The recent overhaul of the European Union’s duty-free tax framework is already reshaping the air cargo landscape, with early indicators pointing to softening rates and reduced volumes on key trade lanes.
Just one month on from the removal of the de minimis exemption, which previously allowed low-value imports into the EU to enter without incurring customs duties, market behaviour is beginning to shift. Shippers, e-commerce platforms and freight operators are recalibrating their strategies in response to the new regulatory environment.
Whilst it remains too early to quantify the full commercial impact, industry observers note that demand for air freight capacity, particularly on routes traditionally dominated by high volumes of low-value parcels, has begun to soften. Rate pressures are following suit, as carriers adjust to changing booking patterns and evolving customer requirements.