Dimerco Express Group’s July 2025 Asia-Pacific Freight Market Report sheds light on a freight environment shaped by escalating tariff deadlines, worsening congestion, and shifting capacity dynamics across key global trade routes.
“Demand patterns are swinging quickly. The sharp contrast between weak China–U.S. airfreight and strong Southeast Asia exports underscores the need for flexible logistics planning and early space booking,” says Kathy Liu, VP of global sales and marketing, Dimerco.
Key takeaways:
· With the U.S.-China reciprocal tariff suspension set to expire on Aug. 13, shippers are fast-tracking exports, particularly from Taiwan, Vietnam, and parts of South China. This pre-deadline surge is straining both air and ocean capacity as manufacturers rush to avoid a new wave of duties.
· Ocean freight markets remain volatile. Transpacific rates, which softened slightly in June after early summer hikes, are now stabilizing as carriers reinstate previously blanked sailings.
· Airfreight presents a mixed picture. Demand remains steady across intra-Asia routes, especially between China and Southeast Asia. However, China–U.S. lanes continue to experience softness driven by a prolonged drop in eCommerce volumes. Conversely, U.S. outbound airfreight, particularly from Dallas and Los Angeles, is tightening ahead of the back-to-school retail season and early holiday inventory builds.
· Geopolitical tensions are compounding the strain. The U.S. strike on Iran is disrupting shipping lanes in the Persian Gulf, forcing vessel rerouting. Meanwhile, escalating India-Pakistan trade tensions are prompting carriers to split services and reorganize routes, adding complexity and costs to South Asia–Middle East corridors. The semiconductor and high-tech sectors are also in focus. Taiwan, in particular, is experiencing surging demand for air and ocean freight as companies expedite shipments of AI hardware and electronic components ahead of potential tariff reinstatements.
