Seasonal changes in demand, impact from disruptions in the ocean market due to security concerns, variable demand for airfreight capacity from direct e-commerce business, including the effects of the elimination of low-value de minimis exemption on shipments from China could cause volatility in average buy rates on certain lanes. Additionally, geopolitical concerns, inter-governmental trade disputes, new tariffs on imports into the US and retaliatory actions from other countries create uncertainty in the economy and the trade environment. As shippers and carriers react to these volatile conditions, it may negatively affect demand for airfreight services, which could significantly reduce our volumes and average sell and buy rates in the coming quarters. Though we are unable to predict how these uncertainties and any future disruptions may affect our operations or financial results prospectively, these conditions could result in significant decreases in our revenues and operating income.
Ocean freight and ocean services:
Ocean freight consolidation, direct ocean forwarding, and order management are the three basic services that constitute and are collectively referred to as ocean freight and ocean services. Ocean freight and ocean services revenues and expense increased 4% and 1%, respectively, for the three months ended June 30, 2025 as compared with the same period in 2024. Ocean freight and ocean services revenues and expense both increased 19%, for the six months ended June 30, 2025 as compared with the same period in 2024. The largest component of our ocean freight and ocean services revenue is derived from ocean freight consolidation, which represented 69% and 66% of ocean freight and ocean services revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Ocean freight consolidation revenues increased 1% while expenses decreased 2%, respectively, for the three months ended June 30, 2025, as compared with the same period in 2024, primarily due to 6% and 9% decreases in average sell and buy rates, offset by a 7% increase in containers shipped. Ocean freight consolidation revenues and expenses increased 24% and 21%, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2025, as compared with the same period in 2024, primarily due to 15% and 13% increases in average sell and buy rates and an 8% increase in containers shipped. The declines in average buy rates and sell rates in the second quarter 2025 are due to a softening demand and an increase in available carrier capacity. This decline could continue for the remainder of 2025 if demand softens and additional vessels are brought into service. For the six months ended June 30, 2025, the average buy and sell rates increased compared to the same period in 2024 due to a sharp decrease in rates in the first quarter of 2024 versus an uptick in the first quarter 2025 resulting from high demand out of Asia in advance of anticipated increases in tariffs.
Containers shipped were higher, most significantly on exports out of South Asia due to shippers managing shipments in anticipation of higher tariffs and relocating sourcing to that region. South Asia ocean freight and ocean services revenues increased 26% and expenses increased 24%, respectively, for the three months ended June 30, 2025 due to a 27% increase in containers shipped. For the six months ended June 30, 2025, South Asia ocean freight and ocean services revenues increased 46% and expenses increased 48%, respectively. Increases were primarily due to higher average sell and buy rates and a 23% increase in containers shipped due to the factors above.
North Asia ocean freight and ocean services revenues and expenses decreased 8% and 10%,respectively, for the three months ended June 30, 2025, while they both increased 16% for the six months ended June 30, 2025. The decreases in the second quarter are due to declining containers shipped and average sell and buy rates compared to a strong first quarter 2025 when customers front loaded shipments out of China in anticipation of higher tariffs. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2025, North America ocean freight and ocean services revenues increased 10% and 16%, compared to the same periods in 2024, primarily due to higher revenues on imports while expenses only increased 8% and 7%.
Order management revenues increased 7%, and 17%, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025, and expenses increased 6% and 19% compared to the same periods in 2024 due to increases in volumes from new customers. Direct ocean freight forwarding revenues increased 9% and 6%, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025, and expenses increased 11% and 8% principally due to higher volumes and increased ancillary services in the United States.
The global economic and trade environment are increasingly uncertain and dynamic, with increases in trade tariffs and inter-governmental disputes. As shippers and carriers react to these volatile conditions, it may negatively affect demand, which could reduce our volumes and average sell and buy rates in the coming quarters. Further, carriers are adding new vessels which will increase capacity and which may also put downward pressure on rates. Sequentially, ocean containers shipped out of North Asia declined 11% in the second quarter compared to the first quarter of 2025. While some of those volumes are shifting to other lanes, as customers look to mitigate their exposure to U.S./China-specific tariffs, it is too early to know what the overall decline in volumes might be. These conditions could result in significant decreases in our revenues and operating income.