News / LatAm-Europe trade surges in December to seal strong 2025 growth

Struggles throughout September, October, and November notwithstanding, Europe-Latin American volumes managed to end 2025 on a high, while trade in the other direction saw volume growth across each of the 12 months.

Per Container Trades Statistics (CTS), December witnessed a 5.1% year-on-year volume bounce to 169,400 teu on the Europe-Latam leg to end a run of three consecutive months in which volumes dropped notably against 2024’s figures and closed out the year 5.6% up.

For forwarders, however, that growth has not been as visible. While many agree it has been “stable”, AGL Cargo’s corporate affairs director Jackson Campos noted that it has become very sector specific.

Mr Campos told The Loadstar: “I do not see a big drop in volumes, but I also do not see strong growth. It depends on the sector. Pharma and healthcare are stable. Temperature-controlled cargo from Brazil and Mexico to Europe continues moving well.

“Planning is more careful, but volumes are steady. In automotive, especially parts, volumes change more. Some weeks are strong, other weeks are slower, because of production changes in Europe. Agriculture and commodity exports from Latin America are still strong.”

On trades from Latam to Europe, each month recorded year on year growth, December proving the strongest as it posted an upturn on 2024 of 14.7%, with some 212,900 teu handled, to end the year 8.7% up after more than 2.3m teu were sent off to Europe.

That sense of stability is also true on the capacity front, with forwarders telling The Loadstar that both air and ocean freight is well balanced, meaning there are few ‘plummeting rates’ stories as reported on other trades.

“Shippers are being very careful about freight costs. Rates are not falling a lot, but margins are tighter. Overall, the market is stable, with small changes depending on the sector,” Mr Campos added.