Global air freight volumes have dropped significantly, according to various sources, as the parcel industry continues to reel from the impact of US President Donald Trump’s tariff policies.
Tonnages from China to the US in particular have plummeted, with a 41% year-over-year decline in January and early February, according to figures from the WorldACD Weekly Air Cargo Trends.
In the meantime, Chinese airfreight rates have also dropped as ecommerce platforms cancel flights and cut back on capacity as they grapple with the fallout from the new policies.
“The market’s a mess right now,” a Chinese forwarder told UK-based The Loadstar. “While some airlines are increasing rates, such as Air China, others have dropped rates, including Etihad and Lufthansa Cargo. Generally, rates rise after Chinese New Year, but 2025 is strange and rates are still at a low level.”
‘De minimis’ reversal
