How Africa is expanding its role in pharma air cargo

Africa's pharmaceutical air cargo sector is experiencing a transformative period, driven by rising healthcare demands, infrastructure investments, and the continent's expanding role in global supply chains. As patient needs grow and clinical trials increase across the region, logistics providers are racing to build the specialised capabilities required to transport temperature-sensitive medicines safely and reliably.

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), African airlines recorded an 8.5 % year-on-year increase in air cargo demand in 2024, while capacity rose by 13.6 %. In comparison, IATA’s September 2025 data shows that African carriers posted a much stronger 14.7 % year-on-year surge in demand, the highest among all regions, with capacity up by 7.4 %. This growth trajectory positions Africa not merely as a recipient of pharmaceutical products but as an increasingly strategic player in global healthcare logistics, with pharmaceutical shipments representing a critical and resilient component of the continent's air cargo mix.

Strategic regional growth
Pharmaceutical air cargo growth across Africa is far from uniform, with distinct regional patterns emerging based on infrastructure, investment levels, and market dynamics. “Pharma air cargo is growing steadily across Africa as demand for pharmaceutical products continues to rise. We’re seeing strong growth in cold chain cargo, particularly in areas attracting higher levels of investment. As more manufacturing takes place on the continent, demand for raw materials and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) is also increasing. The same transport principles apply to both raw materials and finished medicines, which drives consistent growth in airfreight demand. We are seeing strong demand across key markets in East Africa, particularly Kenya and Ethiopia, as well as in West Africa, including Ghana and Nigeria. Growth momentum is also supported by improved access to landlocked markets via established regional air hubs,” says Annette Naude, Regional Head of Life Sciences and Chemicals, MEA, DHL Global Forwarding.

Nairobi has emerged as the continent's busiest cargo airport, followed by Cairo and Johannesburg, with Addis Ababa, Casablanca, and Lagos also serving as critical hubs. African carriers such as Ethiopian Cargo have been especially proactive in expanding their air cargo networks. The airline now serves 70 dedicated cargo destinations and more than 140 passenger destinations across Africa. Its focus on pharmaceutical logistics was underscored earlier this year when it successfully renewed its IATA CEIV Pharma accreditation, covering both airline operations and ground handling services.

Kenya has similarly invested heavily in pharmaceutical cargo capabilities. In May 2024, Menzies Aviation-Siginon Aviation received the IATA CEIV Pharma accreditation at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, becoming the first such certified facility in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia region. The expanded 21,000-square-metre facility increased cold room capacity from 90 to 250 aircraft pallet positions, dramatically enhancing the country's ability to handle temperature-controlled shipments.

The cold chain imperative
The pharmaceutical sector's reliance on precise temperature control throughout the supply chain cannot be overstated. According to Delphine Perridy, Chief Commercial Officer and President EMEA, at Envirotainer, vaccines continue to make up much of Africa's cold chain demand, but the company is also seeing growth in the transportation of antibiotics, oncology treatments, insulin, and other chronic-care therapies that require consistent 2-8°C handling. As pharmaceutical research and clinical trials expand in markets such as South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria, the movement of investigational medicines and biological samples is also rising, Perridy notes.

We anticipate a sharp increase in year-round temperature-controlled shipments, not only for vaccines but also for high-value biologics and chronic-care therapies.”
Delphine Perridy, Envirotainer

According to data from Mordor Intelligence, the African cold chain logistics market is estimated at USD 14.45 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach USD 17.71 billion by 2030. This expansion reflects both the pharmaceutical sector's needs and broader demand for temperature-controlled logistics across perishables and other sensitive products.

Envirotainer's technology addresses one of Africa's most persistent challenges: maintaining temperature integrity in regions with infrastructure limitations and extreme heat. “Our active container range, including Releye, is engineered to maintain stable internal conditions regardless of external temperatures, which is particularly important in hotter climates. The Releye solution also has up to 170 hours of autonomy, without the need for recharging, meaning that it can maintain temperatures for longer than any other available active solution,” Perridy explains. Releye uses built-in IoT-enabled sensors to continuously monitor temperature, humidity, and door status in real time. “This data feeds into our digital platform, giving customers and partners full visibility and allowing our teams to act quickly if conditions deviate,” she adds.

