The latest data from TAC Index found that the global Baltic Air Freight Index (BAI00) gained 0.9% over seven days to 21 September.
This leaves the index up “20.9% versus where it was a year ago, with rates remaining strong in the run-up to the traditional peak season”.
Further, jet fuel price increases are also putting pressure on rates.
“With jet fuel rates now up more than double at +116.5% year-on-year (YoY) to September 18, according to the IATA Jet Fuel Price Monitor, pressure for rates to rise further would seem to be increasing.”
China-Europe rates are growing stronger week on week as the trade recovers from disruption to e-commerce volumes following the end of the de minimis exemption in the EU in July.
In comparison, China-US rates were slightly down week on week (WoW), though year on year transpacific rates are well up.
“Rates on the busiest lanes out of China were firming up again WoW to Europe but a little lower to the US – though still up much more YoY on Transpacific lanes since volumes of small parcels to Europe fell following the end to the EU de minimis regime in July,” said TAC Index.
Highs and lows
Performance is increasingly lane-specific, rather than uniformly rising across the market, highlighted TAC Index.
BAI Spot rates out of Hong Kong were little changed WoW, but the full index of outbound routes from Hong Kong (BAI30) – reflecting the whole spectrum of spot and forward contract volumes – gained 0.3% week on week to leave it up 19.6% year on year.
Outbound Shanghai (BAI80) was similar, gaining 0.6% week on week to leave it up 19.7% year on year.
From Southeast Asia, rates were also mainly rising week on week on lanes from Bangkok, Hanoi and Malaysia – though falling a little from Vietnam to Europe.
From East Asia, rates were rising week on week to Europe from Japan and Taiwan, but also a little lower from Seoul – as well as a little down from both Seoul and Taiwan on lanes to the US. Rates from India were up week on week to the US but unchanged to Europe.
From Europe, rates on Transatlantic routes to the US fell back overall after recent gains – though not on lanes from Amsterdam, Frankfurt or London.
There were also falls in rates week on week to India, Japan, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa and the UAE – but also further gains on lanes to China and Australia.
The index of outbound routes from Frankfurt (BAI20) bucked the rising global trend, dropping by 3.4% week on week, though still remained up 21.1% year on year
By contrast, outbound London Heathrow (BAI40) rebounded from some recent falls, jumping exactly 10% week on week to leave it up 11.4% year on year.
Out of the US, rates were mostly firmer again week on week, including on lanes to Europe and to China – though lower to South America and certain other lanes such as to the UK and Korea.
The index of outbound routes from Chicago (BAI50) edged up a further 1% week on week to leave it up some 45.7% year on year compared with low levels last year when standoffs over US tariffs and trade terms were in full swing. Rates from Mexico to Europe fell sharply week on week but remain in positive territory year on year.
Source: https://www.aircargonews.net/data/2026/09/airfreight-rates-strong-as-peak-season-approaches/
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