Liège Airport handled 4% more cargo in July 2026 even as e-commerce parcels through its customs zone fell sharply after the European Union introduced a new charge on small imports on 1 July. The Belgian cargo hub also recorded fewer aircraft movements, but higher load efficiency, while traditional freight categories including pharmaceuticals, data-centre equipment and flowers helped sustain throughput.
E-commerce parcels fell 24% year on year and 41% from June, while customs declarations dropped 52% from a year earlier and 67% from the previous month. Parcels valued above €150 rose 10%, pointing to a shift in import flows towards higher-value consignments.
The combination of weaker low-value parcel traffic and stronger specialised freight suggests operators at Liège-Bierset adjusted quickly to the new customs environment. Despite 4% fewer aircraft movements, total tonnage continued to advance, indicating better use of capacity across the airport’s cargo network.