Global air cargo spot rates (valid for up to one month) surged +30% year-on-year in April to USD 3.34 per kg to reach their highest level since October 2022, but the worst may be over for shippers as capacity returns on routes most affected by the Middle East conflict, and market fundamentals start to regain control of air freight pricing, according to industry analysts Xeneta. April’s spot rate levels, which also included a +18% jump in long-term rates (valid for over one month) stirred … [Read more...] about Xeneta: Global air cargo spot rates hit a three-year high in April, but market fundamentals will calm costs for shippers

The US-Iran ceasefire will likely bring some immediate relief to air freight, but a full return to pre-conflict capacity and rates on trades transiting Middle East hubs is still one to two months away, according to Xeneta analysts. Airspace restrictions across the Gulf in the aftermath of US-Iran conflict forced airlines to ground aircraft and cut capacity on key freight corridors, pushing rates sharply higher on routes transiting Middle East hubs - particularly Southeast Asia to Europe and … [Read more...] about Xeneta: Ceasefire offers relief for air freight rates, but recovery may take months

The resilience of the global air freight market is being tested once again as conflict in the Middle East places a further question mark against already low growth expectations for 2026, but lessons from past crises are bringing some short-term stability as shippers, airlines, and forwarders wait to see what unfolds in the region, and its long-term impact on the global economy, says industry analysts, Xeneta. Historically, air freight has served as an equaliser during supply chain crises, … [Read more...] about Xeneta: Supply will recover, but air freight’s resilience will be tested if Middle East conflict endures

Another rise in air cargo market demand in February 2026, up +6% year-on-year, continued the encouraging spike in volume seen over the previous two months, and signalled underlying market resilience, despite the level of global trade and economic turbulence experienced over the past year. But, five days into March, and with conflict now escalating in the Middle East, the market outlook is, once again, open to question, say industry analysts Xeneta. Global air cargo update Demand growth last … [Read more...] about Xeneta: Middle East conflict is the latest macro-event testing the global logistics market

An earlier Lunar New Year flattered global air cargo demand in January as the year commenced with unexpected vigour with a +7% year-on-year boost in demand and an easing of recent freight rate declines, but any early market optimism for 2026 was dampened by the first year-on-year fall in e-commerce exports from China since January 2022, according to industry analysts Xeneta. The growth in global chargeable weight in the opening month of 2026 was the strongest increase since January 2025, and … [Read more...] about Xeneta: Early Lunar New Year flatters to deceive as global air cargo volumes rise +7% in January, but China’s e-commerce exports down for the first time since 2022

Global air cargo demand finished a tumultuous 2025 on a high, with volumes up +6% year-on-year in December, but flatlining e-commerce shipments ex-China will create concern for airlines and forwarders reliant on consumers’ online buying sprees, say industry analysts Xeneta. Better-than-expected volumes over the last quarter of the year helped air cargo demand record +4% growth in chargeable weight year-on-year for 2025, reflecting many shippers’ willingness to shift away from other modes to the … [Read more...] about Xeneta: Air cargo ends a tumultuous 2025 with +6% volume growth in December, but less buoyant e-commerce signals cloud the horizon