Freight forwarders are advising shippers on the Europe-Latin America traffic lane to book earlier and build in flexibility, as port congestion and carrier schedule changes on both sides push up costs even though headline rates have stayed largely flat.
Container Trades Statistics data cited by The Loadstar shows Europe-to-Latin America volumes gaining steady momentum after a slow start to the year, with July, the most recent month’s CTS reports, up 2.3% year-over-year. A source active on the trade told The Loadstar that exchange rates, financing costs, and industrial investment across Latin America are shaping freight flows in both directions. The reverse lane, Latin America to Europe, is cooling sharply: Growth slowed to just 2.4% year-over-year in July, down from a 15.1% jump in June and a 10.7% rise in May.
A Brazilian forwarder told The Loadstar that port congestion, a persistent issue across much of Europe this year as well, combined with carrier schedule changes is complicating planning on both ends of the lane. While rates themselves have shown little movement, a rise in surcharges is feeding into the final costs forwarders can quote customers, with more pressure expected. “All of this can increase the final bill,” the forwarder said, advising shippers to book earlier, check alternative sailings, and allow realistic delivery windows. Two other sources questioned treating Europe-Latin America as a single trade lane at all, noting that demand, rates, and operational risk vary significantly by country, port, and cargo segment.
IAM Member Impact: Members moving shipments between Europe and Latin America should build in longer lead times and confirm carrier routing well ahead of sailing dates, rather than relying on historical schedules. Given the country-by-country variation forwarders flagged, members should treat booking and contract terms on a lane-by-lane basis rather than assuming uniform conditions across the trade lane.
Source: The Loadstar