Dimerco September Freight Report: AI Demand and Supply Disruptions Reshape Freight Markets

Technology exports are tightening Asian air capacity while weather disruptions and congestion keep ocean rates firm despite softer demand.

TAIPEI, TAIWAN, September 2, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Dimerco Express Group’s September Asia Pacific Freight Report finds a freight market increasingly divided between resilient technology demand and softer consumer volumes. AI and semiconductor shipments continue to create capacity pressure at key Asian origins, while typhoons, port congestion and routing constraints are supporting ocean freight rates even as broader demand cools.

Global manufacturing remains in expansion territory, with the Global Manufacturing PMI at 52.1 in July, marking a twelfth consecutive month above 50. Taiwan led the regional manufacturing picture at 55.1, while Japan, Thailand, India, South Korea and Vietnam also remained above the global average.

Key Insights for September
------------------------------------
Dimerco identifies several major themes shaping September freight markets:
=> AI and semiconductor exports are keeping air capacity tight from Taiwan and South Korea.
=> Typhoon-related disruptions at major Chinese ports are supporting ocean rates despite cooling demand.
=> Southeast Asia is entering Q4 peak-season conditions, with tighter space and rising rates on many Europe and North America lanes.
=> Asia-Europe air freight remains comparatively soft following changes to European e-commerce de minimis rules.
=> Panama Canal restrictions, cautious Suez routings and new trade compliance requirements are adding uncertainty for shippers.

AI Demand Creates a Two-Speed Air Freight Market
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Technology cargo remains one of the clearest sources of freight demand.
Taiwan air capacity is tight across all major trade lanes as AI servers, high-performance computing equipment and advanced semiconductors absorb available space. Dimerco expects rates to continue rising on Taiwan-US routes ahead of the fourth-quarter peak, while Europe-bound capacity is also constrained.

South Korea is experiencing similar pressure, with Asia-US load factors running near 90% as AI and semiconductor cargo becomes the primary capacity driver.

“The split isn't by lane any more, it's by commodity. AI out of Taiwan fills aircraft while everything else drifts, and Europe still hasn't replaced the e-commerce base it lost in July,” said Kathy Liu, VP, Global Sales and Marketing, Dimerco Express Group.

The strength is not universal. Ex-China volumes into the US remain soft, intra-Asia traffic is below the same period last year, and Asia-Europe air demand remains subdued following the July removal of the EU de minimis exemption for e-commerce parcels.

Ocean Freight Is Increasingly a Port-by-Port Market
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Ocean freight is being driven less by demand growth and more by supply disruption.

Typhoons affected Shanghai, Ningbo, Yantian and Hong Kong at different times, reducing effective capacity and creating congestion expected to continue into September. In East China, Dimerco estimates roughly 400,000 TEU were awaiting clearance following a near three-day shutdown, with vessel waits reaching three to eight days in Shanghai and two to four days in Ningbo.

“The transpacific isn't one market any more. Each port has its own balance point, and capacity is being removed involuntarily. That's why slowing demand isn't pulling rates down,” said Ted Chen, Director, Ocean Freight, Global Sales and Marketing, Dimerco Express Group.

Panama Canal draft restrictions beginning September 3 add another variable for US-bound cargo, while carriers remain cautious about returning services to the Suez and Red Sea corridors.

Peak Season Builds Across Southeast Asia
--------------------------------------------------------
Across Southeast Asia, India and Australia, Dimerco expects Q4 peak-season pressure to become increasingly visible during September.

Air capacity remains tight across Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore, while India faces backlog conditions on Europe and US West Coast services. Ocean rates are also rising across many Southeast Asia-Europe and North America lanes as vessel utilization increases and carriers introduce peak-season and bunker surcharges.

Dimerco recommends that shippers secure capacity earlier on constrained Asian origins, allow additional buffer time around weather-affected gateways and maintain routing flexibility heading into the fourth-quarter peak.

For more information, the full Dimerco September Freight Report can be downloaded from here.

About Dimerco Express Group
----------------------------------------
Dimerco Express Group integrates air and ocean freight, trade compliance, and contract logistics services to make global supply chains more effective and efficient. Founded in Taiwan in 1971, Dimerco connects Asia’s manufacturing hubs with North America and Europe through a robust network of 150+ offices and 200+ strategic partner agents.

For media enquiries, contact:

Gitte Willemsens
Pesti Group
gitte.w@pesti.io
Visit us on social media:
LinkedIn
Facebook
YouTube
X