GLOBAL airfreight rates have kept on rising despite the very mixed outlook for trade and markets according to the latest data from TAC Index.

The global Baltic Air Freight Index (BAI00) calculated by TAC was up another 2.3 per cent week on week to March 24, leaving it ahead by 3.5 per cent year on year over the past 12 months.

Rates out of China were higher again last week on lanes both to Europe and to North America, leaving them still close to levels of 12 months ago.

The index of outbound routes from Hong Kong (BAI30) was narrowly lower by 0.1 per cent week on week, but still ahead by 3.1 per cent year on year, with sources suggesting that spot rates had continued to rise.

Outbound Shanghai (BAI80) was up a further 6.2 per cent week on week - leaving it up by similar 3.4 per cent year on year.

Elsewhere from Asia trends in rates continued to be more mixed - with falls on lanes to Europe from Vietnam, Bangkok and Seoul, and falls this time too on lanes from India both to Europe and the US. By contrast, rates from Vietnam to the US continued to increase.

From Europe, rates were generally falling last week, including on lanes to China and Japan as well as to the US, writes London's Air Cargo Week.

Out of the Americas, the index of outbound routes from Chicago (BAI50) gained 5.8 per cent week on week, led by higher rates on lanes to Southeast Asia to leave it at 12.7 per cent year on year.

Overall rates of the US were generally higher on lanes both to Europe and to Latin America, but a little lower on lanes to China.