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Air freight markets under pressure as capacity struggles to recover

Jul 22, 2026 | , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Global air freight markets continue to outperform expectations, but the balance between supply and demand remains fragile. 

What began as a short-term disruption following renewed conflict in the Middle East has evolved into a more structural capacity challenge, keeping rates elevated and limiting available space on key trade lanes.

Although airlines have adapted their networks and capacity is gradually returning, the market has yet to recover the capacity lost earlier this year. At the same time, resilient demand, particularly from the technology sector, continues to absorb available space, leaving shippers facing higher transport costs and reduced flexibility. 

Middle East disruption continues to shape the market

The collapse of the ceasefire between the United States and Iran has extended disruption across international air cargo networks well beyond initial expectations.

Several major international airlines have postponed the planned resumption of passenger and freighter services to the Gulf until at least late October, delaying the return of valuable belly-hold and freighter capacity that traditionally supports Asia-Europe cargo flows.

Before the conflict, around one-third of Asia-Europe air freight transited through Middle Eastern hubs. The loss of those services removed approximately 12% of global air cargo capacity almost overnight, forcing airlines to reroute shipments through alternative gateways and deploy additional direct freighter services wherever possible.

Despite these adjustments, capacity growth has lagged behind demand throughout 2026. Global air cargo demand increased by around 4% during the first half of the year, while available capacity expanded by only around 1%, creating the imbalance that continues to support elevated freight rates.

As a result, industry forecasts have changed significantly. Expectations that freight rates would fall during 2026 have been replaced by forecasts of annual increases up to 15%, reflecting the ongoing supply constraints affecting the market.

Demand remains resilient as market dynamics evolve

While geopolitical disruption has constrained capacity, changing demand patterns are also reshaping global air freight.

The rapid growth of artificial intelligence infrastructure is generating exceptional demand for semiconductor and data centre equipment, particularly on Transpacific services. Global semiconductor sales more than doubled year on year during the spring, creating sustained demand for premium air freight capacity.

Although AI-related shipments still represent a relatively small proportion of total air cargo volumes, they are highly concentrated on key trade lanes and typically require fast, reliable transport, placing additional pressure on available freighter capacity.

By contrast, the extraordinary growth in cross-border e-commerce that has supported air freight markets in recent years is beginning to moderate.

Changes to low-value import rules in both the United States and the European Union have reduced demand for some e-commerce shipments, with exports of low-value goods from China continuing to decline. While this has eased pressure on certain trade lanes, the reduction has been more than offset by continued strength in industrial manufacturing, technology exports and higher-value cargo.

Airlines continue to compete for scarce freighter capacity

The industry's ability to respond to changing demand remains constrained by a shortage of dedicated freighter aircraft.

Delays to new passenger aircraft deliveries continue to limit passenger-to-freighter conversion programmes, restricting the supply of additional cargo aircraft entering the market. As a result, airlines are increasingly competing not only for freight but also for access to aircraft.

Rather than expanding fleets rapidly, many operators are pursuing partnerships, aircraft acquisitions and strategic investments to secure long-term capacity. Others are repositioning aircraft between markets as demand changes, with freighter deployment shifting rapidly between Asia, Europe and the Americas in response to geopolitical events, humanitarian operations and changing trade flows.

This lack of spare capacity means the market remains particularly vulnerable to further disruption. Any significant geopolitical event, weather-related disruption or operational shock has the potential to tighten capacity quickly and place renewed upward pressure on rates.

Planning ahead remains the best strategy

Although capacity is expected to improve gradually during the second half of the year, market conditions remain unpredictable.

For shippers moving time-critical or high-value cargo, securing capacity early, maintaining flexible transport options and working closely with dependable logistics partners will remain essential. Businesses that rely on just-in-time supply chains or seasonal inventory should continue to allow additional planning time while airlines rebuild network resilience.

The market has demonstrated remarkable resilience throughout 2026, but it also highlights how quickly global air freight can be reshaped by geopolitical events, changing technology demand and structural capacity constraints.

Keeping your supply chain moving

When capacity is tight, reliability, experience, network strength and proactive planning make the difference.

Metro works with leading airlines and global carrier partners to secure stable air freight capacity across key international trade lanes. Our experienced teams provide tailored routing solutions, customs expertise and end-to-end shipment management, helping customers minimise disruption and keep critical cargo moving, even in challenging market conditions.

