Air Freight Rates From China to USA

Air freight rates from China to USA / EUROPE drops 50% Since early May,2020

In the past March and April, air freight from China to USA / Europe is on the sky , but things are changed. AIRFREIGHT rates out of China major airports continued on a downward  level in the past weeks  as air cargo capacity on key routes remained steady, but the space demand drops a lot ,especially facial mask product. according to SHANGHAI / GUANGZHOU airport cargo index.

The statistics show that average airfreight rates between China major airport ,including Shanghai / Guangzhou / Chengdu  and USA  last week dropped by 29.6% compared with a week earlier to US$7.62 per kg. Let's look back to April ,the highest air freight can reach US$15 per kg from China to USA airports. It is already the third week in a row that prices on the trade have fallen as congestion at the airport has eased and cargo capacity has reached the same level as a year earlier. the price is soft  However, prices are still far above last year's levels when carriers were able to achieve $3.15 per kg. If you have ever played roller coaster and you are one player / freight forwarder on air freight market , you can find the same feeling between them and contact us.

Meanwhile, on services from Shanghai to Europe, average prices also declined last week - although to a lesser extent than from China to USA. Index data shows that average rates on the trade were down 11.8%. week on week to about US$8 per kg but are far above the  rate per kg average recorded last year. last year the freight is less than 3 dollars. And the facial mask price also drop a 50% in the past May,  on the biggest on line market of China ,TAOBAO.COM ,the facial mask retailed price is less than US$0.2 per pieces , and in march, the price is US$0.7 per pieces. 

Chin custom has more higher standard for facial mask export, which make more corona related product can not clear custom. And more cargo are return to China mainland. 

While the capacity shortage - caused by the coronavirus-related loss of passenger services - is easing on the transpacific and Asia-Europe rates, space remains tight on many other lanes.

Transatlantic capacity, for example, is 60% down on a year ago westbound and 52% behind eastbound. South America-Europe is around 80% down in both directions, while South America to North America is 12% behind last year.

The crazy story on airfreight seems will end soon , and the air freight from China to USA / Europe will go back to normal price as last year in the coming July or Aug.