Airfreight rates declined in May compared with April levels, but are expected to pick up again in June.
The latest figures from consultant Drewry’s monthly Sea and Air Shipper Insight report show that all-in buy rates across 28 east-west routes decreased by 1% compared with April to $2.70 per kg.
The month-on-month decline should not come as too much of a surprise as there tends to be a decline between April and May in line with the summer slowdown.
However, prices were up on a year earlier when forwarders were paying $2.44 per kg. Prices between May and June tend to be fairly flat, although Drewry this year is predicting an increase, fuelled by the transpacific trade.
This would certainly be in line with market trends – reports suggest that shippers have been looking to move cargo ahead of trade tariffs coming into force on July 6.
Meanwhile, Nippon Cargo Airlines has been forced to lay up its fleet of 11 freighters while checks are carried out on safety records, reducing transpacific capacity.
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