In Brazil, road bandits force switch to sea shipping

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After some $468m-worth of goods were stolen from trucks in Brazil last year, companies are switching to sea freight, according to this Businessweek article. More than half the 13,000 truck robberies take place in Sao Paulo state – and less than 20% of the cargo is ever recovered. While switching to sea freight for coastal journeys triples transport times, it cuts costs by 21% by eliminating the risk of robbery. Meanwhile, according to this article (in Spanish), logistics costs in Mexico for road freight have risen by between 5% and 15% to pay for higher insurance charges and security, after an increase in crime. The most targeted goods are groceries, appliances and electronic items, pharmaceuticals and construction materials.