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As part of our commitment to provide you with the most up-to-date and relevant information on the logistics industry, we share our Market Update on the Latin American market.

You will find information and interesting data on the update of the state of the ports, the most important transport routes and relevant news.

We hope you’ll find the following information helpful, as well as inspiring to boost your business and keep your cargo moving.

Topic of the Month: Lessons from Past Peak Seasons: How Latin American Logistics Are Adapting in 2025

Over the past few years, logistics teams across Latin America have faced a series of disruptions that have reshaped how they approach peak season. From the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions to inflation and climate-related events, these challenges have exposed vulnerabilities in traditional supply chain models and accelerated the need for transformation.

In a region marked by diverse geographies, regulatory complexities, and growing e-commerce demand, the stakes during peak season are especially high. Companies have had to adapt quickly rethinking sourcing strategies, investing in technology, and building more resilient networks to meet shifting consumer expectations and operational pressures.

Now, in 2025, logistics leaders across Latin America are applying lessons learned from past peak seasons to navigate the current one with greater agility, foresight, and innovation. This topic of the month explores how those lessons are shaping smarter, more resilient logistics operations across the region, and how teams are turning disruption into opportunity.

The Legacy of Disruption

Over the past five years, Latin America’s logistics sector has been shaped by a series of global and regional disruptions that exposed vulnerabilities and accelerated transformation. From pandemic-induced bottlenecks to geopolitical tensions and economic instability, these events have left a lasting impact on how logistics teams prepare for peak seasons.

COVID-19 and Its Aftermath

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered widespread disruptions across Latin American supply chains. Lockdowns, labor shortages, and port congestion led to delays and inventory imbalances. According to a study by the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, 62% of firms globally, including many in Latin America, reported supply chain disruptions affecting between 20% and 80% of their total volume.

In Latin America, the pandemic highlighted the fragility of just-in-time models and overreliance on distant suppliers. Different pressures pushed companies in the region to invest in digital tools, diversify sourcing, and strengthen local supplier relationships to build more resilient operations.

Geopolitical and Economic Volatility

Beyond the pandemic, Latin American logistics teams have had to navigate a shifting geopolitical landscape. Trade tensions, have led to rerouted freight flows and increased insurance costs. The rise of protectionism and resource securitization has made access to critical inputs more politically sensitive.

In addition, Latin America’s economic outlook remains fragile. According to ECLAC, the region is expected to grow only 2.2% in 2025, with Central America and Mexico facing even slower growth due to weakened external demand from the U.S. This economic volatility has prompted logistics teams to proactively build contingency plans, diversify supplier networks, and strengthen regional partnerships to ensure continuity.

Climate-Related Disruptions

Climate change is also emerging as a long-term disruptor. Extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts, and hurricanes, are increasingly impacting ports, highways, and distribution centers across Latin America. While the pandemic was a temporary shock, climate-related disruption will continue and require fundamental changes in infrastructure and planning.

What’s Different in 2025?

After years of disruption, logistics teams across Latin America are entering peak season 2025 with a new mindset, one shaped by experience, technology, and a growing emphasis on resilience. The reactive strategies of the past are giving way to proactive, data-driven approaches that prioritize agility, visibility, and long-term sustainability. This transformation is visible across four key dimensions:

1. Earlier and Smarter Planning

This year, Latin American logistics teams are planning earlier—and smarter. The use of large language models (LLMs) and advanced analytics is enabling companies to simulate demand scenarios, anticipate bottlenecks, and optimize inventory flows well ahead of peak season.

This shift is particularly relevant in a region where infrastructure limitations and regulatory complexity can amplify delays. By leveraging predictive tools, companies in Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia are improving demand forecasting accuracy and reducing last-minute adjustments that previously led to inefficiencies and increased costs.

According to the Latin American Artificial Intelligence Index (ILIA 2025), AI adoption in logistics is accelerating, with Chile and Brazil leading the way in integrating machine learning into supply chain planning. These technologies are helping teams move from reactive firefighting to strategic scenario planning, turning uncertainty into a manageable variable.

2. Technology-Driven Operations

Technology is no longer a support function, it’s at the core of logistics operations. In 2025, Latin American companies are integrating AI, robotics, and digital twins to automate processes, monitor cargo in real time, and simulate disruptions before they occur.

Digital twins, in particular, are gaining traction in the region. These virtual replicas of physical supply chains allow teams to test contingency plans, optimize routes, and assess the impact of external shocks, such as port closures or extreme weather, without interrupting actual operations.

A report by MIT Sloan highlights how AI is being used to solve fragmented supply chain challenges, improve routing, and enhance fraud detection. In Latin America, this translates into smarter warehouse automation, dynamic fleet management, and improved visibility across multimodal networks.

Companies are also investing in IoT-enabled tracking systems to monitor cargo conditions and location in real time, which is especially critical for temperature-sensitive goods and high-value shipments during peak season.

3. Partnering with Logistics Integrators

A growing number of companies in Latin America are turning to logistics integrators to streamline operations and gain end-to-end visibility. These integrators, offer bundled services that combine transportation, warehousing, customs management, and digital platforms under a single umbrella.

This model is particularly valuable during peak season, when coordination across multiple vendors can lead to delays and miscommunication. By partnering with integrators, companies benefit from centralized control, real-time data sharing, and scalable infrastructure that adapts to seasonal demand spikes.

These partnerships are helping companies reduce complexity, improve service levels, and respond faster to disruptions. In regions like Central America and the Southern Cone, integrators are also playing a key role in enabling nearshoring strategies, offering multimodal solutions that connect manufacturing hubs with consumer markets more efficiently.

