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Etihad Cargo appoints AVIAREPS as GSA in Uzbekistan

Etihad Cargo has appointed AVIAREPS as its cargo general sales agent (GSA) in Uzbekistan following the recent launch of Etihad Airways' passenger flights between Abu Dhabi, UAE and Tashkent. With immediate effect, AVIAREPS will support Etihad Cargo's commercial growth in Uzbekistan through dedicated cargo sales, customer service, reservations and local market development. Under the new agreement, AVIAREPS will promote and sell Etihad Cargo's air transportation services to cargo agents, freight forwarders and customers in Uzbekistan. The scope includes cargo reservations and booking administration, customer and post- sales support, sales visits, quotation and tender support, distribution of approved timetables, tariffs and promotional materials, sales reporting, and regular market insight. As part of its operational responsibilities, AVIAREPS will act as a local point of contact for customers and cargo agents, coordinate with ground handling partners where required, support shipment-related administration, and assist with the roll-out of electronic AWB implementation in the market. The appointment further strengthens AVIAREPS' long-standing partnership with Etihad as it already acts as a cargo GSA for Etihad Airways in two countries and as a passenger GSA in 18 markets across Asia and Europe, including recent appointments in Romania, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Armenia and Georgia, in addition to existing partnerships in the Baltic and Nordic European countries and the Philippines. Frederick Overton, global head of cargo at AVIAREPS, said: "We are proud to further strengthen our partnership with Etihad through the new cargo appointment in Uzbekistan. "The launch of Abu Dhabi-Tashkent flights creates strong potential for cargo development between Uzbekistan, the UAE and Etihad Cargo's wider global network. "With our local market expertise, cargo know-how and established relationships with freight forwarders and cargo agents, we look forward to supporting Etihad Cargo's commercial growth and customer engagement in the market." Grant Kemp, regional general manager at Etihad, added: "Uzbekistan is an important addition to Etihad's expanding network, and the appointment of AVIAREPS as our Cargo General Sales Agent will support our commercial development and service offering in the market. "AVIAREPS' local presence, cargo sales experience and strong customer relationships make them a valuable partner as we continue to grow our cargo activities and strengthen connectivity through Abu Dhabi."

Air cargo demand dips, as expected, but rates show more resilience

Global airfreight volumes are falling as the market approaches its traditional end-of-summer lull, but rates are proving more resilient as capacity contracts and fuel costs rise. WorldACD data for 10-16 August show global chargeable weight fell 5% week on week, following a 2% decline the previous week. Yet average worldwide pricing was virtually unchanged, at $2.97/kg, compared with $2.96/kg in week 32. Capacity fell another 1%, helping prevent weaker demand from translating into lower rates. World ACD noted it was the second consecutive week of capacity contraction and the third in the past four weeks. The data also highlighted a growing split between the major US and European import markets: Asia Pacific-to-US tonnage fell 4% week on week, but remained 14% above last year's level; in contrast, Asia Pacific-to-Europe volumes fell 5%, and were 14% below their 2025 level. World ACD explained that the divergence reflected both the collapse in ecommerce traffic from China and Hong Kong following the end of the EU de minimis exemption and continuing demand linked to AI supply chains into the US. Charles Marrale, CEO of ExFreight, told The Loadstar US-to-Europe had "abundant capacity and low rates". He added: "Outbound to Asia has seen some capacity dry up and rates pushed higher, outbound to Middle East and India is still constrained with higher rates in place." However Mr Marrale noted that US inbound markets remained considerably firmer. "Pacific Asia-to-US is still higher than normal, slowly coming down after some very high numbers of the past 2-3 months... Europe-to-US is "still commanding higher than normal rates." But the forwarder noted he expected the US import market to soften, explaining: "There was a pull-forward effect, with many of the importers in the US rushing-in cargo to beat the new tariffs that were about to go into effect, which also coincided with Amazon Prime Day moving a month earlier. "I expect the front loading that has occurred over the past months has peaked, and we will see a subdued fall and winter demand driving prices lower on ocean as well as air into the US." WorldACD summerised that, overall, the past two weeks showed a "strong similarity" to patterns seen a year earlier, with tonnage in decline in mid-single digits, capacity little changed, and pricing slightly up. "If this parallel were to hold, week 34 would produce an uptick, but times are volatile," the data company concluded.

Carriers warn of 20-day delays as congestion crisis at Durban worsens

The congestion at Durban Gateway Terminal has worsened, with delays hitting 10 days, and there is little sign that a resolution is imminent creating more frustration among the forwarding community. Sources told The Loadstar the terminal's Pier 2 was "materially constrained", noting that while delays of 10 days were expected, "some individual services are further behind". One forwarder told The Loadstar: "Honestly, it is a shit show. ICTSI has taken over one of the terminals and, apparently, productivity at the gateway has worsened. As to getting goods moved, it's a crapshoot." ICTSI acquired 49% of the terminal in January after a contentious battle with APM Terminals, following South Africa's decision to allow private sector participation in its port operations. The deal with ICTSI was seen as necessary to contend with decades-long inadequacies in the port's equipment and congestion, with criticism that improvements were not happening fast enough. Also, the introduction of new systems necessitated retraining the workforce, which is adding to the delays, with some sources suggesting that there is no resolution in sight. One local forwarding source told The Loadstar that to clear the cargo backlog would "take at least a few weeks, probably more", and that was on the basis that the number of ships and containers waiting to be handled did not increase. Indeed, some carriers are now warning customers to expect delays of 20 days. The source added that "containers discharged on 11 August are still waiting in the terminal", and that while the number of free storage days had been extended today, there had been no update on what would happen, going forward. Part of the problem is that South Africa has struggled since the rerouting of vessels round the Cape from the Red Sea - an issue compounded by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and now responsible for 9% of global port congestion, according to Linerlytica.