Air freight rates remain stable in July

According to UK-based shipping research firm Drewry, east-west air freight rates were stable in July, increasing only 0.8 points to 102.4 (based on a value of 100 in May 2012).

The small increase in pricing brought the index up to within 1.4 points of April’s high and 8.2 points above last year’s level, indicating the strength of the recovery in air freight pricing over the last 12 months.

Drewry said pricing stability “has been supported by the removal of freighter capacity that has compensated for a seasonal rise in bellyhold space.”

However, while Drewry expects rates to remain stable through August, it expects prices to rise thereafter, driven by new product launches, such as the iPhone 6 (expected in early September).