Trans-Pacific AI-related cargo demand to remain robust through yearend

AI-related shipments are proving to be a core driver of trans-Pacific growth, with freighter operators expecting demand to remain strong through 2026 and beyond. While the growth of e-commerce shipments out of China has receded slightly, high-tech cargo, including semiconductors, server racks and data center infrastructure, has emerged as a significant market, Jaedong Eum, executive vice president and head of the cargo business at Korean Air, told Cargo Facts . [caption id="attachment_57298433" align="alignnone" width="1954"] Korean Air is a major freighter operator in the trans-Pacific market. (Courtesy/Aeropuerto Santiago de Chile)[/caption] “Because establishing [data centers] involves multiyear commitments over a two- to three-year horizon, we expect demand for high-tech cargo to remain robust,” he said. Korean Air operates one of the largest freighter fleets in the world with twenty-three units, including 747-8Fs, 747-400Fs and 777Fs. Serving up Servers AI-related shipments account for up to half of EVA Air’s cargo revenue, a spokesperson for the Taiwan-based airline told Cargo Facts . Strong global demand for AI servers has prompted some customers to capacity in advance. EVA Air operates nine 777Fs and will add three 777-300ERSFs . Demand is expected to remain strong through 2026, supporting elevated freight rates, the spokesperson added. Korean Air’s Eum agreed, saying he anticipates strong cargo demand to continue through the end of the year. “Advanced high-bandwidth memory and AI-processing units already have two to three years of advance orders scheduled,” he said. “Hardware is entering the supply chain as soon as manufacturing is complete, yet global demand continues to exceed available supply.” “Advanced high-bandwidth memory and AI-processing units already have two to three years of advance orders scheduled,” he said. “Hardware is entering the supply chain as soon as manufacturing is complete, yet global demand continues to exceed available supply.” — Jaedong Eum, executive vice president and head of cargo business at Korean Air Two-way demand AI-related products are a significant portion of cargo on trans-Pacific routes in both directions, Eum told Cargo Facts . As AI server hardware and semiconductor manufacturing equipment originating in North America move into tech hubs across Asia, server components, energy storage solutions and power distribution equipment from Asia consolidate through hubs such as Seoul Incheon (ICN) and move into North America. “According to Seabury Trade data, overall market demand for this cargo category grew 19% [YoY] over the past 12 months,” he said. “Outbound shipments from China represent the largest volume, growing 20% [YoY] while outbound volume from Southeast Asia, the second-largest origin, showed remarkable growth at 46% [YoY].” The strongest demand growth is concentrated on routes bound for North America and Europe, Eum told Cargo Facts . “Based on Seabury Trade metrics, Asia-to-North America volume in this sector increased 54% [YoY], while Asia-to-Europe trade grew by 16% [YoY].” Looking beyond 2026, new shifts in global AI-related air cargo flows are likely to emerge as major U.S. tech companies relocate their headquarters to southeastern states including Georgia and North Carolina, and southwestern states including Texas, Eum said. The shift could pose a challenge for carriers that operate principally along trans-Pacific lanes, Bongwon Seo, head of logistics and safety at AirZeta, told Cargo Facts . “ Given industrial ties between Korea and [the West Coast] , we do not foresee a drastic decline, but a dramatic rebound is also unlikely,” he said. Cargo Facts Symposium 2026, the premier event for the freighter aircraft and air cargo industries, will take place in Nashville, Tenn., on Oct. 21-23. Find out more and register by Sept. 4 to take advantage of early-bird pricing.

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