Air cargo demand, historically boosted by both e-commerce and shipments for AI data centers, is now exhibiting distinct growth patterns. While both sectors contribute significantly to airfreight volumes, e-commerce demand is reportedly stabilizing, whereas the need for air transport of AI data center components continues its rapid expansion. This divergence was highlighted by Maarten Wormer, head of consulting at Aevean, during the EU Cross-Border E-Commerce Forum in Liege.
For freight forwarders and operations managers, this trend indicates a potential shift in market dynamics. The sustained high demand from the AI sector could lead to continued pressure on air cargo capacity for specific routes and aircraft types, particularly those serving manufacturing hubs for advanced electronics and destinations with new data center developments. Conversely, a stabilization in e-commerce volumes might offer some relief or rebalancing of capacity on traditional e-commerce lanes. Forwarders should monitor these trends closely to anticipate rate fluctuations and adjust their booking strategies, potentially prioritizing AI-related cargo for premium services while optimizing e-commerce shipments for cost-efficiency.