Dimerco says AI cargo, weather disruptions are tightening Asia freight markets

Dimerco Express Group’s September Asia Pacific Freight Report says AI and semiconductor exports are squeezing Asian air capacity while typhoons, port congestion and canal constraints are keeping ocean rates firm. The report points to a split market headed into the fourth quarter, with technology shipments strong and broader consumer demand softer.

Why it matters: - AI and semiconductor shipments are tightening air capacity out of key Asian hubs, which can push up rates for exporters and delay time-sensitive cargo. - Weather disruptions and routing constraints are keeping ocean freight elevated even as demand cools, adding cost and uncertainty for shippers moving goods into the fourth quarter. - Southeast Asia is entering peak season, raising the risk of capacity shortages on Europe and North America lanes.

What happened: - Dimerco Express Group released its September Asia Pacific Freight Report on Sept. 2, 2026, in Taipei, Taiwan. - The report says freight markets are splitting between resilient technology demand and softer consumer volumes. - AI and semiconductor shipments are creating capacity pressure at major Asian origins. - Typhoons, port congestion and routing constraints are supporting ocean freight rates. - The report says global manufacturing remained in expansion territory, with the Global Manufacturing PMI at 52.1 in July. - Taiwan posted a regional manufacturing reading of 55.1, and Japan, Thailand, India, South Korea and Vietnam also stayed above the global average.

The details: - Taiwan air capacity is tight across major trade lanes because AI servers, high-performance computing equipment and advanced semiconductors are taking up available space. - Dimerco expects Taiwan-US air rates to keep rising ahead of the fourth-quarter peak. - Europe-bound air capacity out of Taiwan is also constrained. - South Korea is seeing similar pressure, with Asia-US load factors near 90% as AI and semiconductor cargo drives demand. - Ex-China volumes into the US remain soft. - Intra-Asia traffic is below the same period last year. - Asia-Europe air demand remains weak after the July removal of the EU de minimis exemption for e-commerce parcels. - Typhoons hit Shanghai, Ningbo, Yantian and Hong Kong at different times, reducing effective capacity and creating congestion expected to continue into September. - Dimerco estimates about 400,000 TEU were waiting for clearance in East China after a near three-day shutdown. - Vessel waits reached three to eight days in Shanghai and two to four days in Ningbo. - Panama Canal draft restrictions begin Sept. 3 and add another variable for US-bound cargo. - Carriers remain cautious about returning to the Suez and Red Sea corridors. - Air capacity remains tight across Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore. - India faces backlog conditions on Europe and US West Coast services. - Ocean rates are rising across many Southeast Asia-Europe and North America lanes as vessel utilization increases and carriers add peak-season and bunker surcharges.

Between the lines: - The report describes a market where supply shocks matter more than broad demand growth. - Port-specific disruptions are creating a lane-by-lane freight environment instead of one uniform transpacific market. - The loss of e-commerce demand in Europe is weakening air cargo there, while AI-related shipments are offsetting softness in other lanes. - The result is a two-speed freight market: technology cargo is supporting rates, while many consumer-linked flows are cooling.

What's next: - Dimerco expects Q4 peak-season pressure to become more visible across Southeast Asia, India and Australia during September. - Shippers are being told to secure capacity earlier from constrained Asian origins, build in extra time around weather-affected gateways and keep routing flexible. - Canal restrictions, port disruption and peak-season surcharges are likely to keep freight conditions volatile heading into year-end.

The bottom line: - AI demand is propping up airfreight out of Asia, but weather, congestion and trade-route constraints are doing the same for ocean rates, leaving shippers with little relief on either mode.