Key Factors Affecting International Air Freight Prices Practical Knowledge Sharing

What Are the Factors Affecting International Air Freight Prices A Knowledge Sharing of International Air Freight

The fluctuations in international air freight prices often leave people baffled, especially against the backdrop of global economic integration. Various factors intertwine and jointly influence the pricing system of the air cargo market. From market demand to fuel costs, from airline strategies to the impact of emergencies, all these could be key variables affecting international air freight prices. This article will analyze the main factors influencing international air freight prices based on recent news highlights and industry trends.

Firstly, market demand is one of the important factors determining international air freight prices. In international trade, certain goods such as electronic products, clothing, fresh food, etc., have high requirements for timeliness, thus creating a large demand for air transportation. For example, in the third quarter of 2025, due to the continuous growth of global e-commerce, especially the arrival of China's Singles' Day shopping festival, a large amount of goods needed to be quickly delivered worldwide via air transport. This seasonal peak in demand usually leads to an increase in air freight prices. According to a report released by a certain air freight company, during this year's Singles' Day period, the volume of cargo on international routes increased by about 20% compared to last year, and the corresponding freight rates also rose slightly.

Secondly, fuel costs are another important factor affecting international air freight prices. Airlines need to pay a large amount of fuel expenses during operations, and this cost will directly reflect on air freight prices. In recent years, with the fluctuation of international oil prices, airlines have also adjusted their fuel surcharges accordingly. For instance, at the beginning of 2025, due to the rise in international oil prices, several airlines announced an increase in fuel surcharges, which significantly increased the cost of international air transport. To cope with the pressure brought by high oil prices, some airlines began to adopt more efficient flight routes and aircraft models to reduce fuel consumption, which also indirectly affected the stability of air freight prices.

Thirdly, the operating strategies of airlines themselves also determine the changes in international air freight prices to a certain extent. Airlines may flexibly adjust capacity deployment based on market conditions, such as increasing flight frequency or deploying larger-capacity aircraft during peak seasons, while reducing the number of flights during off-peak seasons. This capacity adjustment mechanism directly affects the supply-demand relationship in the air cargo market. For example, a well-known airline once announced last December that it would significantly increase the number of international route flights during the Spring Festival to meet the needs of travelers and cargo owners. This move not only alleviated the tight capacity problem during the Spring Festival but also stabilized the air freight market price to a certain extent.

Emergencies can also have a significant impact on international air freight prices. For example, natural disasters, geopolitical conflicts, and public health events, among other unforeseeable situations, often disrupt normal air transport order. In the first half of this year, due to extreme weather conditions in some areas, multiple international airports were closed or restricted, making the already tight air cargo resources even scarcer, thereby driving up international air freight prices. According to a certain air freight agent, due to this impact, the freight rates on some popular routes once rose by nearly 30%.

Finally, exchange rate fluctuations are also an indispensable factor. For multinational enterprises, fluctuations in currency exchange rates affect their competitiveness in the global market. When the domestic currency depreciates, export enterprises may face greater cost pressures and seek more economical logistics solutions; conversely, when the domestic currency appreciates, import enterprises may choose to rely more on air transport to obtain quality goods. This chain reaction caused by exchange rate changes will eventually be passed on to the international air freight market.

In summary, international air freight prices are influenced by various complex factors. Whether it is the change in market demand, the fluctuation in fuel costs, the adjustment of airline strategies, or the occurrence of emergencies, all these will have far-reaching impacts on the air cargo market. As shippers or logistics companies, when facing these uncertainties, it is necessary to closely monitor market dynamics, plan transportation schemes reasonably, and minimize operational costs while improving efficiency. At the same time, with the development of technology, intelligent logistics management systems are gradually becoming popular, which will help enhance the transparency and flexibility of the entire industry, injecting new vitality into the future international air freight market.