AI Boom Reshapes Asian Air Cargo, E-Commerce Growth Dwindles
The focus of global air cargo is shifting from cross-border e-commerce to AI infrastructure development. Due to tightened regulations in Europe and the U.S. regarding low-value imports, e-commerce logistics demand is cooling, while orders for high-tech products such as AI chips and servers surge, becoming a new growth pillar for air freight.
What are the key facts?
- 1Korean air cargo revenue grew 46% in Q2
- 2AI chips and servers replace e-commerce as growth engine
- 3Restrictions on low-value imports in the U.S. and Europe slow e-commerce freight
What happened?
With the rapid expansion of the AI industry, the Asian air cargo network is undergoing strategic adjustments. Airlines like Korean Air report that AI-related hardware (e.g., chips, servers) have replaced Chinese cross-border e-commerce packages as the main driver of cargo revenue. Analysts point out that the cancellation of tax exemption policies for low-value imports in the European and U.S. markets has directly suppressed air freight demand from cross-border e-commerce.
What does this mean for cross-border sellers?
Cross-border sellers should be wary of fluctuations in logistics costs and tight air freight capacity, advising early supply chain planning and attention to compliance risks related to low-value packages in Europe and the U.S.