News / Air cargo rate wars squeeze margins, with Chinese carriers grabbing market share

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Air freight price wars are squeezing forwarder and carrier profit margins as overcapacity and lower demand depress the market – with Chinese airlines reported to be offering “mentally low” prices, according to one senior forwarder.

“The Chinese seem to be giving Hong Kong a slap, by opening up Shenzhen and Guangzhou,” he said. “The Chinese carriers are reliable and some appear to have really cheap fuel.”

China Southern, which has recently launched a series of freighter flights into Europe, proving popular with ...