Surging global investment in AI data centers and cloud infrastructure is helping air cargo offset declining transpacific e-commerce volumes, reported New York's Journal of Commerce.

China-US e-commerce fell 16 per cent from January to August after the US scrapped its de minimis exemption for imports under US$800. While low-value shipments shifted to other regions, demand for high-tech components to support AI growth is boosting air freight.

Tim van Leeuwen of Rotate said servers and data racks are flown due to their high value and urgency. Tech giants in the US and China are driving infrastructure expansion, creating new opportunities for air cargo after freighter redeployments from the China-US corridor.

Frederic Horst of Trade and Transport Group cautioned that most data centre hardware will move by sea, as construction timelines reduce urgency. He said air cargo growth from AI will be steady, not explosive like e-commerce.

Forwarders such as Kuehne + Nagel are targeting tech-focused logistics. CEO Stefan Paul expects high single-digit growth in air freight from this vertical in Q4. Arvato opened a 10,000-square-metre logistics hub in Frankfurt for hyperscalers and high-tech firms.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said global AI infrastructure spending will rise from US$600 billion to US$4 trillion by 2030. Nvidia and Intel plan multiple generations of custom data centres and PC products to support hyperscaler and enterprise markets.

Oracle's MultiCloud database revenue from Amazon, Google and Microsoft grew 1,529 per cent year over year. Chairman Larry Ellison said 37 new data centres will be delivered to hyperscaler partners, with US$8.5 billion earmarked for cloud and AI projects in Q1 FY2026.

Semiconductor demand is rising. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing reported $80 billion in revenue from January to August, up 37 per cent. Malaysia, with 7 per cent global market share, saw investment grow 18.7 per cent to $45.2 billion in H1.

Malaysia's share is expected to rise amid US-China tensions and Taiwan concerns. Vietnam, though smaller, is expanding chip packaging and testing with support from Intel and Amkor. Its ICT sector is forecast to reach $169.3 billion in 2025.