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Real-Time Visibility Takes Flight

Jun 24, 2025 | , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

New live flight tracking powers smarter airfreight decisions with MVT Track & Trace.

We’re excited to share a powerful new upgrade to MVT Track & Trace, Metro’s shipment visibility platform, that delivers even greater control and confidence when managing your airfreight.

Our latest enhancement introduces real-time flight telemetry tracking, giving you an instant, accurate view of your air cargo’s location, live and in motion. For every shipment, you can now follow its journey across an interactive map, complete with precise flight paths and positional data updated in real time.

Whether you’re monitoring standard freight or time-critical consignments, this new feature transforms how you track air movements, with benefits that include:

  • Live flight tracking for every airfreight shipment
  • Visual map interface showing the current aircraft position and route
  • Accurate flight data, including departure, ETA, and arrival confirmation
  • Time-stamped milestone events, clearly logged for full shipment oversight

Each key status change is automatically captured and displayed through a clean, user-friendly interface, so you’re always in the know, without the need for chasing updates.

This level of transparency is especially valuable when speed and certainty matter most. By enriching your operational visibility, our new flight telemetry feature supports smarter decisions, tighter planning, and more resilient supply chains.

At Metro, we’re committed to continuous innovation that makes logistics smarter, faster, and easier to manage. This upgrade to MVT Track & Trace is just one of the ways we’re helping you stay ahead.

Want to see it in action? Log in to your MVT portal today or EMAIL Ian Powell,
Customer and Technical Solutions Director.

Freighter

Air Cargo Outlook Strengthens

Jun 10, 2025 | , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Global air cargo demand continues to show signs of recovery, driven by seasonal trends, front-loaded shipments and shifting trade flows. However, market conditions remain volatile, with varying regional dynamics, capacity fluctuations and ongoing uncertainty.

Air cargo demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres (CTKs), rose nearly 6% year-on-year in April, supported by the seasonal uplift in fashion and consumer goods, pre-emptive shipping ahead of US tariff changes, and falling jet fuel prices. Month-on-month, demand rose 2.3%, building on a strong March performance and growing again in May.

Freighter capacity returns to the trans-Pacific
Freighter capacity is rising again, especially on the transPacific, as airlines cautiously reintroduce wide-body lift in response to improving demand. Asia–Europe and Middle East–Asia freighter supply grew 11%, while Asia Pacific–North America increased 8% in the first week of June.

After a sharp fall in eCommerce volumes triggered by new US tariff rules, capacity had shifted away from China–US lanes. But as volumes recover, albeit slowly, freighters are returning.

Freighter services are also being bolstered through indirect routings. Chinese carriers, for example, have added new air–air links via Hanoi to support Vietnam–US demand, while capacity from South Korea is tightening, especially for high-tech and perishables.

Tariff volatility driving unpredictable rate trends
The Baltic Air Freight Index rose 1.2% month-on-month in May, but was over 5% down win the same period in 2024. Spot freight rates on lanes out of China softened in early May before rising sharply later in the month. The spot rate index for Hong Kong was up 1% compared to April but down 6.3% year-on-year.

A patchwork of changing US tariff rules created considerable mid-month turbulence. eCommerce shipments, which made up 50% of China–US air freight in 2024, have been hit hard. The May 2 removal of the de minimis exemption for low-value shipments was followed by a brief truce and a reduction in duties. First from 145% to 120%, then to 54%, with a flat $100 fee on postal items. These changes triggered both short-term front-loading and momentary drops in volumes.

Carriers are warning that further disruptions may arise if shippers wait too long to secure capacity, especially with the current 90-day tariff truce due to end in mid-August. Late-quarter demand and compliance bottlenecks could create pressure points, especially on high-traffic lanes such as China–US and intra-Asia.

Regional variation and trade lane shifts
Rates and demand trends continue to diverge across regions. Intra-Asia demand is firm, supported by high-tech and perishables, while South Korea–US routes require bookings up to two weeks in advance. Rates from Japan to Europe are rising, though capacity from Guangzhou and other hubs has been reduced. Meanwhile, outbound rates from Vietnam and India remain lower year-on-year.

In the Americas, rates from the US to South America are significantly higher than a year ago, although some observers are beginning to flag early signs of overcapacity. Rates from Europe are mixed, and seasonal factors like cherry and peach exports are also starting to influence flows and capacity allocation.

Jet fuel remains a bright spot for airlines. Prices were 21% lower year-on-year and 4% down month-on-month, offering margin support even in the face of softening yields.

As air cargo markets navigate shifting demand and volatile rates, securing reliable space at the best rates is more critical than ever. Metro’s global air freight specialists work across key trade lanes, including Asia, Europe and the Americas, to help you air freight with confidence.

Whether you’re moving high-tech, fashion, perishables, eCommerce or anything else, our team ensures fast, reliable and cost-effective air freight solutions tailored to your needs.

EMAIL managing director, Andrew Smith, today to secure capacity, avoid disruption and keep your supply chain moving efficiently.

China exports

US-China Tariff Pause Offers Fashion Breathing Space

May 13, 2025 | , , , , , , , , ,

Fashion brands and retailers around the world have welcomed a temporary easing of tensions between the US and China, but remain wary of the wider uncertainty still gripping global supply chains.

