Airforwarders Association chief Brandon Fried tells the Los Angeles cargo industry that freight forwarders remain the stabilising force amid tariff pressures, de minimis reform and compliance demands, while identifying growth opportunities in semiconductors, pharmaceuticals and nearshoring markets.
Freight forwarders are providing shippers with a degree of much-needed stability as tariffs, US de minimis regulatory reform, and new compliance demands add to supply chain insecurity, so said Brandon Fried, executive director of the Airforwarders Association (AfA), in a speech on 12 September to Los Angeles Air Cargo Association members.
The AfA represents hundreds of US freight companies, and these cargo agents continue, Fried asserted, to help their customers adapt to shifting trade flows and rising costs by keeping freight moving as well as by offering practical solutions in uncertain markets.
He observed that forwarders are also finding fresh opportunities in semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and nearshoring despite mounting global pressures.
Uncertain times
The freight business is today beset by pressures that test supply chains, including cyber risks, the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, and geopolitical instability in countries and regions, including Ukraine, the Red Sea, and the Taiwan Strait, Fried noted, adding that ageing airport warehouses, trucking congestion, and outdated facilities are also continuing to hold the industry back.
But, “Forwarders are the stabilising force when disruption hits,” Fried declared. “Shocks tested us in 2024, and we adapted. We are ready to protect shippers and keep goods moving through whatever comes next.”
Fresh opportunities
Fried observed that new businesses are still to be found even in this challenging operating environment. Reshoring and nearshoring are shifting trade flows from China toward Southeast Asia and Mexico, while defence logistics and pharmaceuticals are two of the industry verticals that continue to deliver steady volumes.
Meanwhile, semiconductors are also moving across high-value growth corridors.
Along with exploiting these new opportunities, forwarders employ cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) in pricing, customs automation, and fraud detection. In contrast, automation and paperless processes drive efficiency throughout supply chains.
“Forwarders are the partners who bring resilience, compliance, and solutions,” Fried said, adding: “Our members are essential to maintaining confidence in global trade.”
Optimism
Fried had also demonstrated his positivity in the face of challenging times earlier this month (September).
During a Freight Buyers’ Club podcast, Fried admitted that the outlook for the rest of 2025 was tough, but also pointed out that airfreight thrives in challenging environments.
He pointed out that AfA members had recorded strong growth figures over the summer, perhaps as shippers looked to get ahead of the tariffs that were added – or were planned – for August.
“It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what we’re going to see in the peak season, but generally speaking, the whole summer has been peak so far,” said Fried.
The previous month, Fried had noted that US shippers have to switch to more expensive transport options due to route changes as transport companies respond to evolving trade policy.
These higher costs will ultimately flow through to consumers in the US, he pointed out.
“When carriers or routes are no longer viable, shippers must pivot quickly, often to more expensive alternatives.
“Airfreight continues to offer flexibility in times of disruption, but the broader freight network is showing signs of strain,” Fried concluded.
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