Rising global demand for China's high-quality exports has driven the rapid development of international air cargo routes departing from the country, with a total of 103 new routes opened in the first seven months of 2026, the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing said on Monday.

In July alone, eleven new routes were launched. The continuous expansion reflects a shift in strategy in the air freight industry, as international market demand moves toward the Asian region. In effect, exporters reduce reliance on the European market, enhancing route diversity and balance.
In breakdown, Asian destinations account for 51 of all the new routes, while European routes comprise 38. A total of 12 routes to North America, 2 to Africa, and 1 to South America were also opened. Altogether, the routes accommodate 229 round-trip flights per week.
The transported cargo mainly includes cross-border e-commerce goods, high-end manufacturing products, high-value-added goods, electronic products and auto parts. According to federation officials, air freight has significant advantages for these product categories over rail or sea.
"Exports of AI hardware have emerged as a core growth driver for air freight. The demand for domestic high-precision and advanced products, such as AI storage, computing power equipment, and semiconductors, has surged. For these high-value, time-sensitive goods, enterprises prefer air transportation," said Ma Zengrong, vice president and secretary-general of the federation.