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The air cargo from Latin America and the Caribe closed the exercise 2025 with figures that invite optimism, although they reveal a notable reconfiguration in the map of regional flows.
According to the latest report from the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (HIGH), the region mobilized a total of 4,1 million metric tons, which represents solid year-on-year growth of the 3,2%.
Nevertheless, Behind this global growth lies a “two-speed” dynamic: while the giants of the Southern and Northern Cone stabilize, medium-sized markets have taken over as the main drivers of expansion.
Air cargo grows, but uneven
The highlight of the report is, definitely, the behavior of countries with double-digit growth. These markets, which previously served as secondary nodes, are gaining unprecedented strategic relevance:
- Peru (+15,4%) and Panama (+14,7%): They lead the table with aggressive expansions, consolidating Lima (LI) and Tocumen (PTY) not only as passenger hubs, but as critical logistics centers.
- Argentina (+11,1%): Registers a notable recovery in its air import and export volumes.
- Central America on the rise: Costa Rica (+10,9%) and El Salvador (+10,7%) demonstrate that integration into global value chains is paying off for the cargo sector.
- Within the regional panorama of 2025, Ecuador positions itself as one of the protagonists of the Andean zone, recording solid year-on-year growth +6,2% in the movement of international air cargo. This performance places the country above the regional average (+3,2%) and places it in the group of markets with healthy expansions, surpassing the three giants of the region in growth rate (Brazil, Colombia and Mexico).
Giants do not grow as expected
By contrast, the three main markets, that concentrate near the 60% of the regional volume, showed marginal variations that suggest a stage of maturity or consolidation:
- Brazil: Continue to lead with 880.930 tons, despite a slight contraction of the -1,2%.
- Colombia: It remains firmly in second place with 818.415 tons (+1,6%), driven by its robust export sector.
- Mexico: Record 661.429 tons, with a minimal variation of the -0,3%, although with significant internal changes in its routes.
The report reaffirms the dependence and close commercial relationship with the US market, where more than half of the regional volume has its origin or destination. The corridor Colombia–The United States stands as the “royal road” for cargo in the region, with more than half a million tons transported.
On the other hand, The gaze towards the Pacific is transforming Mexico. Traffic between Mexico and China grew a 14,6% on 2025, a phenomenon explained by the rise of Asian imports and the positioning of the Aztec country as a logistical bridge.
Infrastructure remains key. Cargo movement remains highly concentrated in strategic nodes that operate as the main arteries of regional trade:
- São Paulo–Guarulhos (TOWER CRANE)
- Bogota (BOG)
- Lima (LI)
- City of Panama (PTY)
- Santiago (SCL)
These airports not only dominate the volume of their respective countries, but are consolidating themselves as critical transshipment points for cargo airlines seeking efficiency in the regional network..
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