Longer sea voyages hit Asia-Pacific trade.

 

Australian suppliers and distributors are moving to fly in more goods than ever before with airlines witnessing a surge in freight volumes.

 

The decision to airfreight selects goods comes as European manufacturers move to avoid delays caused by longer sea voyages around Africa by containerships that usually travel through the Suez Canal.

 

The International Air Transport Association claims that Asia Pacific and Middle East-Europe trade was the world’s fastest-growing market in February, expanding 39.3 per cent over the same month last year.

 

Channel News Australia said overseas reports confirmed that ocean shipping companies have been diverting containerships away from the Red Sea and around Africa since November, when Houthi rebels based in Yemen began attacking ships using helicopters, missiles and drones.

 

The move is helping boost international airfreight operators after a long period of sagging cargo volumes with manufacturers passing on the cost of airfreighting goods on to retailers.

 

The demand is contributing to “a surprisingly busy airfreight market” during what is traditionally a slow period, Niall van de Wouw, chief airfreight officer at transportation data firm Xeneta, said.