Air freight capacity is under pressure in October due to peak-season demand, weather disruptions, rail delays and trade policy shifts, with Dimerco urging early planning to manage costs and lead times, reported Mumbai's STAT Trade Times.

In its October 2025 Asia-Pacific Freight Market Report, Dimerco Express Group cited strong demand from Southeast Asia, driven by exports of semiconductors, AI products and electronics, while China-Europe rail disruptions and Golden Week factory closures are constraining shipments.

Super Typhoon Ragasa caused flight cancellations across the Pearl River Delta and Hong Kong on 23-24 September, creating backlogs at key transit hubs. Dimerco said pressure is mounting at Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Korea.

Kathy Liu, vice president of global sales and marketing, said demand growth is concentrated in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore, with more finished goods being shipped out due to rising high-tech production.

Taiwan's air freight demand remains stable, though traditional industries are slowing due to tariffs. Rates to the US are high, and capacity to Penang, Hanoi and Jakarta is tight. South Korea sees modest growth, but space to Singapore and Penang is limited.

North China expects higher demand from Europe as cargo shifts from rail due to Belarus border closures. East China faces tight capacity to Southeast Asia, partly due to Apple's product launch. South China sees higher rates to the US and load restrictions to Europe.

In Southeast Asia, Thailand and Vietnam face tight markets due to e-commerce and seasonal demand. Malaysia and the Philippines may see disruptions from holidays and weather. Singapore is managing a quarter-end backlog, while Indonesia's rates depended on Golden Week demand.

Australia maintains stable capacity with minor disruptions. North America faces tight flows from the US West Coast to Southeast Asia and India, while southbound routes to South America are constrained. Central US lanes are under pressure as cargo shifts from ocean to air.

In Mexico, Avianca Cargo is expanding services from Felipe Angeles Airport to the US West Coast to support perishable exports. Europe faces delays and higher fares due to drone activity in Poland and the Baltic states.

Transpacific lanes are strained by demurrage costs and shifting order volumes. AI exports from Northeast Asia continue to grow. US trade policies, including IEEPA tariff reviews and transshipment scrutiny, are influencing logistics decisions.

Dimerco expects Golden Week closures, weather events, Southeast Asian export growth and policy changes to drive congestion and higher rates. Shippers are advised to plan early and diversify logistics strategies to avoid shortages and reduce costs.