Air Cargo: Rates Remain Steady

While Air cargo volumes have crept along at a snail’s pace during most of 2012. The year ended without a push for last minute electronics and other higher value retail goods to fill the space on cargo planes to capacity. According to Charles W. “Chuck” Clowdis, managing director, Transportation Advisory Services for IHS Global Insight, this slow growth still reflects rates that have remained stable for most of the past year.

“Even the dockside strikes at seaports last year did not last long enough to push goods from sea to air as inventory carrying stocks may have become threatened,” he says. “It is our feeling that rates will continue to remain at present levels during 2013’s First Quarter and likely remain so unless there is a discernible economic recovery that will include robust consumer spending.”

Some hope for a recovery exists by next summer, however. Clowdis predicts that mid-year spending may see a bit of an upturn for air freight items if new electronic items are released.

“Likewise consumer spending on relatively high value goods could return with a rise in the economy,” he says. “But this scenario is unlikely looking forward. Six months into 2013 will find us most likely awaiting a change in the economic situation hopefully coupled with a drop in unemployment.”

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