Data provider WorldACD also noted a cooling of the air cargo market in September as figures were affected by the one-day mid-Autumn festival in many east Asian countries.

The data providers’ figures show that overall air cargo volumes fell 3% week on week for the week ending September 22 [week 38]. Asia Pacific origins were down 6%. “This Asia Pacific drop was mainly due to the seasonal effects of mid-autumn or harvest festival holidays in various parts of East Asia – taking place this year from 16 to 18 September, within week 38,” WorldACD said. Last year, the festival took place in week 39, the data provider explained. The company added that there was also a national holiday in Chile which affected volumes out of South America.

However, the general consensus appears to be that the market will quickly pick up again.

WorldACD said that the continuing strength of air cargo rates also pointed to expectations of strong demand levels.

“This interpretation that the tonnage decline in week 38 is a seasonal blip rather than an overall weakening of the market is further supported by the continuing strong, and in some cases increasing, rates trends, mainly driven by Asia Pacific and Middle East & South Asia (MESA) origin regions, thanks to the ongoing e-commerce boom and continued (and increasing) tensions in the Middle East region, respectively.”

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