EU parcel tariffs impact Asia‑Europe air cargo

On 1 July 2026 the European Union removed the de minimis exemption for low‑value shipments, adding a €3 charge per item and tighter reporting requirements. The rule immediately cut air‑cargo volumes from Hong Kong to Europe, with chargeable weight dropping over 20 % and overall Asia‑Pacific‑to‑Europe shipments down 13 % year‑on‑year. At the same time, massive outbound shipments from Chinese e‑commerce platforms such as Shein and Temu kept air‑freight spot rates at near‑peak levels, erasing the usual summer “slack season.”

Two weeks later, EU authorities confirmed the temporary levy on small parcels was still in force, further slashing air‑freight volumes from China to Europe by about 11 % YoY. The decline was most pronounced for Hong Kong, down 24 % YoY, while mainland China fell 10 % YoY. Air‑freight spot rates slipped 5 % to $4.17 per kilogram but remained 8 % above the prior year’s level. Combined with rising container freight rates and carrier capacity cuts, the EU tariffs have produced a noticeable slowdown across both maritime and air logistics to Europe.