For extremely sensitive products such as cell and gene therapies, Envirotainer's cryogenic solutions can maintain stable temperatures as low as -150°C for up to 35 days, providing the reliability needed for cutting-edge biological treatments.

Infrastructure investments reshape the landscape
Recognising that pharmaceutical logistics requires more than just aircraft capacity, major players are making substantial infrastructure investments across the continent. “In recent years, we’ve paired technology advancements with targeted infrastructure investments. Our specialised Life Sciences facility in Johannesburg has become a key hub, connecting sub-Saharan Africa with global markets. In Ethiopia, our joint venture with Ethiopian Airlines, ‘DHL-Ethiopian Airline Logistics Services Ltd,’ gives us the agility to efficiently serve customers across West, Central, and East Africa. We’re also strengthening our network through strategic partnerships that bring stability and resilience even in unforeseen situations,” says Naude.

These ongoing investments across Africa and the Middle East allow the company to activate contingency plans quickly, keeping essential medicines moving and bringing products closer to patients.

The investment wave extends beyond logistics companies. Kenya, for instance, accounts for 40% of Europe's cut flower imports, driving significant investment in refrigerated cargo facilities. While flowers and perishables have historically dominated cold chain capacity, pharmaceutical requirements are increasingly shaping infrastructure development decisions.

Shifting trade dynamics and growth drivers
Africa's position in global pharmaceutical supply chains is fundamentally changing, driven by multiple interconnected factors. “Africa is an increasingly strategic region in global pharmaceutical supply chains. Rising patient demand and changing health landscapes across the continent are both major factors. We’re also seeing a growing number of clinical trials in Africa, which further strengthens its role in global supply networks,” Naude notes.

Growing local manufacturing capacity is a significant contributor, as countries across the continent work to reduce dependence on imported finished medicines. As more production occurs locally, demand for raw materials and active pharmaceutical ingredients transported by air continues to rise.“Several factors drive the increase: growing local manufacturing, more investment in production capacity, and greater accessibility needs for pharmaceutical products. The flow of raw materials from global suppliers supports manufacturing expansion, while humanitarian efforts, food relief programmes, and product inflows from Asia contribute to regional volume fluctuations,” Naude observes.

However, according to a report titled ‘24 Priority Medical Products and Roadmap for Regional Manufacturing in Africa,' published by the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) in January 2025, Africa produces only 3% of global medicines. The report states that the continent imports more than 70% of its medicines, making pharmaceuticals expensive and supply unreliable, as they remain heavily dependent on global supply chains. Africa imports more than 95% of its active pharmaceutical ingredients, mainly from India and China. This reliance makes local production expensive and vulnerable to foreign pricing, severely affecting access to essential medicines.

Frank Van Gelder, Secretary General of Pharma.Aero, notes that only 2% of total air cargo capacity goes to Africa, even though it is one of the fastest-growing continents. “We need to join forces to make it easier for Africa, better cold chain, stronger first and last mile, well-equipped airports, and increased cargo capacity,” he says. Africa's pharmaceutical air cargo profile is currently heavily imbalanced due to a high dependency on imports of finished medicines and active ingredients, coupled with limited local manufacturing capacity and inadequate logistics infrastructure.

We are seeing strong demand across key markets in East Africa, particularly Kenya and Ethiopia, as well as in West Africa, including Ghana and Nigeria.”
Annette Naude, DHL Global Forwarding

Interestingly, while air cargo continues to expand, the logistics mix is becoming more sophisticated. “We’re observing a gradual shift from fully air-based models to a more balanced mix of air and ocean freight,” says Naude. This evolution reflects maturing supply chains that can leverage different transport modes for different product categories and urgency levels. Even as this diversification occurs, air cargo's absolute volumes continue growing as pharmaceutical consumption increases across the continent.

The growing prevalence of chronic diseases across Africa is another powerful demand driver. As lifestyle-related conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer become more common, the need for reliable supply chains delivering chronic-care medications intensifies. Urbanisation and a rising middle class are changing consumption patterns, with patients increasingly able to access and afford more sophisticated treatments.

