News / Air freight rates flutter as global trade starts to cool and tariffs bite

© Nuthawut Somsuk

World trade saw its largest monthly contraction of the year in August.

It fell 1.3% at the end of last month, with Asian exports expected to fare particularly badly in the coming months.

According to figures from Kuehne + Nagel’s data company, LogIndex, the sharpest slowdown will be seen in emerging markets.

Its report notes: “A major setback in exports is expected in South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, India and Brazil.”

It adds that global industrial production will reach its lowest monthly increase since July 2015.

“Foreign trade will reach negative ...