Less air cargo handled in the Netherlands

The amount of air cargo handled in the Netherlands so far this year is lower than last year, according to new CBS figures. Worldwide, the growth of air freight volume did increase in October according to data from Xeneta. However, there is a delay in the growth. As for sea container transport, spot rates are rising this week for the fourth consecutive week. The World Container Index from Drewry increased by 8% to $1,959 per 40-foot container. After seventeen consecutive declines, this is the fourth week that container transport has become more expensive. The big risers are the routes from China to the US and Europe. Spot rates from Shanghai to both Rotterdam and Los Angeles are rising by 9%. From that port city to Genoa and New York, an increase of 8% is observed. According to Drewry, shipping companies are trying to raise spot prices on the route from Asia to Europe in anticipation of the start of the new contract negotiations, with higher fixed FAK rates of $3,000 to $3,600 per 40-foot container starting November 15. Less air cargo handled in the NetherlandsThe amount of air cargo handled in the Netherlands so far this year is lower than in 2024, according to new figures from the Central Bureau for Statistics (CBS). Over the third quarter, again fewer (-7.3%) goods were transported by air than in 2025. In total, 361,627 tons were transported in the third quarter of this year, of which the vast majority was handled via Schiphol. Maastricht Aachen Airport is the only other Dutch airport that handles air cargo, accounting for 3% of the total. There was already an increase seen in the first and second quarters, and in the third quarter, the amount increased more significantly, from 5,736 to 10,276 tons. The largest portion of air cargo, nearly 58% (208,200 tons), was transported between the Netherlands and Asia. According to CBS, China and the United Arab Emirates accounted for more than half of this. Following is 'America', with the US responsible for about 50,000 tons of the total 94,400 tons. In third place is Africa with 23,700 tons. Within Europe, Turkey is at the top of the list for cargo handling with 12,300 tons according to CBS. Within the European Union, it is Germany with 7,600 tons. Cargo handling within the EU is the only segment that increased, from 14,000 to 15,300 tons. From non-EU countries, 20,000 tons of cargo were handled. According to data platform Xeneta, although the global growth of air freight volume in October has slowed, the increase of 4% year-on-year was nevertheless stronger than expected. For the entire year, Xeneta expects a growth of 3% to 4% of the global air freight volume. The growth continues, despite companies ordering fewer goods in advance to reduce import duty costs and despite the US abolishing the exemption from import duties on cheaper packages. In October, global spot prices for air freight fell for the sixth consecutive month, down 3% year-on-year to $2.58 per kilo according to data from Xeneta. Contract prices fell faster, by 8%. Air freight rates risingAccording to the Freightos Air Index, although volumes are lower, air freight rates from China to the US have risen by 15% since mid-October to around $6 per kilo. This indicates the start of a peak season, although there are doubts about how high that peak will be this time. The prices are still below the $7 per kilo paid in the same period last year, according to Freightos. The air freight prices from China to Europe have risen by 7% since mid-October to about $4.20 per kilo and are 5% higher than last year. According to Freightos, increased demand on this route has come from the trade war and declining demand from the US for goods from China. However, due to significant capacity expansion, the rates are approximately equal to a year ago according to Freightos. DHL Global Forwarding, Freight saw revenues and profits decline in the third quarter. DHL attributes this to the 'lack of volume recovery in air freight, falling ocean freight rates, and ongoing economic weakness in Europe'.