In brief: Air cargo volumes from China and Hong Kong to Europe showed signs of a slight rebound in September, according to WorldACD market data, even as tonnage remained well below year-earlier levels.
Combined China/Hong Kong-to-Europe tonnage fell 10% year on year in September, an improvement on declines of 14% in July and 15% in August. The picture varied sharply by origin: Hong Kong-to-Europe volumes dropped 24%, while mainland China-to-Europe volumes were down just 2%. Average China-to-Europe air cargo rates rose to $4.53/kg in September from $4.26/kg in August, though still well off the $5.22/kg seen in June. WorldACD links the slowdown to the European Union’s new €3 charge on low-value parcels under $150, introduced to curb the surge in direct-to-consumer e-commerce shipments.
For freight forwarders and e-commerce shippers moving goods between China, Hong Kong and Europe, the figures suggest the market is still recalibrating to the EU’s parcel fee months after it took effect, with mainland China volumes proving more resilient than Hong Kong’s. Capacity planning on these lanes should account for continued volatility rather than a clean return to pre-fee volumes.
Source: Air Cargo News, 12 October 2026.