Fresh produce and aircraft parts are stranded as Middle East conflict cuts air cargo capacity by over 20%, causing rising freight rates and backlogs.
Shipments of fresh produce and aircraft parts are stuck as the Middle East conflict slashes global air cargo capacity by more than one-fifth, reports the Japan Times.
Passenger and freighter flights have been grounded across the region, including major hubs Doha and Dubai, pushing up freight rates and raising fears of backlogs.
Aviation consultancy Aevean stated that global air cargo capacity fell 22 percent between February 28 and March 3 compared with the period before the Chinese New Year. Abdol Moaberry, CEO of GA Telesis, warned of an 'absolute halt' in supply chains to the Middle East, leaving repair services unable to move parts.
Air cargo carries about one-third of global trade by value, according to the International Air Transport Association. Middle Eastern carriers account for 13 percent of global capacity, with Europe and Asia-Pacific expected to feel the sharpest impact, said SEKO Logistics executive Brian Bourke.
Aevean data showed Asia-Middle East-Europe capacity down 39 percent since the conflict began, while direct China-Europe capacity rose 26 percent. Chinese airlines may gain an edge by flying through Russian airspace, said Alton Aviation Consultancy director Joshua Ng.
Freightos reported rates from Southeast Asia to Europe up more than six percent to US$3.82/kg, with South Asia-Europe up three percent and South Asia-US up five percent. Mr. Ng said shippers should expect higher spot rates if disruption continues.
Kuehne+Nagel CEO Stefan Paul warned of backlogs in Southeast Asia and China by next week. Aerospace shipments to and from the Middle East made up 6.7 percent of global volumes in 2025, underscoring the risk to critical aircraft parts.
Aventure Aviation vice president Amyr Qureshi said carriers urgently need components to release aircraft from maintenance, describing a 'domino effect' when parts fail to arrive. He noted some shipments from Dubai were picked up, but cautioned that conditions remain unpredictable.
