LIMA, PE.- The imposition of tariffs by the United States generated an increase in global air cargo at the beginning of 2025, as companies brought forward their shipments and restructured supply chains to reduce the impact.
“In 2025, companies faced the threat of these tariffs as well as political changes and uncertainty in the United States. To manage these risks, many businesses brought forward their shipments. At the same time, companies were restructuring their supply chains to reduce their exposure to tariffs. Global exporters redirected shipments to other markets, such as Europe,” explained Julia Seiermann, Head of Industry Analysis at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) .
Presenting the report “Air Cargo, Trade and Economic Growth in 2025 ” at the IATA World Cargo Symposium 2026 (WCS) in Lima, Peru, Seiermann emphasized that the above also contributed to the creation of new routes for e-commerce and “played a critical role” in supporting the expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) and its investments.
“The message is clear: cargo is not just a means of transport, it is an essential infrastructure for the global economy,” he stated.
Average US tariffs rose by about 17% , a level not seen since the 1930s, though these increases were not the only source of friction. Measures, including the de minimis exemption—a provision that for years facilitated e-commerce and low-value cross-border purchases—further restricted market access.
“Before that, (tariffs) had been more or less below 3% all-time. So it really was a big increase. And then, for 2026, the outlook on tariffs is still actually uncertain,” he commented.
Seiermann mentioned that, although some tariffs were reversed with the US Supreme Court ruling on February 20, visibility and future trade policy remain limited , and this uncertainty itself is part of the problem.
“This trajectory shows direct political uncertainty and, as we can see, it spiked in 2025 and remains at record levels in 2026; from a business perspective, uncertainty is often much harder to navigate than the tariffs themselves,” he emphasized.
According to the document, in the first quarter of 2025, U.S. imports increased by $193 billion year-over-year, representing a 26 percent increase. The value of imports grew 81 percent year-over-year, reaching a total of $157 billion .
The specialist indicated that the capacity of air cargo to allow the rapid geographical reallocation of high-value and time-sensitive trade, in response to political shocks, was clearly demonstrated.
“During the period from April to December 2025, air cargo benefited much more from the expansion of trade routes than from those that were affected by the contraction of those routes,” he explained.
He explained that as investment in AI increased in 2025 , air cargo efficiently and reliably delivered high-value, time-sensitive equipment such as servers, data storage units, and chips.
IATA reported that more than two-thirds of the value of AI-related trade was transported by air during the period, and that air cargo shipments of AI-related goods grew by 20% year-on-year.
“The rapid increase in demand for AI-related goods in 2025 was met by air freight, allowing investment to translate into economic activity rather than being constrained by logistics. As economies become increasingly and strategically dependent on high-value technology goods, air freight will continue to play a critical role in ensuring their timely delivery,” Seiermann stated.
Comment and follow us on LinkedIn: @Evangelina del Toro / Correspondent / @GrupoT21
