US-bound air cargo from Asia Pacific surges as sourcing shifts from China

Airfreight demand from the Asia Pacific region to the US continued its strong upward trajectory in October, driven largely by manufacturers relocating production away from China, according to the latest WorldACD data.

Despite new US tariffs and the elimination of the de minimis exemption, tonnages moving from Asia Pacific markets to the US remain well above last year’s levels. WorldACD reported that in week 46, overall volumes from the region climbed 6% year on year, with Southeast Asia and Taiwan recording the sharpest increases.

Southeast Asia posted exceptional numbers in October: shipments to the US rose 40% year-on-year, the strongest monthly growth recorded in 2024. Over the first ten months of the year, volumes from Southeast Asia averaged nearly 26% higher than the same period last year.

Performance across the region, however, has been uneven. In week 46, exports from China fell 2%, Hong Kong dropped 16%, and South Korea declined 10% compared with a year earlier. Year to date, combined China–Hong Kong traffic to the US is down nearly 6%.

WorldACD attributed the shift to US companies continuing to diversify their supply chains away from China. Taiwan’s strong position in the semiconductor sector has also propelled its air cargo growth, as demand for chips used in AI and other high-performance applications has surged.

Shipments from key electronics-producing markets saw significant spikes in week 46, with volumes to the US rising 41% from Taiwan, 60% from Vietnam, 37% from Thailand, and 62% from Malaysia.

Meanwhile, airfreight rates out of Asia Pacific have been climbing in the run-up to Black Friday and Thanksgiving. Average spot prices rose 4% week on week to $4.11 per kg in week 46, although they remain 11% lower than the same period last year.