Addressing operational and healthcare challenges
Despite impressive growth, pharmaceutical air cargo in Africa continues to face persistent operational challenges. Naude identifies several common obstacles. “Operational challenges vary by country but commonly include regulatory shifts, limited cold chain capacity at airports, and infrastructure gaps. Shipment delays and tight warehouse space can make forecasting difficult, and in some locations, terminal damage has disrupted operations. We also face workforce shortages in specialised logistics roles.”

Van Gelder highlights critical healthcare challenges, noting that the continent is dramatically underserved. He points out that around 700,000 deaths each year could be avoided through simple vaccination, immunisation, and access to basic healthcare. He also emphasises the issue of falsified medication, estimating that 500,000 people die each year from taking fake or incorrect medicine. “In Africa, 1 in 5 medicines is falsified,” he says, “so there is a critical need to create transparency and visibility in the supply chain.” He also highlights that regulatory policies and landscape are fragmented and there is limited collaboration between countries on issues such as vaccination.

Van Gelder adds that “most airports in Africa are not well equipped to handle pharma shipments, so packaging plays a crucial role. Packaging providers are essential in the last mile of the cold chain.”

Perridy echoes the infrastructure concerns: “Africa presents a unique mix of infrastructure, climate, and regulatory challenges. Many regions still face limitations in cold storage capacity, inconsistent power supply, and complex customs processes, all of which can impact shipment reliability and timing.” However, she notes that Envirotainer's containers are specifically designed to perform independently of external infrastructure, maintaining internal temperatures for up to 170 hours without recharging or manual intervention, a critical feature in environments where reliable electricity or airport cold rooms cannot be guaranteed.

Most airports in Africa are not well equipped to handle pharma shipments, so packaging plays a crucial role. Packaging providers are essential in the last mile of the cold chain.”
Frank Van Gelder, Pharma.Aero

Envirotainer uses predictive analytics and machine learning to anticipate potential risks before they occur, maintaining its fleet proactively using both historical and live data. The company's global network spans more than 300 airports and 3,300 trade lanes, allowing it to position containers where they're needed most. ”We work closely with partner airlines and ground handlers, with local training and qualification programmes in place to keep standards consistent across the region,” Perridy adds.

Despite these challenges, there is strong optimism about innovation and problem-solving. “We see every problem as an opportunity to innovate. We build flexible solutions, strengthen partnerships, and continuously invest in training and infrastructure. This resilience enables DHL to deliver vital pharmaceutical products reliably and with care across every region of Africa,” says Naude.

Looking ahead
The outlook for pharmaceutical air cargo in Africa remains strongly positive, despite short-term volatility. Perridy anticipates a sharp increase in year-round temperature-controlled shipments, driven not only by vaccines but also by high-value biologics and chronic-care therapies. “As regional manufacturing and packaging capabilities expand, intra-African trade will grow and dependence on long-haul imports may reduce,” she predicts.

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), projected to increase intra-African trade by 45% by 2045, will likely accelerate this transition. As regional production centres mature and cross-border regulatory harmonisation improves, pharmaceutical products may increasingly move between African countries rather than always originating from Europe, Asia, or North America.

Naude expresses similar confidence: “At DHL, we firmly believe Africa will become a significant player in shaping future supply chain connectivity.” This conviction is backed by substantial ongoing investment in both physical infrastructure and digital capabilities that will allow real-time tracking, predictive analytics, and seamless coordination across complex multinational networks.

The pharmaceutical sector's growth will also contribute to broader aviation development across the continent. As carriers invest in cold chain capabilities, GDP-certified facilities, and specialised training programmes, these assets can serve multiple temperature-sensitive sectors, including high-value perishables, biologics research materials, and advanced manufacturing components.

Africa's pharmaceutical air cargo sector stands at an inflexion point. Decades of underinvestment are giving way to sophisticated infrastructure, growing local manufacturing is changing trade flows, and the continent's strategic importance in global health security has never been clearer. While challenges around infrastructure gaps, workforce development, and regulatory complexity remain, the trajectory is unmistakably upward. “As this shift continues, reliable air cargo will remain critical,” Perridy emphasises. “Our focus will be on supporting this growth through digitally connected, sustainable and reliable solutions, helping life-saving medicines to reach patients safely, wherever they are.”