A SURGE in demand for goods has been reported across the Asia-Pacific region, as customers get in ahead of Lunar New Year and the closure of key factories, market analysts C.H. Robinson say.
Shippers have compressed what is normally four weeks of exports into roughly 12 days.
Insights from the Global freight insights & supply chain trends for February 2026 report show time-sensitive sectors are defining the region's air market at this time.
These sectors are electronics, semiconductors, components for artificial intelligence, crypto-mining hardware and solar technologies bound for the US, and e-commerce and fast-moving consumer products moving toward Europe.
Capacity is expected to remain tight right up to the 17 February holiday window.
Once factory production stops, outbound demand "typically drops faster than airlines reduce schedules".
"By early March, Asia generally returns to a normalised balance of capacity and demand," the report states.
Meanwhile, the underlying demand in India and in South Asia has remained firm.
C.H. Robinson noted India’s air freight demand for electronics, pharmaceuticals and high-value goods appeared to be transitioning from a premium or emergency option to an increasingly standard one.
The upward trend appeared to be supported by steady output in the technology and healthcare sectors and expanding long-haul connectivity across multiple major hubs, where demand remains resilient even as other regions soften.
"This structural consistency helps explain why congestion persists on certain lanes, despite easing global demand, as these commodities typically require air transport and offer limited flexibility to shift to alternative modes," the report states.
"While some lanes are experiencing typical Lunar New Year pressures, more permanent changes in others require new delivery strategies."
Certain lanes, including South Asia and parts of east and Southeast Asia, move cargo that is time-sensitive, high-value and strategically important.
"These deliveries must move quickly, regardless of seasonal softening or broader economic cycles," the report states.
Other lanes, including many trans-Atlantic routes, function as cost-driven channels where demand can shift back to ocean transport when capacity expands or rates fall.
"This helps explain why regions with restored belly capacity are experiencing persistent oversupply, even as other lanes remain tight," the reports states.
According to the insights, identifying the specific air economy that governs a given route is "crucial for effective planning".
"Routes designated for essential cargo tend to exhibit consistent patterns and typically remain constrained," the reports states.
"In contrast, optional routes fluctuate based on factors such as cost, urgency and the presence of alternative options."