To discuss how Metro can strengthen your global air freight strategy and support your international supply chain, EMAIL Managing Director Andrew Smith today.

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UK trade deals open new opportunities

Jul 22, 2026 | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The UK's trade agenda continues to gather momentum, creating new opportunities for businesses trading internationally, while reshaping the way they access global markets. 

The most recent agreements with major trading partners across Asia-Pacific, the Gulf, North America and Europe have expanded market access, reduced tariffs and strengthened supply chain resilience.

For UK businesses, these agreements represent far more than diplomatic milestones. They offer practical commercial advantages, from lower export costs and simplified market access to stronger supply chains and improved regulatory cooperation. While some negotiations remain ongoing, the overall direction is clear: the UK is building an increasingly diverse portfolio of international trading relationships that extends well beyond traditional European markets. 

UK-EU relations continue to evolve

Although the planned UK-EU summit scheduled for July has been postponed following the change in UK political leadership, negotiations have continued behind the scenes.

Officials are progressing work on the mandatory five-year review of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), alongside wider discussions aimed at improving the trading relationship.

Several areas could deliver tangible benefits for businesses. Negotiations on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards are intended to reduce border checks on food and agricultural exports, while discussions continue around linking UK and EU emissions trading systems, cooperation on electricity infrastructure and broader regulatory alignment.

While no major changes have yet been agreed, businesses trading with Europe should continue to monitor developments, as incremental improvements to customs procedures and border processes could reduce friction for many exporters over the coming months.

CPTPP becomes a reality for UK exporters

One of the most significant developments has been Mexico's ratification of the UK's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) on 22 June 2026.

With Canada expected to complete implementation in September, UK businesses will soon benefit from preferential access across all twelve CPTPP member economies, creating one of the world's largest free trade areas spanning Asia-Pacific, North America and Latin America.

Collectively, CPTPP countries account for around 15% of global GDP and more than 500 million consumers. For exporters, the agreement opens new opportunities across manufacturing, consumer goods, food and drink, automotive, technology and professional services, while giving businesses greater flexibility to diversify international supply chains beyond traditional markets.

Gulf agreement strengthens access to a fast-growing region

May’s new Free Trade Agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) represents another important step in expanding Britain's global trading relationships.

Covering Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the agreement is expected to remove hundreds of millions of pounds in annual tariffs on British exports once fully implemented.

Products including food, beverages and consumer goods are expected to benefit from lower duties, while wider provisions covering digital trade, investment and business mobility should make it easier for UK companies to establish and grow commercial operations throughout the Gulf.

For businesses already trading with the Middle East, the agreement offers greater certainty at a time when the region continues to play an increasingly important role in global logistics and supply chains.

Switzerland opens new opportunities for UK exporters

The UK's latest agreement with Switzerland further expands opportunities for British exporters, particularly across agriculture and food production.

The new Free Trade Agreement removes or reduces tariffs on a wide range of British agricultural exports, including lamb, vegetables, dairy products, beef and sparkling wine, while also strengthening services trade between the two countries.

The agreement, which was finalised on 13 July is expected to increase bilateral trade by more than £7 billion annually, reinforcing Switzerland's importance as one of the UK's highest-value trading partners.

UK-US cooperation goes beyond tariffs

The UK and United States continue to strengthen their trading relationship through pharmaceutical supply chain agreement signed at the end of 2025.

The arrangement protects more than £5 billion of annual UK pharmaceutical exports from tariffs while creating closer cooperation on medicine availability, manufacturing resilience and regulatory alignment.

Beyond the life sciences sector, the agreement demonstrates a growing emphasis on supply chain resilience rather than simply reducing tariffs. Greater cooperation on trusted sourcing, manufacturing capacity and regulatory processes reflects the increasing importance governments are placing on securing critical supply chains in strategically important industries.

Turning opportunity into competitive advantage

Securing a trade agreement is only the first step. Real commercial success depends on understanding customs requirements, managing international logistics and building resilient supply chains capable of supporting long-term growth.

Metro helps businesses take full advantage of emerging global trade opportunities through integrated freight forwarding, customs expertise and end-to-end supply chain management. Whether you're looking at new sourcing options or expanding into Europe, North America, the Gulf or the Asia-Pacific region, our global network and local specialists help simplify international trade while reducing cost, risk and complexity.

