Air freight prices out of Shanghai in April jumped 18.4 per cent over the previous month to their highest level so far in 2010, according to an index compiled by Drewry Shipping Consultants.

This was the first increase to have been recorded since December.

April’s index of 134.4 was also 64 per cent higher than the same month in 2009, when international trade levels were in the doldrums as a consequence of the global economic crisis.