AI Infrastructure Boom Reshapes Asian Air Cargo, Eclipsing E-Commerce

A surge in demand for artificial intelligence hardware is fundamentally reshaping Asia's air cargo industry, replacing cross-border e-commerce as the sector's primary growth engine. Airlines are reorienting their networks around semiconductor and data center supply chains to capitalize on a multi-year boom in AI investment, according to reports from carriers and logistics firms.

A Fundamental Shift in Cargo Demand

The once-dominant e-commerce parcel boom is losing momentum as the U.S. and Europe tighten rules on low-value imports. According to freight analytics firm Xeneta, China's low-value and e-commerce exports fell 7% in May, the sixth straight monthly decline. "E-commerce was air freight’s single biggest growth pillar, but that is no longer the case," said Niall van de Wouw, Xeneta's chief airfreight officer.

In its place, demand for AI-related components like advanced memory chips and server racks is soaring. Korean Air Lines reported its cargo revenue jumped 46% in the second quarter to 1.54 trillion won ($1.07 billion), citing AI infrastructure as its new core growth driver. Jaedong Eum, head of Korean Air’s cargo business, noted that demand is "unusually visible," with orders for high-bandwidth memory chips and processors stretching two to three years into the future.

Airlines Reroute for the Tech Supply Chain

This shift is redrawing trade routes, with carriers focusing on key technology hubs. Airlines are expanding services and reallocating aircraft to connect manufacturing centers in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan with assembly hubs in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand, ultimately feeding into markets in North America and Europe.

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• Japan Airlines said tech products accounted for about 80% of the increase in its air exports from Asia, excluding China, over the past year.
• EVA Airways in Taiwan reported that AI-related shipments now account for up to half of its total cargo revenue.
• China Airlines has added freighter flights to Southeast Asia, helping lift its cargo volumes by 8.1% in the first half of the year.
• Singapore's Changi Airport saw freight throughput grow 8.7% year-on-year in the first half, driven by semiconductor demand.

High-Value, High-Stakes Shipments

Unlike e-commerce parcels, AI hardware is compact, extremely valuable, and often time-critical to keep data center construction on schedule. The airline group IATA estimates AI-related goods accounted for 53.5% of the value of all goods carried by air in 2025, while making up just 7% of the cargo volume.

The specialized nature of these shipments requires new handling procedures. Cathay Pacific Airways, for example, has introduced new software to optimize the loading and securing of sensitive semiconductor equipment. The demand is also straining infrastructure, with logistics firm Dimerco Express Group reporting that Taiwan's Taipei air cargo hub was filled to capacity in July. Korean Air's Eum said the airline anticipates "strong cargo demand to persist through the second half of 2026."