Air cargo between Asia Pacific and Europe fell 15% year-on-year in July, impacted by regulatory changes and weather disruptions.
Air cargo volumes between Asia Pacific and Europe dropped sharply in early July, reported London's Air Cargo News, citing WorldACD Market Data.
Overall, Asia Pacific to Europe traffic fell 10 percent week on week and 15 percent year on year. Hong Kong volumes were down 23 percent after four consecutive weekly declines, while China shipments fell 13 percent week on week and 15 percent year on year.
The downturn followed the end of the EU's de minimis exemption and the introduction of a temporary customs duty on low-value parcels from outside the bloc on 1 July. WorldACD stated that the measure directly impacted e-commerce flows.
EU member states agreed last December to impose the charge on parcels under €50 until the EU Customs Data Hub is launched in 2028.
Taiwan-Europe volumes also fell, down 24 percent week on week. WorldACD noted that typhoon Bavi particularly affected capacity and chargeable weight from Taiwan, and to a lesser extent from China and other parts of East Asia.
Analysts indicated that the latest figures highlight the impact of regulatory changes and weather disruptions on Asia-Europe air cargo, with volumes continuing to trail last year's levels.
