At the close of 2024, e-commerce accounted for around 20 percent of airfreight volumes worldwide, with projections that volumes could double within the next decade. Rapid growth, accelerated by pandemic-driven changes in consumer behaviours, created deviations in processes and practices.
e-commerce shipments are not governed by industry standards, and no international regulations specifically cover this commodity, though safety and security rules still apply. Differences in government regulations, standard operating procedures, and customer expectations add to the complexity.
The TIACA Board prioritised drafting a white paper to explore opportunities and challenges for stakeholders across the supply chain.
Market outlook
Air cargo accounts for about 35 percent of global trade value annually, worth US$9.0 trillion, or over 64 million metric tonnes. E-commerce volumes have grown steadily over five years, now exceeding 12 million metric tonnes.
Consumer behaviour has shifted from “brick and mortar” retail to online marketplaces, C2C platforms, and direct sales channels. Social media retail on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok Shop accelerates this trend, making shopping accessible 24/7 via smartphones, supported by global payment systems.
Ex-China/Hong Kong e-commerce reached 4.4 million tonnes in 2024, growing 38 percent per annum since 2021, with volumes almost doubling in two years. Low-value e-commerce accounted for 55 percent of China–US air trade, reducing general cargo volumes.
US tariff changes from April 2025 and the removal of the ‘de minimis’ exemption in May halved China/Hong Kong–US volumes almost overnight. This was offset by Europe-bound shipments nearly doubling, showing how quickly marketplace marketing drives demand shifts.
