Airfreight rates rise for third consecutive week globally

November 4, 2025

Global airfreight rates rose for a third consecutive week, with the TAC Index showing the Baltic Air Freight Index (BAI00) up +2.4% WoW, though still -4.6% YoY.
Strongest rate gains were from Asia, particularly Transpacific lanes, and from Europe to the US, while US-origin rates showed mixed trends with declines on some key routes.
Regional variations included sharp rises from Shanghai (+7.1% WoW) and Frankfurt (+10.7% WoW), modest gains from Hong Kong (+0.7% WoW), and declines from London Heathrow (-12.0% WoW) and Chicago (-5.9% WoW).

Airfreight rates have gone up again for a third successive week according to the latest data from TAC Index, the leading price reporting agency on air freight. The global Baltic Air Freight Index (BAI00) calculated by TAC gained +2.4% in the week to November 3, leaving it lower though by only -4.6% from 12 months earlier – when the market was entering a pronounced peak season spike. Gains were strongest mostly out of Asia, particularly on Transpacific lanes as the market heads towards what is traditionally the height of the peak season period – though also strong out of Europe, if not from the Americas.

Rates from China were rising fastest WoW to the US, though also up to Europe – and on other routes from North Asia such as to Australia and India. The daily BAI Spot rates out of Hong Kong continued rising all week, though the full index of outbound routes from Hong Kong (BAI30) only gained a modest +0.7% WoW to leave it lower at -4.5% YoY. Outbound Shanghai (BAI80) gained a more punchy +7.1% WoW to leave it lower by only -2.3% YoY. Rates were also rising strongly WoW both to Europe and to the US from Taiwan and from Seoul. From South East Asia, rates from Bangkok and from Vietnam were rising to the US but a little lower to Europe. From India by contrast rates were a little lower again WoW in both directions, and still a long way lower YoY.

Out of Europe, rates were also making further strong gains on Transatlantic routes to the US – putting them close to +25% YoY, at least in dollars – and up again WoW to China, Japan, Brazil and the UAE – though also a little lower to Australia, India and Mexico. The index of outbound routes from Frankfurt (BAI20) surged +10.7% WoW to push it back into positive territory by +1.3% YoY. By contrast, outbound London Heathrow (BAI40) dropped a chunk after recent gains, falling some -12.0% WoW to leave it lower again at -13.3% YoY.

From the US, patterns were more mixed with rates to China falling back sharply after a big gain the previous week, slightly lower overall to Europe and flat to South America – though higher on the busiest lanes southbound from Miami. The index of outbound routes from Chicago (BAI50) fell a further -5.9% WoW to leave it lower by some -15.3% YoY and at its lowest level for several years. Rates from Mexico to Europe – one of more than 20 new lanes added to the data in recent months – were up again WoW, though still a little lower YoY.

James Graham

James Graham is an award-winning transport media journalist with a long background in the commercial freight sector, including commercial aviation and the aviation supply chain. He was the initial Air Cargo Week journalist and retuned later for a stint as editor. He continues his association as editor of the monthly supplements. He has reported for the newspaper from global locations as well as the UK.