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TAC Index – Air Freight Market Blog

Neil Wilson
February 6, 2025

Rates drop in January – as markets absorb AI shocks, crackdown on de minimis and tariff stand-offs

Air freight rates declined in the first half of January – as they usually do after the end of peak season – and then rebounded a little, particularly on the busiest lanes out of Asia, in the runup to Chinese New Year (CNY). The...

Neil Wilson
January 9, 2025

Peak season passes quietly, but air freight market remains buoyant

Peak season for air freight reached the end of its traditional period in December, with rates continuing to rise in the runup to Christmas and then tailing off as volumes dropped during the holiday period to New Year. The overall Baltic Air Freight Index...

Neil Wilson
December 5, 2024

Peak season arrives – with rates rising but few fireworks

And despite worries about higher tariffs into the US and trade wars, with capacity still tight the outlook for air cargo may not look too bad Air freight rates were up again last month as the market entered its traditional peak season period, with...

Neil Wilson
November 11, 2024

Rates are firmer in October, but will ‘front-loading’ make the peak more muted?

Air freight rates were up again last month, with the global Baltic Air Freight Index (BAI00) calculated by TAC Data rising +8.1% over the four weeks to 4 November, leaving it ahead by +10.9% over 12 months. October thus delivered another in a series...

Neil Wilson
October 3, 2024

Air freight rates in a holding pattern as new rules in the US target e-commerce – and port strike starts

Overall air freight rates were little changed last month, with the global Baltic Air Freight Index (BAI00) edging up +1.8% over the four weeks to 30 September, leaving it ahead by +7.5% over the previous 12 months. The index of outbound routes from Hong...

Neil Wilson
September 5, 2024

Markets spooked by carry trade worries and Temu results, but air freight rates stay firm

Air freight rates maintained a firm tone again through the month of August. The Baltic Air Freight Index (BAI00) gained another +5.6% over the four weeks to September 2, taking its rise over 12 months to +17.2%. Overall, rates have remained unusually strong throughout...