To discover how Metro can help your business unlock new international trading opportunities, EMAIL Managing Director Andrew Smith today.

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July deadline for eFiling US product compliance

Jun 24, 2026 | , , , , , , , , , , , ,

From 8 July, regulated consumer products entering the US must be supported by electronic compliance certificates filed at the time of customs entry, turning missing or inaccurate information into a direct threat to supply chain continuity.

This is not a change to the underlying safety rules, but to how they are enforced in practice. Paper or PDF certificates kept “on file” will no longer be enough; instead, compliance data must travel with the goods through US Customs and Border Protection’s Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), creating a new operational dependency on clean master data and structured product records.

What is changing in July

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is rolling out mandatory electronic filing of Certificates of Compliance for regulated consumer products from 8 July, covering finished goods already in scope of existing CPSC requirements.

Importers (or their customs brokers) must now submit defined certificate data elements electronically via ACE with every applicable customs entry, including low-value and de minimis consignments. Shipments into US Foreign Trade Zones benefit from a longer transition, with mandatory eFiling pushed back to January 2027, but they will ultimately be brought into the same regime.

The new rules will be felt most acutely in sectors with broad product ranges, frequent line changes and complex safety obligations.

Fashion, retail, toys, consumer electronics, nursery products, homeware and household goods are all directly affected, particularly where products require either a Children’s Product Certificate (CPC) or a General Certificate of Conformity (GCC). 

For brands with high-volume direct-to-consumer flows and seasonal collections, the inclusion of de minimis parcels means that even small data gaps can disrupt launches and delay customer deliveries.

From paper certificates to digital compliance

For each shipment, importers must transmit a structured set of data points, including product identifiers (such as SKUs), details of the certifying party, the specific safety rules applied, manufacturing dates and locations, test dates and locations, and contact details for the laboratory and record keeper. 

Importers can choose between two methods of submitting compliance data:

1. Full PGA Message Set

Under this option, all certificate data is filed directly into ACE for every shipment. Required information includes:

  • Product identifiers such as SKU or GTIN
  • Applicable CPSC safety standards
  • Manufacturing dates and locations
  • Manufacturer or assembler details
  • Testing dates and testing facility information
  • Laboratory details
  • Contact details for the party maintaining compliance records

This approach is generally more suitable for importers handling smaller product ranges or irregular shipments.

2. Reference PGA Message Set

For businesses importing the same regulated products regularly, the CPSC Product Registry offers a more streamlined alternative.

Product certificate information can be pre-registered in advance, allowing customs brokers to submit only:

  • Certifier ID
  • Product ID
  • Certificate Version ID

This method can significantly reduce repetitive data entry and support faster customs processing.

Both approaches rely on accurate, pre-prepared data that aligns exactly with the physical shipment.

New operational and data challenges

Importers now need to manage the intersection of multiple requirements at SKU level, for example combining US flammability rules for clothing, chemical restrictions on substances such as lead and phthalates, and labelling standards for fibre content, care instructions and safety warnings.

For fashion and lifestyle brands, that means building robust testing programmes, maintaining complete technical files and ensuring master data can be translated into CPSC-compliant certificate records without manual rework at the point of entry.

Regulators have signalled that they expect full compliance from the implementation date, with no broad indication of delayed enforcement.

Incorrect or incomplete eFilings can trigger automated customs holds, manual inspections, potential seizure or refusal of non-compliant shipments, and even civil penalties where systemic failures are identified. For time-sensitive sectors such as fashion and retail, where margins and calendars are already under pressure, even short delays at the border can undermine entire seasons or promotional campaigns.

Why exporters and origin teams matter

Although legal responsibility for eFiling sits with the US importer, a significant proportion of the required information resides with exporters, manufacturers and upstream partners.

Testing records, manufacturing details, lab certifications and product specifications are typically held at origin, and without structured access to this data, importers may struggle to complete mandatory filings accurately and on time. Exporters targeting the US market therefore need to map CPSC scope with their customers and embed electronic information sharing into standard shipping processes so certificate data is available well before cargo departs.

