ports

Southeast Asia's General Cargo Boom Reshapes Transpacific Air Freight

General cargo imports have become the primary demand driver for air freight on transpacific routes, displacing the ecommerce surge that dominated the past three years, according to analysis by Trade and Transport Group.

Asian air exports to the United States climbed 21.5 percent last year, with momentum accelerating into 2026. The shift reflects the end of the US de minimis exemption and a corresponding collapse in low-value Chinese shipments to American markets.

Chinese low-value exports to the US fell 28 percent in 2025 and dropped 33 percent through April 2026. The reversal is evident in changing cargo composition metrics. In 2024, general cargo represented roughly 53 percent of total air traffic weight as ecommerce peaked. By March 2026, that proportion had rebounded to 72 percent, indicating a fundamental market reorientation toward higher-value merchandise.