The growing influence of Chinese e-commerce giants such as Shein and Temu goes far beyond a revolution in the fashion industry. It is also redefining the global air freight landscape, creating unprecedented delays and tensions.

Shein and Temu, leaders in fast fashion e-commerce, are putting increasing pressure on the global air freight sector. Their relentless pursuit of ultra-fast delivery times has triggered fierce competition for airfreight space, exacerbating delays and capacity shortages.

Every day, these hubs ship an astronomical quantity of parcels from China to the USA and the European Union, driving up air freight costs significantly from Asian hubs. This explosion in demand is wiping out traditional off-peak periods and putting considerable pressure on available capacity.

It is undeniable that Chinese e-commerce companies, such as Shein and Temu, are having a major impact on air freight. Their demand for air freight exceeds even that of the technology giants. Air freight carriers are trying to meet this growing demand by offering more charter capacity, but this is already largely booked on a long-term basis.
This surge in demand is not limited to simply increasing air freight rates from China. It also raises concerns about the future availability of long-term capacity. E-commerce by air could therefore prove not only financially unsustainable, but also harmful to the environment in the long term.

In conclusion, the rise of Chinese E-commerce, embodied by giants such as Shein and Temu, is reshaping the global airfreight landscape. Today’s delays and tensions are only the first signs of a profound and lasting change in the air transport industry.