News / Race to beat tariffs drives Asia to US air rates up as peak season looms

EVA Air Cargo takes off from LAX © Ryan Fletcher

Transpacific eastbound looks set to be the tradelane in highest demand as air freight progresses towards its peak, likely to start after next week’s Chinese Golden Week holiday.

Panalpina noted that this month – in the two to three weeks prior to the September 24 implementation of the latest round of US tariffs – it saw customers convert ocean volumes to air on the transpacific eastbound lane in a bid to outrun the tariffs.

Rates are currently about 20% up on last year, ...