SMARTcargo Daily Air Cargo Brief — May 23, 2026
Industry Pulse: Global tonnage -3% WoW, avg rates at $3.22/kg (wk 19) as Golden Week & Mother's Day surges faded — still +5% tonnage and +39% pricing YoY. (WorldACD)
Route Trends: Vietnam→Europe +22% WoW; China/HK→US +50% YoY. Gulf freighter capacity still ~33% below pre-conflict levels, keeping MESA-origin rates elevated.
Charter Spot Rates (per kg):
• Transpacific (Asia–US): firming; ~$5.91+ (wk 13 proxy, CAAS Int)
• Asia–Europe: ~$5.23 (Freightos S.Asia/SEA avg; +28% YoY)
• Transatlantic: firming / fuel-driven; no current spot
Global avg: $3.22/kg (+39% YoY)
Jet A Watch: US avg $7.95/gal May 22 (GlobalAir.com). Global ~$162.55/bbl (IATA). Surcharges elevated; 13,000 May flights cut on cost pressure.
Top Story: Rates pulled back from their Mid-East conflict-driven peak mid-May, but jet fuel up 100%+ since late February is forcing 13,000+ schedule cuts, keeping cargo rate floors elevated into summer.
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Bjarki Arnarson
(SMARTcargo)13 days ago
Industry Pulse: Global spot rates hit $3.40/kg in May (+41% YoY); demand +4% YoY, capacity +1% YoY (Xeneta). Gulf disruptions and AI-hardware shipments remain key rate drivers.
Route Trends: Transpacific firm on semiconductor and data-center demand; Asia–Europe tonnage up +7% YoY despite Gulf reroutes. Transatlantic softening as summer belly supply builds.
Charter Spot Rates (per kg):
• Transpacific (Asia–US): firming (AI demand; spot n/a)
• Asia–Europe: ~$5.15–5.30/kg (+60–100% vs. pre-conflict) (Freightos)
• Transatlantic: softening (summer belly supply)
Global avg: $3.40/kg (+41% YoY, May) (Xeneta)
Jet A Watch: US avg $7.79/gal June. Global ~$146/bbl. Surcharges 18–22% of AWB.
Top Story: Xeneta flags May as 2026's likely rate peak; $3.40/kg avg (+41% YoY). June moderation expected as MESA carriers rebuild capacity and summer belly supply returns.
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Bjarki Arnarson
(SMARTcargo)22 days ago
Industry Pulse: Global air cargo tonnage was flat WoW in week 21 (May 18–24), +2% YoY, as worldwide avg rates held at $3.23/kg (+35% YoY) on sustained fuel cost pressure and tight capacity (WorldACD). April closed at a 2026 rate high of $3.17/kg (+28% YoY).
Route Trends: Middle East airspace disruptions since May 4 continue forcing Gulf-lane reroutes and space denials. Asia–Europe tonnage +7% YoY; high rates are nudging some Asian shippers to sea-air combos via US West Coast gateways.
Charter Spot Rates (per kg):
• Transpacific (Asia–US): ~$5.91 (+9% WoW)
• Asia–Europe: ~$4.60–5.00 (+28% YoY)
• Transatlantic: firming / surcharge-driven
Global avg: $3.23/kg (+35% YoY) (WorldACD wk 21)
Jet A Watch: US avg $7.94/gal June 2026 (GlobalAir). Global jet fuel ~$141.64/bbl (IATA). Fuel surcharges ~20–25% of AWB.
Top Story: Renewed Gulf conflict on May 4 forced airspace closures, cancellations, and cargo reroutes across Middle East lanes; carriers warn elevated oil prices will keep air cargo rates high through Q3 2026.
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Bjarki Arnarson
(SMARTcargo)26 days ago
Industry Pulse: Global chargeable weight fell 3% WoW (wk 19) as Golden Week and Mother's Day surges faded; avg yield eased to $3.22/kg, still +YoY (WorldACD).
Route Trends: Middle East airspace closures post-May 4 UAE incident cut ~16% of global capacity. Transpacific high-tech cargo from SE Asia/Taiwan continues to surge.
Charter Spot Rates (per kg):
• Transpacific (Asia–US): ~$6.94 (HK–US WC; easing WoW, +YoY — Baltic/TAC)
• Asia–Europe: ~$5.85 (HK–EU; softening WoW, elevated YoY — Baltic/TAC)
• Transatlantic: firming (ME reroutes tightening belly capacity)
Global avg: $3.22/kg (−3% WoW, +YoY — WorldACD)
Jet A Watch: US avg $7.94/gal May 28 (−$0.06 MoM). Global jet fuel ~$163/bbl (IATA). Fuel surcharges 18–24% of AWB.
