In May 2025, international air cargo demand grew by 2.2% year-on-year, demonstrating the industry's resilience. Despite a contraction in global manufacturing and the impact of U.S. tariff policies on certain regions, the Asia-Pacific region experienced the fastest growth in cargo demand at 8.3%. Additionally, falling oil prices provided relief for the airlines.
UPS reported a second-quarter revenue of $21.2 billion, a 2.7% year-over-year decline. The earnings per share fell short of expectations at $1.55. Total operating profit was $1.8 billion, down 6.3%. The decline in performance was influenced by economic uncertainty and reduced shipping volume from Amazon, prompting UPS to urgently adjust its strategy.
The Intermodal Association of North America reports a 2.8% year-over-year increase in total North American intermodal loadings in Q3 2025, a high since 2021. Domestic containers showed steady growth, while international containers rebounded strongly. A tightening truckload market favors intermodal. While challenges remain, the long-term outlook for the market is optimistic.
The Cass Freight Index indicates declines in both freight volume and expenditures for October, signaling potential economic headwinds. Freight volume decreased by 9.5% year-over-year, while expenditures fell by 23.3%. A confluence of factors is creating challenges in the market. Companies should adopt strategies such as lean operations and diversification to navigate these difficulties.
This article provides reference information on the air freight costs for major routes from Zhengzhou, focusing on price fluctuations during peak seasons. It includes air freight rates from Zhengzhou to Mexico City, Buenos Aires, and Panama City. It is recommended to confirm the latest freight rates before booking to ensure the best transportation solution.
This year, there have been 215 recorded flag changes in global shipping, exceeding the 200 projected for the entire year of 2024. This indicates that sanctioned vessels are using frequent flag changes to evade sanctions. This phenomenon poses new challenges to international trade and shipping safety, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced international cooperation to address these issues.
In June, the Port of Los Angeles (POLA) recorded a freight volume of 892,340 TEUs, an 8% year-on-year increase and a historical record. In contrast, the Port of Long Beach (POLB) experienced a 16.4% decline, with a freight volume of 704,703 TEUs. This disparity in data reflects the different challenges and strategies faced by the ports.
Oakland Port maintained stable container throughput in May at 187,389 TEUs, showing a slight year-on-year decrease but a month-on-month increase. Export loads rose 4% monthly and 8.7% annually, driven by agricultural and refrigerated cargo. Despite lower empty container movements, overall operations remained unaffected. The port noted global trade uncertainties haven't weakened core demand resilience.
U.S. multimodal freight volume fell by 4.1% year-over-year in November, continuing the decline seen in October. This reflects the impact of multiple factors, including a global economic slowdown, trade frictions, and weakening consumer demand. This data suggests potential challenges to economic growth in the coming months. Businesses and governments should closely monitor market dynamics and respond flexibly.
US retail sales in May showed a significant year-over-year increase, with a slight month-over-month decrease, but the long-term growth trend remains solid. The apparel sector rebounded strongly, and the restaurant industry continued its recovery. The NRF revised its full-year retail sales growth forecast upwards. Experts emphasize the importance of long-term trends over short-term fluctuations. Data analysts should delve deeper into the data to uncover valuable insights and provide retailers with actionable recommendations. This analysis is crucial for understanding the ongoing economic recovery and its impact on the retail landscape.
