Airfreight rates fell back overall a little last week as the traditional peak season period came towards an end, according to the latest data from TAC Index, the leading price reporting agency in air freight markets. The global Baltic Air Freight Index (BAI00) calculated by TAC was lower by -3.5 percent in the week to 23 December, leaving it slightly lower by -3.1 percent YoY – but still quite close to what had been a steep peak season spike last year.

Despite reports of some extra cargo being rushed through ahead of tariffs when President Trump takes over the US in January, rates on the big lanes out of China were mostly lower both to Europe as well as to the US. The index of outbound routes from Hong Kong (BAI30) was down -3.2 percent WoW, leaving it at -7.1 percent YoY. Outbound Shanghai (BAI80) dipped -6.9 percent WoW, leaving it at -6.2% YoY. Elsewhere out of Asia trends were more mixed, with rates slightly lower out of Vietnam and also out of India to the US – though not to Europe. Rates in Europe were also up again, out of Bangkok and Seoul.

Out of Europe, after recent gain,s the index of outbound routes from Frankfurt (BAI20) fell back by -7.1 percent WoW, dragged lower by falls on rates to North America, though leaving it still ahead by +10.7 percent YoY. Outbound London Heathrow (BAI40), by contrast, surged a further +5.9% WoW, with gains on most major lanes pushing it up to an impressive gain of +31.6 per cent YoY.

From the Americas, the index of outbound routes from Chicago (BAI50) was also up WoW by +4.9 percent, helping trim its YoY decline to -10.0%. Overall rates from the US were slightly up both to Europe and to China, though slightly lower on lanes to South America.

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