August 2024
Global air cargo demand picked up during the second half of 2023, giving the market stronger volumes and rates not seen in the first half of the year.
The top 25 airfreight forwarders based on 2023 tonnage, however, remained largely unchanged, even with the addition of two newcomers to the list: Morrison Express at No. 18 and Best Services International Freight at No. 23.?
German forwarder Kuehne+Nagel again was the top cargo mover, with 1.98 million air cargo tonnes in 2023, although that was an 11.2% decrease year over year.?
New to the list in 2022 at No. 25, Maersk jumped up to No. 17 in 2023 with 295,000 air cargo tonnes, a 29% YoY increase.?
B2B e-commerce giant Alibaba.com has launched several tools powered by AI in the last six months to streamline operations.?
AI, which is increasingly improving operations in the supply chain, may also be a game changer for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) looking to broaden their networks, Yikun Shao, head of North America supply chain at Alibaba.com, tells Air Cargo Next in this episode of “On Air with Air Cargo Next.”
“I think this trend we’ve all observed [regarding technology] naturally translates to higher expectations in the B2B space, which involves more complex processes and data integration, especially when it involves cross-border movement of goods,” Shao said. “So, in response, [Alibaba] has been working with our customers to develop robust tracking systems, improved logistics management tools and enhanced fulfillment solutions.”?
Some airports were still seeing a backlog of delayed cargo shipments several days after a global IT outage on July 19 that stemmed from a software update by cybersecurity company CrowdStrike.
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“Within hours, the technical issues have resulted in widespread operational issues, most notably at some of the world’s major airlines, airports and seaports,” an Everstream Analytics spokesperson told Air Cargo Next on July 19. ?
“While some operators have been able to resume operations following the outages, it remains unclear how long it will take local ocean and air cargo operators to clear the backlog that accumulated due to the technical issues. Localized increases in port and airport congestion as well as cargo processing delays at these facilities should be anticipated in the coming days as well.”?
Dubai-based cargo handler dnata will use renewable diesel, produced by ExxonMobil, on 12 airside vehicle and generator sets at Singapore Changi Airport. This action is part of a six-month trial that dnata began in April to explore transitioning its vehicles to electric and hybrid power.?
The company “is committed to switching to hybrid, electric or hydrogen-powered vehicle and machinery wherever airports have provided the necessary infrastructure,” Charles Galloway, chief executive for airport operations in the Asia-Pacific region, told Air Cargo Next.?
Esso Renewable Diesel R20, which is being used in the trial, is traditional diesel fuel blended with hydrotreated vegetable oil. R20 is estimated to lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by 15% compared with conventional diesel, according to ExxonMobil. It is made with a minimum of 20% renewable content and blended with conventional diesel.?
Air cargo demand showed strong annual growth in the first half of 2024, exceeding H1 volumes from the prior three years, including a record-breaking 2021.?
H1 demand, measured in cargo tonne kilometers (CTK), increased, according to data released last week by IATA, as follows:?
“Strong growth across all regions and major trade lanes combined for a record-breaking first-half performance in terms of CTKs,” IATA Director General Willie Walsh said in the release. “Maritime shipping constraints and a booming e-commerce sector are among the strongest growth drivers.”