U.S. obsession for China's Temu, Shein sends air cargo prices soaring

NEW YORK -- Increasing air cargo prices from China to the U.S. are bucking the global trend, as Chinese e-commerce retailers like Shein and Temu that offer fast delivery times spur demand in what is typically a quiet time of year for cargo.

Shein and PDD Holdings' Temu ship goods directly from Chinese factories to U.S. consumers using air cargo, an industry already under pressure due to limited flights. This contrasts with U.S. e-commerce giants like Amazon that ship from domestic warehouses where inventory arrives by ocean shipping.