4. Resilience Through Diversification

Perhaps the most significant shift in 2025 is the strategic focus on resilience, not just efficiency. Latin American logistics teams are actively diversifying supplier bases, nearshoring operations, and building regional partnerships to reduce dependency on volatile global trade routes.

The e-book Beyond Basics: Elevating Supply Chain Resilience in Latin America, launched in collaboration with Financial Times Longitude, emphasizes the need for Latin American supply chains to become anti-fragile, able to absorb shocks and continue performing under pressure. The study identifies key threats such as geopolitical tensions, climate change, digital disruption, and shifting consumer behaviors, and encourages companies to build supply chains that can thrive despite them.

Nearshoring is gaining momentum, particularly in Mexico and Central America, as companies seek to shorten lead times and reduce exposure to Asia-Pacific volatility. This trend is supported by regional trade agreements and infrastructure investments aimed at strengthening intra-Latin American logistics corridors.

Predictive modeling and digital twins are also being used to simulate risk scenarios, such as supplier failure or port congestion, and guide strategic decisions around sourcing, inventory allocation, and transportation modes.

In summary, 2025 marks a turning point for logistics in Latin America. The region’s supply chains are becoming smarter, more adaptive, and more resilient, driven by technology, strategic foresight, and a commitment to long-term sustainability. These changes are not just helping companies survive peak season, they’re helping them lead it.

As Latin America enters peak season 2025, logistics teams are no longer operating in survival mode, they’re leading with strategy, technology, and resilience. The disruptions of the past five years have served as a catalyst for transformation, pushing companies to rethink how they plan, operate, and collaborate across the supply chain.

From earlier planning powered by AI and predictive analytics, to deeper partnerships with logistics integrators and diversified sourcing strategies, the region’s logistics landscape is evolving rapidly. These changes are not just responses to past challenges, they’re proactive steps toward a more agile and future-ready supply chain ecosystem.

Latin American logistics teams are proving that resilience is not just about bouncing back, it’s about building smarter, more adaptive systems that thrive under pressure. As peak season unfolds, the companies that have embraced these lessons are positioned not only to meet demand, but to turn complexity into competitive advantage.

The road ahead will continue to bring uncertainty, but with the right tools, partnerships, and mindset, Latin America’s logistics sector is more prepared than ever to navigate it.

Ocean Updates

Main port status

ECSA: Terminals across ECSA continue to face operational pressure, with persistent congestion in different terminals. Santos, mainly driven by adverse weather conditions, high yard occupancy at Santos Brasil, and accumulates vessel delays from prior weeks. Parangua and Itapoa terminals are mantaining elevated yard utilizations levels (around 80%) and are furter impacted by ongoing bad weather and intermittent closures. In Buneos Aires the yard remains high, and T4 continues to experience performance challenges due to crane breakdowns. Overlapping vessels arrivals and channel transit delay, the operations in Montevideo have resumed folowwing several days of strike action; however, berth productivity remaisn at approximately 50%, impacted by ongoing new system imprementation, Montevideo is currently operating under a First-In, First-Out rule until the line-up stabilizes (2-3 days of Wtime for vessels on window) and Rio Grande remains highly constraines, operating solely under BW conditions, with no significant recovery expected before the end of the year.

WCSA: Port operations are navigating a mixed environment of security concerns and fluctuating terminal performance. Terminal productivity varies significantly; while Guayaquil/TPG recently reported the highest performance , others like Puerto Bolivar and Guayaquil/Contecon are under strain, with key terminals like Callao/APMT and Posorja under Hypercare status.

CAC: Actions are being taken to mitigate yard levels and their impacts on cargo flow. Panama Terminals and Cartagena, COL for Maersk flows in good conditions, vessels out of window may face 1 o 2 days of wt.

Landside updates

Central America, Andina and the Caribbean Sea Area

El Salvador/Guatemala: During the high season at the end of the year, import and export volumes in the region increase significantly. In this context, it is common for importers to face challenges in their supply chain, affecting the continuity of their shipments. Having transportation, operational personnel, and advance planning to respond quickly to fluctuations in cargo volumes or last-minute needs will be essential during this season. If your operation is experiencing volume increases or requires immediate pickup coordination, our team can assist with transportation scheduling and customs management. An agile supply chain doesn’t end at the port, that’s why we strengthen our inland solutions, ensuring capacity, delivery speed, and coverage for both import routes and cross-border movements between Guatemala and El Salvador.

East Coast South America Area

Manaus Region:The dry season in the Manaus region is already impacting river levels, which is affecting both capacity and volumes. As a result, we anticipate delays and vessel capacity restrictions in the coming weeks. On the landside, we do not expect capacity restrictions; however, we foresee a reduction in volumes due to ocean-side limitations caused by low river levels.

Paraguay – Barge Service:In Paraguay, where we operate our barge service, the dry season is also beginning. We expect delivery delays and potential restrictions in the coming weeks due to low water levels.

Brazil – Key Certifications:
We are pleased to share two important achievements in Brazil in recent months:
AEO Certification – A significant milestone that enhances our compliance and operational efficiency.
SASSMAQ Certification for our own fleet operating at Santos Port – This is a key step in strengthening our support for chemical industry customers in that location.

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Learn more from the global Maersk team

Learn what’s happening in our regions by reading our Market Updates by region.

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Be sure to visit our “Insights” pages where we explore the latest trends in supply chain digitalisation, sustainability, growth, resilience, and integrated logistics.