Average air cargo rates rose to a record high this year, during the first full week of September, according to data from WorldACD. The increase was boosted by a surge in tonnages from the Asia-Pacific region to North America and Europe.
Average global spot rates increased by 6% to $2.85 a kilo during week 36, an increase of 30% when compared to the same week of 2023.
Average worldwide contract rates also saw an increase of a further 3% to $2.48 a kilo - generating a $2.59 per kilo full-market average of spot rates and contract rates - an increase of 16% in comparison to the same period time last year. That is also an increase of 51% when compared with the last pre-Covid equivalent period of September 2019.
Worldwide tonnages saw a decrease of 1% during week 36, due largely to a 12% decrease from North America due to labour day holidays on September 2, in the US and Canada.