air-cargo

China-EU Air Freight Capacity Drops 19% as EU Imposes New E-Commerce Import Fee

Direct freighter capacity from China and Hong Kong to the European Union fell 19% in the week following implementation of a new €3 customs duty on low-value imported parcels on July 1. The decline was most pronounced at major e-commerce hubs. Budapest and Milan Malpensa saw the largest reductions. Hong Kong was the most-impacted Asian origin, experiencing a 47% week-on-week capacity drop. Chinese cities including Urumqi and Nanjing reported significant decreases. The EU's temporary duty applies per item to clothing, toys, electronics, and other consumer goods, targeting products that often fail to meet safety standards or are undervalued. Industry observers cautioned that official guidance was released just weeks before the July 1 rollout, creating operational disruptions. The capacity decline may partly reflect front-loading of shipments ahead of the new rules. A separate €2 processing fee is expected in November 2026.