SHIPPERS are being advised to plan ahead, book early and monitor as ports are now seeing cargo buildup with the holiday season around the corner, global logistics provider Dimerco Express Group’s Asia Pacific Freight Report for November 2025 reported.
For Southeast Asia and India, the logistics firm said: ‘Air freight space and rates may fluctuate due to holiday demand, capacity limits, and fuel cost changes.’
Placing the Philippines under the microscope, Dimerco noted that the country’s capacity for air freight is expected to ‘tighten’ in November due to peak season demand.
For goods being shipped by sea, Dimerco pointed out that demand is rising but equipment and space may be limited in the Philippines, so early booking is recommended.
The logistics firm also said inbound container demand for Philippine goods is expected to increase in November, especially for retail and consumer goods.
‘With November starting the holiday buildup, rate increases and limited space for late bookings are expected. Early booking is recommended,’ the Dimerco report advised Philippine shippers.
The report of the logistics firm bared that freight rates for Philippine goods being shipped by the sea, bound for the European Union and the United States, are seen to increase in November.
As to capacity, the freight report noted that market is picking up but demand of space can still be met by current supply for the Philippines.
Dimerco Express Group illustrated the picture for air freight market this month.
The global logistics provider said peak season from Asia to North America through the end of November is driven by several factors.
For one, it said a shortage of aluminum coil in the US market has led to a surge in export demand for this product.
‘High-tech and consumer electronics product launches, together with e-commerce promotions ahead of Black Friday [Amazon’s cut-off date is November 13], are further boosting air freight volumes,’ said Dimerco.
With ongoing ‘blank sailings,’ the logistics firm explained that demand continues to shift from ocean to air transport.
In addition, the temporary pause on US-China tariffs until November 12 has prompted shippers to front-load shipments by air.
Kathy Liu, VP for Global Sales and Marketing at Dimerco Express Group, noted that the surge in air export demand is expected to continue until mid-November, driven by the ongoing Transpacific peak season, a shortage of aluminum coils in the US and the recent launch of high-tech consumer electronics.
‘Continuous monitoring of ocean freight capacity and tariff negotiations between China and the US is recommended, as both will influence market trends from late November through year-end,’ Liu said.
As to the situation of the ocean freight market, Ted Chen, Director for Ocean Freight Global Sales and Marketing at Dimerco Express Group said: ‘Until the dust settles, most importers are adopting observer mode, having already increased shipment volumes earlier this year to stock up on inventory.’
Chen said the remainder of the year is expected to be ‘slow,’ with a chance of inventory replenishment in early 2026.
‘Whether this rebound will hold depends on how tariff developments, geopolitical risks, and carriers’ ability to maintain disciplined capacity evolve in the coming weeks,’ added Chen.
In its statement, Dimerco advised shippers to plan ahead, book early, and monitor ongoing tariff negotiations and geopolitical developments closely in order to ready options for supply chain disruptions.