Airlines lower air cargo forecast amid escalating trade war

As demand slows and the ability to add fuel surcharges goes away, airlines are expected to see cargo revenues contract 4.7% this year. This was part of the latest announcement by IATA, which makes interesting reading for the U-Freight Group, with our strong presence in the expedited international airfreight business. IATA downgraded its guidance for…

Singapore’s Changi airport charts a course

A feature on the Air Cargo Week website reports that Singapore’s Changi Airport has emerged as a pivotal force in the surging Asia-Pacific (APAC) airfreight landscape, closing 2024 with a 14.6 percent surge in airfreight throughput to 1.99 million tonnes. This robust growth, bolstered by strong recovery in the electronics sector and stronger cargo flows…

E-Commerce slowdown hits trans-Pacific air cargo volumes

With our global presence in the air cargo market and historically strong position in the trans-Pacific trade, the U-Freight Group notes that there has been a sharp decline in trans-Pacific air cargo demand following the U.S. removal of duty-free status for low-value imports from China on May 2. The change to the “de minimis” exemption,…

Escalating port congestion strains container shipping flows

Maritime consultancy, Drewry says that port congestion across key Northern European hubs is intensifying, with Bremerhaven particularly affected by labour shortages during the recent holiday period. Compounding the situation, low water levels on the Rhine are limiting barge capacity, particularly out of Antwerp and Rotterdam—further straining inland logistics. With our portfolio of international container shipping…

Port congestion and box shortages result from US tariff-linked cargo rush

The 90-day tariff cool down between the USA and China is causing a rush of cargo in the eastbound trans-Pacific trade that is starting to create vessel congestion and equipment shortages at Asian ports, especially in China, media reports suggest. That made interesting reading for the U-Freight Group, with our portfolio of international container shipping…

US and China reach comprehensive economic and trade agreement lowering tariffs

The Freightwaves/American Shipper website carries a very informative article about the new Economic and Trade Agreement between the USA and China aimed at addressing long-standing concerns and establishing clearer guidelines for commerce. The agreement includes a 90-day pause on most of the tariffs in place since April 2 to allow for “further negotiations” over the…