A 90-day agreement announced on Monday May 12 will, from May 14, reduce US tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%, and cut Chinese tariffs on US goods from 125% to 10%. While the move has offered immediate relief, industry bodies warn it does little to address the long-term challenges facing the fashion sector.

The announcement sparked a wave of activity as brands reinstated production orders they had previously paused. The high tariff levels had forced many companies to cancel orders, divert production to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka, or slow shipments into the US and Europe. The easing of duties now gives brands the opportunity to fulfil autumn and holiday orders with a degree of cost certainty, albeit only for a limited window.

Trade associations remain cautious. The Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America called the agreement “a step in the right direction” but emphasised that even the reduced 30% tariff remains a significant burden. The fashion industry, with its typically thin margins, has found it difficult to absorb such additional costs. Retailers and importers warn that prices will inevitably be passed onto consumers, fuelling inflationary pressures across apparel and footwear categories.

The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) noted that this tariff rate applies in addition to any existing duties and customs fees, potentially pushing total charges on certain items to around 50%. Smaller brands, in particular, lack the scale to mitigate these costs and are likely to face greater challenges.

The agreement doesn’t not reverse the abrupt end of the de minimis exemption, which previously allowed shipments valued at <$800 to enter the US duty free. Fast fashion and eCommerce platforms that relied on this customs regime have been forced to rethink their business models.

Retailers may now attempt to bulk-ship goods to US warehouses during the 90-day window to avoid further disruption.

Supply chain experts say the fashion industry will continue to face high levels of uncertainty. The temporary nature of the deal, coupled with the risk of retaliatory tariffs on goods from countries like Vietnam and Cambodia, means many brands are proceeding with extreme caution. Some analysts warn that if brands rush to resume production, a surge in orders could overwhelm manufacturers and create a cargo capacity crunch, pushing air and ocean freight rates even higher.

The longer-term outlook remains unclear. Fashion companies continue to seek more flexible and diversified sourcing strategies, hedging against the risks of geopolitical instability. Industry leaders have urged policymakers to use the current window to work towards a permanent, predictable trading framework.

For now, the temporary tariff pause has delivered short-term relief, but it is widely viewed as a fragile reprieve rather than a definitive resolution. As one trade association put it, fashion brands will “enjoy this time” but remain braced for further twists in the turbulent global trade environment.

With decades of experience supporting leading fashion brands and retailers, we understand the unique demands of global fashion supply chains. EMAIL Andy Smith, Managing Director, to navigate today’s uncertainty and optimise your international logistics and sourcing strategy with confidence.

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March Airfreight Surge Sets Stage for Further Growth as US-China Trade Tensions Ease

May 13, 2025 | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Airfreight markets posted a record performance in March, with particularly strong activity on Asia, US, Europe and UK trade lanes. The surge, driven by shippers front-loading cargo ahead of anticipated US tariffs, has provided a benchmark for what could follow in the months ahead as recent tariff reductions between the US and China hint at a renewed spike in activity.

According to IATA, global demand measured in cargo tonne-kilometres rose by 4.4% year-on-year, with international cargo traffic increasing by 5.5%. Capacity, meanwhile, increased by a similar margin, helping to stabilise load factors despite the sudden surge in volumes. Asia-Pacific carriers led growth with a 9.6% rise in demand and an 11% increase in available capacity. North American airlines recorded a 9.5% increase in volumes, while European carriers posted a more moderate rise.

Asia-North America remained the largest and fastest-growing trade lane by market share, as exporters sought to avoid the sharp rise in tariffs. The Europe-North America route also experienced strong activity and was the busiest overall in March, underpinned by steady intra-European demand which grew by 2%.

The operating environment provided further stimulus, with world industrial output and global trade volumes expanding by just under 3%. Falling energy costs provided additional support, with jet fuel prices down for the ninth consecutive month. Inflation rates also stabilised across key markets, providing additional certainty for international shippers. China’s deflationary environment also showed signs of softening, with the rate improving to just below zero.

The result was a sharp escalation in demand from sectors that rely on rapid supply chains and cannot risk ocean freight delays. Electronics, high fashion, automotive and perishable goods were among the leading commodities contributing to the increased volumes.

The extraordinary March performance may not remain an isolated event. The recent temporary US-China tariff reduction has the potential to trigger another wave of increased airfreight activity.

While the extent of future growth will depend on how negotiations between the world’s two largest economies unfold, the easing of tariffs has already bolstered market sentiment.

However, market analysts note that after the March peak, demand may return to more typical seasonal levels in the short term, particularly as capacity has increased by over 6% on international routes, offering more space for shippers. Yet, the fundamental reliance on airfreight for high-value and time-critical shipments between Asia, the US, Europe and the UK remains unchanged.

Should trade relations between the US and China continue to thaw, the market could be poised for another significant uplift in volumes. The key will be whether the current political stability translates into sustained confidence among exporters and freight forwarders across these critical trade lanes.

With airfreight demand surging and tariffs in flux, now is the time to optimise your supply chain strategy. EMAIL Elliot Carlile, Operations Director, to explore how we can help you secure space and streamline your international shipments.

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