Air cargo rates up 4.7% in a week as peak season nears — Shanghai outbound +8.4%

According to the Baltic Exchange Air Freight Index, compiled by TAC Index, the global index (BAI00) rose 4.7% week on week and 26.4% year on year in the seven days to October 19. Shanghai outbound (BAI80) climbed 8.4% (+22.3% YoY) and Hong Kong outbound (BAI30) 5.3% (+26.0% YoY), while lanes out of Seoul were mostly firmer than the week before.

The sharpest gains came on the busiest China–US lanes, with smaller rises toward Europe. European lanes eased slightly after the EU ended its de minimis exemption for small parcels and volumes fell. With routing still disrupted by the conflicts in the Middle East and between Russia and Ukraine, jet fuel prices 113.7% higher than a year ago (IATA, as of October 16) are setting a floor under the rates airlines will accept.

In the year-end peak, e-commerce volumes and demand for semiconductor and data-centre equipment may overlap and tighten capacity. If you are planning air shipments for November and December, let us know your ready dates and expected volumes early, and we will move ahead with securing space and confirming rates.

Sources: TIACA / TAC Index, "TAC Index — Measuring the state of the air cargo market" (Oct 19, 2026) https://tiaca.org/tac-index-measuring-the-state-of-the-air-cargo-market-4/ Air Cargo News (Oct 13, 2026) https://www.aircargonews.net/data/2026/10/airfreight-rates-drop-following-golden-week-but-market-remains-firm/