Turning compliance into an advantage

Businesses that invest early in mapping their CPSC exposure, closing testing gaps, building digital certificate libraries and rehearsing eFilings in test environments will move through the new regime with fewer delays and lower risk. 

Those that treat compliance as a last-minute paperwork exercise risk finding that missing or inconsistent data becomes a bigger threat than tariffs, capacity constraints or transport disruption.

Metro is already working with customers in fashion, retail, consumer goods and wider international trade to align product data, testing records, documentation and customs processes across origin and destination teams. 

If you import into the United States and want to turn the new CPSC eFiling rules into a competitive advantage rather than a source of disruption, EMAIL our Managing Director, Andrew Smith, directly. 

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Air freight stabilises, but elevated rates and uneven capacity remain

Jun 24, 2026 | ,

Air freight markets are showing signs of greater stability following the recent US-Iran peace agreement and the restoration of much of the disrupted Middle East network. 

However, while the crisis phase has eased, the market has settled into a new reality characterised by elevated rates, constrained capacity and strong demand from technology sectors.

Capacity is gradually returning, but not quickly enough to restore equilibrium. As a result, rates remain significantly higher than a year ago and supply chains continue to face a more expensive operating environment.

Recovery is underway, but the market remains tight

The reopening of airspace and the restoration of services through the Gulf have brought welcome relief. Major carriers have rebuilt much of their network and flight frequencies across the UAE and Qatar have increased steadily.

Yet the impact of the disruption has not fully disappeared. A large proportion of Asia-Europe traffic previously relied on Middle East hubs, and the loss of capacity earlier in the crisis created a structural imbalance that continues to affect the market.

Global freighter capacity has improved and some transpacific routes are approaching pre-disruption levels. However, capacity growth continues to lag demand growth. Over the past two years, cargo volumes have expanded by around 10%, while capacity has increased by only about 6%, leaving the market vulnerable to even modest disruptions.

Longer routings, restricted airspace and operational inefficiencies mean that available aircraft do not always translate into usable cargo capacity. This continues to underpin rates across key trade lanes.

Rates remain well above last year

Despite the return of additional capacity, pricing has proved remarkably resilient.

Global air freight rates have eased only marginally in recent weeks and remain more than 30% above last year's levels. Asia-Europe rates reached their highest point of the year during May before softening slightly, but remain around 50% higher than a year ago.

Volumes have grown by only low single digits, demonstrating that the current market is being driven more by restricted capacity than by explosive demand.

Weekly fluctuations continue, but the underlying balance between supply and demand remains tight enough to prevent any meaningful correction.

Technology and e-commerce continue to drive demand

Demand remains healthy rather than exceptional.

Growth is being supported by semiconductor production, AI infrastructure investment and high-value electronics shipments. Asia-Pacific volumes have increased by high single digits this year, while the flow of e-commerce cargo has also shifted as changing US regulations redirect some volumes towards European markets.

Forwarders report that demand broadly reflects global economic growth rather than a dramatic surge. However, with little spare capacity available, even moderate volume increases are sufficient to sustain elevated rates.

The summer contract season and continued integration activity among major logistics providers are also expected to support volumes during the second half of the year.

Fuel volatility remains a key variable

The easing of tensions in the Gulf has helped energy markets stabilise and jet fuel prices have fallen by around a quarter from recent peaks.

Fuel surcharges have responded with low double-digit percentage reductions, offering some relief to shippers. However, jet fuel prices remain more than 50% higher than last year's average and continue to represent a significant component of total transport costs.

While the US-Iran agreement reduces the risk of further disruption, energy markets remain sensitive and pricing mechanisms often lag underlying fuel movements, making budgeting difficult.

A firmer market, but a more predictable one

The air freight market has moved away from crisis conditions, but it has not returned to pre-disruption norms.

Capacity is recovering unevenly. Demand from technology and high-value sectors remains strong. Fuel costs continue to influence pricing, and rates are likely to remain above historical averages even if further softening occurs during the second half of the year.

For shippers, the challenge is no longer simply reacting to disruption, but adapting to a market that operates with less spare capacity and a permanently higher cost base.

Metro's air freight specialists work with customers every day to secure capacity, manage costs and build resilience into critical supply chains. If your business is facing rising airfreight costs, constrained space or time-sensitive challenges, EMAIL our Managing Director, Andrew Smith, directly.

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