Top Story: Iranian strikes on UAE (May 4) reversed air cargo recovery, causing a 16% global capacity shortfall; rerouting ongoing.
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Bjarki Arnarson
(SMARTcargo)28 days ago
Industry Pulse: April closed at a 2026-high $3.17/kg (+28% YoY); May has eased — wk 19 tonnage fell -3% WoW as Golden Week & Mother's Day surges ended. (WorldACD)
Route Trends: Asia Pacific outbound dropped -5% WoW in wk 19; Central & South America -19% as floriculture normalised. Middle East conflict trims global capacity -1%, diverting volume via South/SE Asia hubs.
Charter Spot Rates (per kg):
• Transpacific (Asia–US): ~$5.48 (softening WoW)
• Asia–Europe: ~$5.40 (easing from peak)
• Transatlantic: firming; surcharges offsetting base softness
Global avg: $2.50/kg (wk 21, stable WoW; -2% YoY vol-adj) (WorldACD)
Jet A Watch: US avg $8.57/gal May (−$0.06 MoM). Global jet fuel ~$163/bbl (IATA). Fuel surcharges 30–60% of AWB.
Top Story: IATA forecasts 71.6M tonnes for 2026 (+2.4% YoY), as air cargo acts as "shock absorber" amid ongoing tariff volatility — Asia–North America corridors under most pressure.
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Bjarki Arnarson
(SMARTcargo)29 days ago
Industry Pulse: Global tonnages slipped 2% WoW in week 21 after a 5% two-week rebound; rates +4% YoY, capacity +7% YoY (WorldACD). Post-Golden Week softness and fading Mother’s Day flower traffic cooled volumes — annual pricing holds firm.
Route Trends: MESA–Europe up +26% YoY (wks 20–21), Dubai at +97% YoY as Red Sea disruptions sustain sea-air rerouting. Asia–Pacific fell 5% WoW; transpacific rates bucked the dip.
Charter Spot Rates (per kg):
• Transpacific (Asia–US): ~$5.91 (+9% WoW)
• Asia–Europe: ~$5.35 (SEA–Europe, near Apr highs)
• Transatlantic: firming; surcharge-driven
Global avg: $3.17/kg (+28% YoY, Apr peak)
Jet A Watch: US avg $7.96/gal May 25 (up YoY). Global ~$162.55/bbl. Surcharges 30–60% of AWB.
Top Story: China Eastern Cargo launched Toronto–Chongqing (YYZ–CKG) direct freighter service May 22 under Canada–China deal allowing 20 cargo flights/week — new transpacific capacity for e-commerce.
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Bjarki Arnarson
(SMARTcargo)about 1 month ago
Industry Pulse: Air freight tonnage fell ~3% WoW in early May as Super Golden Week and Mother's Day flower surges ended; YoY volumes stay elevated (WorldACD). Rates eased to $3.22/kg but hold +28% YoY amid fuel pressure (TAC Index).
Route Trends: Asia–Europe rates plateaued at $4.60–5.40/kg on post-holiday softening; transpacific held firmer. Middle East rerouting lifts India-lane prices; transatlantic tightening from Europe.
Charter Spot Rates (per kg):
• Transpacific (Asia–US): ~$5.91 (+9% WoW)
• Asia–Europe: ~$5.00 (plateauing; $4.60–5.40)
• Transatlantic: firming from Europe; US-outbound easing
Global avg: $3.22/kg (+28% YoY)
Jet A Watch: US avg $8.57/gal May (–$0.06 MoM). Global jet fuel ~$162.55/bbl. Fuel surcharges 20–35% of AWB.
Top Story: Airlines cut ~13,000 flights in May as jet fuel — up ~80% YoY — forces capacity discipline; IATA projects 71.6M cargo tonnes for 2026.
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Bjarki Arnarson
(SMARTcargo)about 1 month ago
Industry Pulse: Week 19 global tonnage fell 3% WoW as Asia Pacific holidays ended and Mother's Day flower volumes subsided (WorldACD). April's $3.17/kg is the 2026 spot-rate high — still ~36% above last year (TAC Index/BAI00).
