• International air cargo in Latin America and the Caribbean reached 4.1 million tonnes in 2025, representing 3.2 percent year-on-year growth, largely driven by strong double-digit expansions in Peru, Panama, Argentina, Costa Rica and El Salvador.
• The largest markets — Brazil (880,930 tonnes, −1.2 percent), Colombia (818,415 tonnes, +1.6 percent) and Mexico (661,429 tonnes, −0.3 percent) — accounted for about 60 percent of regional volume but recorded only limited variations.
• The United States remained the main external market, with the Colombia–United States corridor the largest in the region at 500,333 tonnes, while airfreight activity continued to be concentrated in major hubs including São Paulo–Guarulhos, Bogotá, Lima, Panama City–Tocumen and Santiago.

In 2025, international air cargo traffic across Latin America and the Caribbean reached 4.1 million tonnes, representing a 3.2 percent year-on-year increase. Regional performance was uneven: the largest markets remained broadly stable or recorded slight declines, while overall growth was largely driven by mid-sized markets that achieved double-digit expansions, notably Peru, Panama, Argentina, Costa Rica and El Salvador.

1. Mid-sized markets led regional growth

International air cargo traffic increased 3.2 percent year-on-year, reaching 4.1 million tonnes. The strongest growth in percentage terms was recorded by mid-sized markets:

Peru: +15.4 percent

Panama: +14.7 percent

Argentina: +11.1 percent

Costa Rica: +10.9 percent

El Salvador: +10.7 percent

These markets were the main drivers of regional expansion, as the combined volume of the largest markets remained largely unchanged.

2. Large markets showed mixed results

The three largest markets accounted for around 60 percent of total regional volume, but recorded only marginal variations:

Brazil: 880,930 tonnes (−1.2 percent)

Colombia: 818,415 tonnes (+1.6 percent)

Mexico: 661,429 tonnes (−0.3 percent)

3. The United States remained the region’s primary external market

More than half of the region’s international air cargo volume either originated in or was destined for the United States, reinforcing its role as the main external trade partner for the region’s airfreight sector.

The Colombia–United States corridor consolidated its position as the largest air cargo market in the region, with 500,333 tonnes transported between the two countries.

4. Mexico strengthened its exposure to Asian trade, particularly China

Although the Mexico–United States corridor remained the country’s main international air cargo route, traffic with China expanded significantly in 2025.

Cargo volumes between Mexico and China increased 14.6 percent year-on-year, largely driven by higher import flows from China.

5. Cargo operations remained concentrated in a small number of hubs

Air cargo activity across the region continued to be concentrated in a limited number of major airport hubs. Airports such as São Paulo–Guarulhos (GRU), Bogotá (BOG), Lima (LIM), Panama City–Tocumen (PTY) and Santiago (SCL) handled the majority of their respective countries’ international cargo volumes, consolidating their role as the dominant logistics nodes in Latin America’s air cargo network.

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