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Supply Chain Advisors
Key Contacts
Airfreight Price Index - August 2026
Our Airfreight Price Index is a weighted average of all-in airfreight "buy rates" paid by forwarders to airlines for standard service airport-to-airport airfreight services on 44 major East-West routes for cargoes above 1,000 kg. This Index is sourced from our new Airfreight Insight subscription service.
Drewry Airfreight Price Index - Composite Index (US$/Kg)
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Drewry Airfreight Price Index - Main Routes (US$/Kg)
Source: Drewry Airfreight Insight
31 Aug 2026: The Drewry Airfreight Price index slipped 1% from July to a global average rate of $3.91, with the major trade sectors showing little or no change, except for Asia-Europe, where rates sank 2% westbound and 4% eastbound. Pricing in the other sectors was flat or changed 1%. Rate development reflects the bifurcation in Asia’s trade characterised by robust demand to North America and a drop in volumes to Europe, largely a result of the end of de minimis exemption for parcels entering the European Union, to which airlines responded with a shift of freighters from Asia-Europe to transpacific routes. For the most part, rates from China and Southeast Asia to Europe declined, whereas pricing to the US market showed increases or moderate drops. The price of aviation fuel and its reactions to the US Iran conflict has been a major factor in airfreight pricing. Rates decreased during the ceasefire, when the two sides were negotiating a resolution of the war but rose again after negotiations broke down and the two sides trades threats. Recent container import volumes on the US West Coast suggest a robust peak season, but scepticism remains. A strong peak would push some traffic from ocean to air transport, an option that is looking more attractive today, as the Airfreight-vs-Maritime Price Multiplier index has been sinking since May to a factor of 6.6 in August.
Introduction to Airfreight Insight (annual subscription)
Monthly global airfreight marketing insights, key ocean vs airfreight comparisons and rates against more than 136 air lanes.
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Related Indices
World Container Index: Our detailed weekly analysis and latest ocean freight rate assessments for eight major East-West trades.
World Container Index Index
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Drewry Port Throughput Index
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What clients say about our ocean freight solutions
“Drewry is a trusted and highly resourceful partner, consistently excelling in the complex realm of ocean shipping. Their expertise, dedication and proactive mindset deliver measurable value to our organization, reinforcing their role as an instrumental extension of our global supply chain.”
Anonymous, Fully-integrated mining and chemicals multinational
“Drewry is a great resource for market insights, rate indices, and guidance on overall market conditions. Our partnership with Drewry has proven advantageous to our business by helping us establish best practices, refine our contracts and benchmark among the best in the industry.”
Director Global Logistics, Bissell Homecare, Inc.
“Drewry benchmarking [service] has provided us with the insights… to understand how we are positioned, especially important given the volatile and potentially irrational nature of the container marketplace.”
Anonymous, Global home furnishings business
“Drewry’s regular analysis and benchmarking tools help keep us informed on both our own freight rates as well as broader trends in the market. Their insights, reporting and forecasting capabilities truly support our strategic decision making.”
Peter Smith, Global Trade and Commercial Manager, Cotton-On Group
“We selected Drewry’s Benchmarking Club to benchmark our ocean rates with other retail industry leaders and to gain insight into container shipping market trends, forecasts and best practices through webinars provided to Club members by Drewry.”
Logistics Manager, Leading global electronics and home entertainment brand
“Drewry’s Benchmarking Club has made industry rate data and expertise readily accessible. We successfully leveraged their industry knowledge in our annual ocean carrier contract negotiations and continue to do so when evaluating changes to our organization’s sourcing strategies.”
Fortune 100, International US-Headquartered retail brand
“Benchmarking Club data allows us to see trends from both the market and Drewry point of view which provided strategic value on what to expect during the upcoming procurement process. The comparisons of our company’s position in transit times, rates and shipment methods are of particular value.”
Logistics Director, US FMCG Company
“Drewry has been very helpful to us in benchmarking our shipping costs and in developing strategies to improve our shipping efficiency and cost effectiveness.”
Head of Exports, Del Monte (Philippines)
“I would highly recommend Benchmarking Club to any organisation looking at improving overall efficiency and giving a real-world view of their performance...the Drewry team is super-knowledgeable about everything freight-related.”
Ocean Strategy Manager, Leading US-based Pharmaceutical Company
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