'Reminds me of Covid': AI equipment chokes Taiwan's air cargo gateway
Uncollected imports are clogging cargo warehouses at Taiwan Taoyuan Airport, tying up dollies and slowing aircraft unloading as equipment arrives to support the island's AI and semiconductor industries, according to local forwarders.
Seko Logistics has reported handling pressure affecting China Airlines, EVA Air, and Starlux, alongside selected China Airlines flight cancellations, including US-bound freighter services.
"Reminds me of Covid days," one forwarder told The Loadstar.
"There is a shortage of dollies at the airport, so cargo cannot be unloaded from aircraft and towed to the ground handlers for breakdown, etc."
The source said the equipment shortage stemmed from freight accumulating in warehouses because consignees had yet to collect it.
"There is so much freight sitting in the GHA warehouse and this not being collected by customers. There apparently is cargo from early September still sitting there."
The reason for the delayed collections remains uncertain, but the source suggested incoming equipment was reaching Taiwan before facilities intended to receive it were ready.
"We are not 100% sure why customers are not collecting the freight, but we understand this also stems from the customers' manufacturing facilities not being ready to take on this equipment yet. So, the whole supply chain is backlogged."
That accumulation was creating a knock-on shortage of equipment needed to move newly arrived cargo.
"Because the GHA is so full, no new cargo can be brought in, so all the freight is sitting outside the warehouse on the dollies, resulting in a dolly shortage," the forwarder explained.
"Apparently, it is primarily the China Airlines (CI) warehouse that is full, so CI services are most affected."
The congestion was also spreading beyond the immediately affected warehouse, the source added.
"Now the bridge connecting the main terminal to the GHA is packed with these loaded dollies so it's blocking the way, and other GHA cargo also being slowed down and affected."
The forwarder attributed the pressure to equipment imports supporting Taiwan's technology sector.
"All this arising from the incredible imports Taiwan is now facing for AI, semi-con and AI-related services. Manufacturing fully ramped up with so much new equipment coming in to support it is choking everything."
The account adds detail to a 4 November advisory from Seko, which said China Airlines, EVA Air and Starlux had issued notices on 2 November warning that increased import volumes were putting pressure on staff, dollies, and handling capacity.
Seko warned of potential delays in cargo breakdown and build-up, longer export processing times and changes to shipment departure schedules. It also reported receiving notifications of selected China Airlines cancellations, including US-bound freighters, but did not identify the flights or establish whether the cancellations resulted from the handling congestion.
Rotate data shows inbound widebody freighter capacity to Taiwan increased 20% in the week from 29 October to 4 November compared with the preceding seven days.
Narita-Taipei capacity increased by about 1,000 tonnes, or 49%, while Shanghai Pudong added 595 tonnes, up 76%, and Hong Kong added 572 tonnes, up 20%. Los Angeles-Taipei capacity rose 66%, adding 519 tonnes.
The increase followed a 15% decline in the previous week, however, indicating a rebound.
Outbound Taiwan-US widebody freighter capacity also increased, rising 4% over the same weekly comparison. Within that total, China Airlines' capacity fell 8%, or 263 tonnes, while EVA, UPS, and Atlas recorded increases.
The figures suggest the reported handling disruption is occurring alongside growth in overall US-bound lift, rather than a general contraction in capacity.
