-
The Asia Pacific cargo industry is entering 2026 with flexibility as top-of-mind strategy amid continued shifts in global trade patterns, evolving regulatory landscapes, and geopolitical uncertainties
-
Regional demand remains steady in key lanes, according to the Maersk Asia Pacific Market Update-Q4 2025
-
Ocean freight markets in the region are going into 2026 “with cautious optimism”
-
An initial Suez transit was successfully completed in mid-December 2025 by the Singapore-flagged vessel Maersk Sebarok
-
Air cargo flows across Asia-Pacific entered the new year on a stable footing, following a strong finish to 2025 driven by e-commerce, electronics, and time-sensitive shipments
-
For inland logistics across Asia-Pacific, the sector remains shaped by a combination of structural pressures and evolving trade flows
The Asia Pacific cargo industry is entering the new year with flexibility as top-of-mind strategy amid continued shifts in global trade patterns, evolving regulatory landscapes, and geopolitical uncertainties.
“While regional demand remains steady in key corridors, ongoing uncertainty across geopolitics and policy is prompting businesses to prioritize flexibility, visibility, and speed,” writes Baylie Zhang, digital media manager, Marketing Asia Pacific, in the Maersk Asia Pacific Market Update-Q4 2025.
The ocean freight markets in the region are going into 2026 “with cautious optimism” as long-haul trade routes continue to be affected by geopolitical uncertainty and capacity volatility. On the other hand, intra-Asia volumes are gaining momentum, and supply chain planning is increasingly focused on agility, regional connectivity, and early Chinese New Year preparations.
“We are closely monitoring developments in the Red Sea area and exploring opportunities for a safe and sustainable return to East-West Suez transit,” Zhang said, noting that an initial transit was successfully completed in mid-December 2025 by the Singapore-flagged vessel Maersk Sebarok.
The vessel currently operating on Maersk’s MECL service transited the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and Red Sea.
“The safety of our crew, vessels and cargo remains of utmost importance to us, and the highest possible safety measures were applied during transit. Customers with cargo on this vessel have been informed directly,” Zhang said.
“The first step is this initial sailing, followed by a limited number of additional trans-Suez sailings. However, there are no planned sailings currently,” she added.
Meanwhile, trade between Asia, Africa, and the Middle East is outpacing traditional East–West routes, driven by manufacturing shifts and growing regional integration.
Citing Sea-Intelligence, Maersk noted that container demand in the “Asia/Africa megaregion” surged by 22.6% between 2019 and 2025 – nearly triple the growth seen in the rest of the world.
On the air freight market, cargo flows across Asia-Pacific entered the new year on stable footing, following a strong finish to 2025 driven by e-commerce, electronics, and time-sensitive shipments.
While market conditions remain dynamic, recent trends point to continued demand resilience across core verticals and trade corridors, with a growth expectation of 2.4%, according to the Maersk report.
It also noted the International Air Transport Association’s data indicating that Asia-Pacific airlines recorded a 4.1% year-on-year increase in air cargo demand in October 2025. Capacity also rose by 5.1% over the same period, supported by rising belly-hold availability as international passenger travel resumed.
READ: Oct 2025 air cargo demand sets new record, up 4.1%
“This performance underscores Asia-Pacific’s central role in global supply chains and highlights the ongoing resilience of demand for high-value, time-sensitive shipments originating from the region,” Zhang said.
Trade lane performance remains mixed with Europe–Asia leading growth in October, driven by strong demand for technology and healthcare goods.
Middle East–Asia and Africa–Asia also saw solid increases, while intra-Asia flows held steady.
Demand on North America–Asia routes remained soft due to cautious inventory strategies and weaker consumer sentiment. Other corridors were broadly stable.
Air cargo capacity growth remains uneven across regions, with structural gaps persisting.
For inland logistics across Asia-Pacific, the sector remains shaped by a combination of structural pressures and evolving trade flows.
Demand has stabilized in key markets, but broader cost, climate, and infrastructure challenges continue to influence inland performance and planning.
Global and regional trade policy shifts continue to influence sourcing strategies and compliance requirements for Asia-Pacific businesses, while developments in tariff and trade agreements are prompting exporters to reassess market and operational decisions.
READ: Global container trade stays buoyant with 4.9% growth – Maersk
