TIGHTENING capacity, earlier peak season demand and rising rates are putting increasing pressure on air and ocean supply chains in the strong Asia Pacific region, according to two DHL air and ocean freight reports in May and June.
The latest DHL Air Freight Market Update Report (May 2026) and Ocean Freight Market Update Report (June 2026) said air cargo demand rose 5% year over year in April 2026 and remains up 4% year to date.
Asia accounts for around 50% of global volumes and is growing 8% over the same period. This demand is driven by high-value semiconductor shipments and AI-related equipment the air freight report said.
In air freight, the report said demand continues to be driven by high-value semiconductor shipments.
“AI-related equipment, such as data centres, are significantly contributing to the demand growth,” said Fabio Weiss, senior vice president, Air Freight, DHL Global Forwarding Asia Pacific.
“The tech sector is sustaining strong volumes and reinforcing Asia’s dominance in premium trade lanes.”
Meanwhile, ocean freight demand is up 4% year to date, driven by continued export strength out of Asia, even as short-term volatility emerges due to geopolitical disruptions and earlier tariff effects.
“Additionally, ocean freight demand is becoming more time-sensitive, catalysed by new bunker adjustment factors set to take effect from 1 July and expected to be higher than current levels,” the report said.
“Shippers are accelerating cargo movements to secure space ahead of expected cost increases and tighter availability—a dynamic consistent with early peak season demand patterns,” said Bjoern Schoon, senior vice president, Ocean Freight, DHL Global Forwarding Asia Pacific.
Niki Frank, CEO, DHL Global Forwarding Asia Pacific, noted, “What is shifting is not demand itself, but how that demand interacts with the network. Peak season is arriving earlier and with greater intensity, compressing volumes into shorter windows and putting immediate pressure on capacity and pricing.”
Powering this earlier and stronger peak season is a combination of factors: inventory build-up ahead of Q3, rising cost expectations, and strong export momentum out of Asia that accelerated demand faster than capacity can respond. As a result, some shippers are booking additional space as a buffer against disruptions in tight markets, leading to higher cancellation rates and increased volatility in demand signals across key Asia-origin lanes.
“Although global capacity for airfreight rose 2% year on year in May 2026, this expansion remains highly selective with airlines prioritising long-haul, high-yield routes while passenger belly capacity declined by 3% year on year. Global spot rates are holding at approximately $3.67 per kilogram, up 48% year over year and reflecting sustained demand and elevated operating costs."
On the other hand, the capacity challenge for ocean freight is said to be more structural. While nominal fleet capacity continues to grow, effective capacity remains constrained by congestion, rerouting, and longer transit times.
Slow steaming to reduce fuel consumption is also extending transit cycles, reducing the number of available sailings and tightening space availability across Asia-origin trades.
This has resulted in pronounced rate increases: rates are up 24% year over year according to the Shanghai Containerised Freight Index.
Securing reliable space is becoming a critical factor for maintaining supply chain continuity, as demand continues to exceed available capacity. The result is a freight network operating with less flexibility, where capacity is consumed earlier and disruptions are harder to absorb.