into more detail on the US market, Liège Airport–North America exports rose by 42% in Q1 2025, with some of the growth coming from Asia/Turkey–US transit volumes.
“We can assume that some companies wanted to anticipate US decisions to increase customs duties. Imports from the US fell by 12% due to the sluggishness of the US economy, demand from the EU and fewer import flights,” the statement said.
While there have as yet been no changes to flight plans among Liège’s partners, the airport added: “Uncertainties are not conducive to international trade, and a slowdown in air freight cannot be ruled out.”
Liège Airport’s March figures show 111,160 tons of cargo transported, up 6.2% compared with the same month of 2024. The gateway saw 2,389 cargo movements in March 2025, a year-on-year increase of seven percent, while 6,772 cargo flights were operated during the first quarter – up 6.2% year on year.
nvobd@kuaful.com