Data released by WorldACD for the week ending 11 May (week 19), shows that airfreight volumes from China and Hong Kong to the US declined by 10% compared with week 18, which had already suffered a 14% decline on a week earlier.
"Year-on-year volumes from China and Hong Kong to North America were down 27% in week 19, a fourth week of double-digit percentage decline,” the data provider said.
Week 19 was the first full week since the US ended the de minimis loophole for China that had allowed e-commerce packages to enter the country duty-free and with minimal customs scrutiny.
The exemption was removed on 2 May, meaning it also had a partial impact on week 18 performance, on top of the Labour Day holidays in China.
