As the July 9 tariff pause approaches in the U.S., demand for airfreight out of Asia is rising sharply, even as ocean freight volumes fall. Freight forwarders have reported a surge in bookings from markets like Taiwan and Southeast Asia, where capacity is tightening.

Forwarders are reporting a spike in bookings from these regions, driven by infrastructure constraints and an urgency to move goods before the deadline. The surge is largely fueled by high-value shipments—especially AI servers destined for major U.S. tech firms. Some manufacturers have relocated production from China to Taiwan to sidestep tariff exposure, contributing to tightening capacity and rising airfreight rates in South Asia.

The surge is largely fueled by high-value shipments—especially AI servers destined for major U.S. tech firms. Some manufacturers have relocated production from China to Taiwan to sidestep tariff exposure, contributing to tightening capacity and rising airfreight rates in South Asia.

Outside Asia, geopolitical tensions are adding complexity. Recent airspace closures in the Middle East forced Qatar Airways to reroute nearly 100 flights, disrupting schedules and creating ripple effects across global airfreight operations—particularly for Europe-bound cargo.

Looking ahead, the second half of 2025 is expected to remain volatile. Shippers are consolidating orders and adjusting lead times, with many abandoning split shipments in favor of single-batch strategies. Traditional peak seasons may not apply this year, and inventory visibility remains a challenge due to frontloading.

Source: The Loadstar