Air cargo pricing from China surges again

Air freight rates from Shanghai to Europe and the US surged again last week as capacity on the trade lanes remained tight.

The latest statistics from TAC Index show that prices on services from Shanghai to North America last week increased by 9.3% week on week to $6.95 per kg, which is a new record for the trade on the index (beginning March 2016).

The increase follows on from a slight decrease in prices on the trade two weeks ago. However, since the start of March prices are now up by a staggering 130.9%.

On services from Shanghai to Europe, there was an 18% increase to $8.65 per kg — also a record on the trade for the index. Since the start of March prices have increased by 272.8%.

Conversely, rates out of Hong Kong to Europe fell by 8.8% week on week to $4.66 per kg and from Hong to North America there was an increase of 4.5% to $5.54 per kg.