Liege Airport cargo rises 4% despite EU ecommerce parcel slump

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Liege Airport handled 4% more cargo in July 2026 than a year earlier, even as new European customs rules triggered a sharp fall in low value ecommerce parcels moving through the Belgian freight hub.

The increase in total tonnage was accompanied by a 4% reduction in aircraft movements. The figures indicate that operators carried more freight per flight, helping the airport maintain growth while ecommerce supply chains adjusted to the new customs regime.

The European Union introduced a €3 flat rate tax on small ecommerce parcels on July 1. The measure immediately changed the structure of imports arriving through Liege, which is Europe’s fifth largest cargo airport and Belgium’s largest.

At the Liege Bierset customs zone, ecommerce parcel numbers fell 24% during July compared with July 2025. Volumes were also 41% lower than in June 2026.

The airport said the number of declarations recorded in June 2026 was 52% below the level reported in July 2025 and 67% lower than in June 2026. The figures were provided in the airport’s statement and illustrate the scale of the disruption affecting business to consumer shipments valued below €150.

Parcels worth more than €150 moved in the opposite direction. According to customs information cited by the airport, their number increased by 10%, suggesting that logistics operators shifted part of their activity towards higher value consignments.

The changing mix raises an important operational question for cargo handlers: can better aircraft utilisation compensate for fewer individual parcels? July’s figures show that overall tonnage can continue growing even when one of the airport’s most visible cargo categories contracts sharply.

Liege attributed the increase in overall cargo volumes to its diversified freight model. Pharmaceuticals, data centre equipment and flowers were among the segments supporting activity during the month.

These categories differ significantly from small parcel ecommerce. Pharmaceutical and flower shipments often require controlled temperatures and short handling times, while data centre equipment can involve heavier, higher value cargo requiring specialised ground operations.

The airport continues to invest in cold chain infrastructure for temperature sensitive freight. This supports its role in handling pharmaceuticals, perishables and other products where storage conditions are central to shipment integrity.

Liege operates with a cargo focused model and prioritises freighter aircraft. Its wider traffic base includes express parcels, medical and humanitarian supplies, live animals and conventional air freight alongside ecommerce.

The combination of rising tonnage and fewer aircraft movements suggests that available carrying capacity was used more efficiently in July. Meanwhile, the steep reduction in low value parcels shows how quickly regulatory changes can redirect established air cargo flows.