Route Trends: Asia–Europe rates plateauing near $5.40/kg; transpacific buoyant on tariff front-loading. UAE airspace reopened post-ceasefire, restoring Gulf hub flows disrupted since February.
Charter Spot Rates (per kg):
• Transpacific (Asia–US): ~$5.48 (−7% from Feb peak)
• Asia–Europe: ~$5.40 (plateauing)
• Transatlantic: ~$6.41 (fuel-elevated)
Global avg: $3.17/kg (April high — WorldACD)
Jet A Watch: US avg $7.95/gal May 22. Global ~$162.55/bbl (IATA). Surcharges 27–31% of AWB.
Top Story: UAE airspace restrictions from the Iran conflict are now lifted, restoring Gulf hub capacity. Long-haul rate normalization to the US and Europe isn't expected until August.
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Bjarki Arnarson
(SMARTcargo)about 1 month ago
Industry Pulse: Global tonnage -3% WoW, avg rates at $3.22/kg (wk 19) as Golden Week & Mother's Day surges faded — still +5% tonnage and +39% pricing YoY. (WorldACD)
Route Trends: Vietnam→Europe +22% WoW; China/HK→US +50% YoY. Gulf freighter capacity still ~33% below pre-conflict levels, keeping MESA-origin rates elevated.
Charter Spot Rates (per kg):
• Transpacific (Asia–US): firming; ~$5.91+ (wk 13 proxy, CAAS Int)
• Asia–Europe: ~$5.23 (Freightos S.Asia/SEA avg; +28% YoY)
• Transatlantic: firming / fuel-driven; no current spot
Global avg: $3.22/kg (+39% YoY)
Jet A Watch: US avg $7.95/gal May 22 (GlobalAir.com). Global ~$162.55/bbl (IATA). Surcharges elevated; 13,000 May flights cut on cost pressure.
Top Story: Rates pulled back from their Mid-East conflict-driven peak mid-May, but jet fuel up 100%+ since late February is forcing 13,000+ schedule cuts, keeping cargo rate floors elevated into summer.
Brought to you by SMARTcargo — smarter air cargo, every day.
#SMARTcargo #AirCargo #Logistics #Freight #JetFuel #SupplyChain
Bjarki Arnarson
(SMARTcargo)about 1 month ago
Industry Pulse: Global airfreight tonnage grew +5% YoY in April but slipped -7% WoW in early May as the Mother’s Day flower surge ended (WorldACD). April avg rates hit $3.17/kg (+28% YoY), the 2026 high, driven by Gulf rerouting and e-commerce.
Route Trends: Gulf hostilities disrupt MESA lanes, rerouting freighters onto longer Europe–Asia arcs. Transpacific stays tight; China–US and China–Europe spot rates eased slightly WoW after April’s peak.
Charter Spot Rates (per kg):
• Transpacific (Asia–US): ~$5.11 (+41% YoY)
• Asia–Europe: ~$2.87 (+32% YoY)
• Transatlantic: firming (no current quote)
Global avg: $3.34/kg (+30% YoY)
Jet A Watch: US avg $8.57/gal May 2026 (+$2.09 YoY). Global ~$163/bbl. Fuel surcharges 18–25% of AWB.
Top Story: Escalating Gulf hostilities add transit time to Europe–Asia freighter lanes. Qatar Airways Cargo counters by boosting capacity 12% via new freighter routes and belly space.
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Bjarki Arnarson
(SMARTcargo)about 1 month ago
Industry Pulse: April tonnage rose +5% YoY before a -7% WoW dip in week 18 as the Mother's Day flower surge ended (WorldACD). Global rates hit $3.29/kg (+37% YoY), with jet fuel the dominant driver.
Route Trends: Asia–Europe elevated on longer routings around Middle East airspace closures; MESA rates up +63% YoY. Indian subcontinent near 65% of pre-conflict capacity; transatlantic belly adding unevenly.
Charter Spot Rates (per kg):
• Transpacific (Asia–US): ~$5.70–7.00 (firming)
• Asia–Europe: ~$4.80–5.45 (+31% YoY)
• Transatlantic: ~$2.50–5.50 (surcharge-driven)
Global avg: $3.29/kg (+37% YoY)
Jet A Watch: US Gulf Coast $4.05/gal (May 8, EIA). Global ~$163/bbl — near double Feb. levels. Surcharges a rising share of AWB.
Top Story: Iran conflict airspace closures force longer Asia–Europe routings, compressing payload and keeping fuel-driven premiums elevated with no near-term resolution (Air Cargo News).
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