Dimerco Express Group’s July 2026 Asia-Pacific Freight Report shows a freight market still shaped by high-tech demand, tight capacity and uneven disruption rather than a clean, broad-based peak-season recovery.
The report points to resilient manufacturing activity, with the Global Manufacturing PMI holding at 52.6 in May for the second straight month and remaining above 50 for a tenth consecutive month. Taiwan's manufacturing PMI rose to 56.1, supported by semiconductor, AI server and electronics demand, while South Korea, Japan, Vietnam and India also remained in expansion.
"The clearest signal this month is out of Taiwan. AI-driven volumes have filled the TPE transit hub to capacity, and until that demand eases, space and rates across U.S. and regional lanes will stay under real pressure," says Kathy Liu, VP, global sales and marketing, Dimerco Express Group.
Key takeaways:
· Dimerco's July report shows airfreight demand staying high across Asia, with Bangkok and Singapore among the strongest intra-Asia destinations. The short-lived frontloading of U.S.-bound cargo that began in early June has already normalized, but capacity remains tight where AI, semiconductor and high-value electronics cargo is moving.
· Taiwan-U.S. airfreight remains one of the tightest corridors, with direct and indirect capacity constrained and rates rising. Taipei-Europe capacity is more stable, but regional lanes from Taiwan to Penang, Singapore, Bangkok and Chennai are also under pressure. South Korea is seeing tight conditions tied to China transshipment cargo, e-commerce, HBM semiconductor shipments and equipment moving through Incheon.
· Terminal congestion is adding another layer of difficulty. Bangkok and Manila have not fully recovered, extending door-to-door lead times. In the Philippines, congestion at NAIA and limited staging space have left some cargo releases taking more than a week.
· On the ocean side, strong U.S. import volumes have kept transpacific space tight and rates firm as peak season builds. It’s advised to pre-book 3-4 weeks ahead on key transpacific lanes, while July tariff changes remain a wildcard for demand patterns.
· The report shows ocean pressure across East China, South China, Taiwan, South Korea and Southeast Asia, especially on long-haul lanes to the United States and Europe. Carriers continue to manage capacity through blank sailings, while GRIs and Peak Season Surcharges are keeping rates firm. In Europe, Rotterdam congestion and inland rail disruption around Hamburg and Bremerhaven are affecting reliability.
· There are three main planning risks for July, including the provisional U.S.-Iran ceasefire, monsoon-season cargo handling risk, and peak-season frontloading that may pull demand forward rather than signal a sustained recovery; the Strait of Hormuz has reopened toll-free under a preliminary ceasefire framework, easing the immediate fuel threat; and the Southwest Monsoon is also intensifying across Southeast Asia and South Asia.
