Argentina Freight Forwarding Services
Air & Sea Freight Between Argentina and the UK

IATA calls for earlier cargo checks, but poor data leaves forwarders blind

Airlines and forwarders cannot be expected to identify undeclared batteries in ecommerce parcels if sellers fail to pass on accurate product information, an ecommerce specialist has warned following IATA's call for dangerous goods checks to move further upstream. In a new white paper, IATA said 81% of dangerous goods occurrences reported to it in the first half of 2025 involved undeclared or hidden goods. The figure refers to reported occurrences, rather than the proportion of shipments carrying dangerous goods. IATA said airport security screening was an important safeguard, but "should not be regarded as a standalone or primary solution" for detecting dangerous goods. Screening equipment and staff are primarily geared towards security threats, while cargo size, packaging and density can make dangerous goods difficult to identify. The association wants manufacturers and marketplaces to provide accurate product information, and forwarders to use customer and shipment data to flag higher-risk cargo. For forwarders, the paper says: "The objective should be to move dangerous goods identification progressively upstream." Justus Klüver-Schlotfeldt, chief executive of ecommerce network NeX, agreed that the industry was trying to solve too many problems after parcels had entered the logistics chain. "By the time a parcel reaches a forwarder, handler or airline, it can be extremely difficult to determine from a description such as 'electronics', 'accessory' or 'toy' whether there is a lithium battery inside," he told The Loadstar. "The information needs to come much closer to the source - ideally from the manufacturer, seller or marketplace product data." Mr Klüver-Schlotfeldt said responsibility for creating accurate information had to begin with the party that knew the product. Forwarders and airlines could then validate it, identify anomalies and stop suspicious shipments, rather than reconstruct details that had never been supplied. He suggested a trusted digital identity for goods, carrying relevant information from the product through to the shipment. For battery-powered goods, that would include battery and dangerous goods attributes instead of relying on free-text descriptions. "Identify the risk at product level, transmit the data at shipment level, and validate it throughout the logistics chain," he said. IATA is also calling for stronger government oversight, better acceptance checks by airlines and handlers, and greater coordination across airport cargo communities. Its white paper makes recommendations; it does not introduce new dangerous goods rules.

Airfreight rates strong as peak season approaches

Airfreight rates appear strong as the peak season draws near, with year on year gains on transpacific lanes robust while Asia-Europe trade remains in recovery following the end of the de minimis exemption in the EU. The latest data from TAC Index found that the global Baltic Air Freight Index (BAI00) gained 0.9% over seven days to 21 September. This leaves the index up "20.9% versus where it was a year ago, with rates remaining strong in the run-up to the traditional peak season". Further, jet fuel price increases are also putting pressure on rates. "With jet fuel rates now up more than double at +116.5% year-on-year (YoY) to September 18, according to the IATA Jet Fuel Price Monitor, pressure for rates to rise further would seem to be increasing." China-Europe rates are growing stronger week on week as the trade recovers from disruption to e-commerce volumes following the end of the de minimis exemption in the EU in July. In comparison, China-US rates were slightly down week on week (WoW), though year on year transpacific rates are well up. "Rates on the busiest lanes out of China were firming up again WoW to Europe but a little lower to the US - though still up much more YoY on Transpacific lanes since volumes of small parcels to Europe fell following the end to the EU de minimis regime in July," said TAC Index. Highs and lows Performance is increasingly lane-specific, rather than uniformly rising across the market, highlighted TAC Index. BAI Spot rates out of Hong Kong were little changed WoW, but the full index of outbound routes from Hong Kong (BAI30) - reflecting the whole spectrum of spot and forward contract volumes - gained 0.3% week on week to leave it up 19.6% year on year. Outbound Shanghai (BAI80) was similar, gaining 0.6% week on week to leave it up 19.7% year on year. From Southeast Asia, rates were also mainly rising week on week on lanes from Bangkok, Hanoi and Malaysia - though falling a little from Vietnam to Europe. From East Asia, rates were rising week on week to Europe from Japan and Taiwan, but also a little lower from Seoul - as well as a little down from both Seoul and Taiwan on lanes to the US. Rates from India were up week on week to the US but unchanged to Europe. From Europe, rates on Transatlantic routes to the US fell back overall after recent gains - though not on lanes from Amsterdam, Frankfurt or London. There were also falls in rates week on week to India, Japan, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa and the UAE - but also further gains on lanes to China and Australia. The index of outbound routes from Frankfurt (BAI20) bucked the rising global trend, dropping by 3.4% week on week, though still remained up 21.1% year on year By contrast, outbound London Heathrow (BAI40) rebounded from some recent falls, jumping exactly 10% week on week to leave it up 11.4% year on year. Out of the US, rates were mostly firmer again week on week, including on lanes to Europe and to China - though lower to South America and certain other lanes such as to the UK and Korea. The index of outbound routes from Chicago (BAI50) edged up a further 1% week on week to leave it up some 45.7% year on year compared with low levels last year when standoffs over US tariffs and trade terms were in full swing. Rates from Mexico to Europe fell sharply week on week but remain in positive territory year on year.

Cathay Cargo the latest to add Navi Mumbai freighter flights

Cathay Cargo has become the latest airline to shift its Mumbai freighter flights to the recently opened Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). The Hong Kong carrier said that it would operate three flights to the Indian airport per week using its Boeing 747-400ERF and 747-8F aircraft. The carrier had previously been operating its dedicated cargo flights to Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, but freighter operations are being temporarily suspended at the airport while upgrades are carried out. The carrier's bellyhold cargo operations will remain at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Cathay Pacific regional head of cargo for South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, Rajesh Menon, said: "The move of our Mumbai freighter operations to Navi Mumbai International Airport reinforces our steadfast commitment to the Indian market and its growth trajectory. "By combining Navi Mumbai International Airport's modern infrastructure with our dedicated freighter presence and our 'We Know How' expertise, we are providing reliable connectivity and specialist handling for local enterprises, exporters and SMEs. "This will also further strengthen connectivity between Western India's exporters and key global markets through our Hong Kong hub." In addition to its Navi Mumbai International Airport freighter service, Cathay Cargo continues to operate its dedicated freighter network across India, operating five weekly freighter flights from Delhi and Chennai, respectively. Cathay Cargo utilises additional bellyhold capacity on Cathay Pacific's passenger aircraft across all five of its Indian gateways: Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad with 45 passenger flights per week across these five cities. Earlier this month, Silk Way West announced the start of its cargo operations at the new India airport. Hong Kong Air Cargo is also moving its freighter flights to the airport. NMIA opened its doors back in December, but freighter operations did not get underway until 1 August, when an IndiGo freighter took off from the airport.