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SEA Air Cargo Surges as US Imports Shift from China
9 Dec
Summary
- Southeast Asian air cargo to the U.S. increased over 42% in November.
- Vietnam saw exports to the U.S. rise 22.5% in November.
- Asia Pacific air cargo tonnages to the U.S. grew 6% despite China's decline.
Air cargo volumes from Southeast Asia to the United States have seen a significant increase, with combined tonnages rising by over 42 percent in November. This surge is a clear indicator of U.S. importers diversifying their supply chains away from China, a trend driven by recent trade policy adjustments, including increased tariffs and the elimination of 'de minimis' exemptions. Vietnam, a prominent Southeast Asian trade partner, reported a 22.5 percent rise in its exports to the U.S. for November alone.
The growing demand has led to capacity constraints in several key Southeast Asian hubs. Vietnam's airline capacity to the U.S. is expected to tighten, particularly before the Christmas and New Year holidays. Similar conditions are noted in Singapore and Indonesia, where shippers are rushing to move volumes, leading to limited space and rising rates.
This regional shift has bolstered overall Asia Pacific air cargo figures to the U.S., which grew by 6 percent year-over-year. This growth occurred despite an overall decrease in shipments from China and Hong Kong, signaling a broader recalibration of trade routes in response to geopolitical and economic factors. While China-to-U.S. air cargo has seen recent improvements from steeper declines, year-to-date figures still show a notable reduction.
