LATAM Cargo has reported a 150% year-on-year increase in pharmaceutical air cargo shipments between Europe and Brazil in the first seven months of the year, driven largely by rising demand for GLP-1-based medications. The growth contrasts with a broadly flat global pharmaceutical airfreight market.
What Happened
LATAM Cargo said it transported nearly 32,000 tonnes of cargo between Europe and Brazil in the first seven months, up 27% year on year. Pharmaceutical shipments surged 150% over the same period.
GLP-1 medicines, used to treat type 2 diabetes, accounted for approximately 15% of the carrier's total Europe-Brazil volume during the period.
Jorge Carretero, cargo sales manager Europe at LATAM Airlines Group, said the growth in pharmaceutical transport demonstrates rising demand for specialised logistics solutions, and the carrier is supporting this with safe and efficient operations.
However, the increase on the Europe-Brazil corridor contrasts with a more subdued picture across the wider pharmaceutical air freight market. Maarten Wormer, head of consulting at Aevean, told media at Aviation Connect in Athens this month that pharma air freight volumes had been broadly flat in the first part of the year, with some changes in trade flows rather than widespread growth.
Background
Wormer noted that some GLP-1 shipments originating in Denmark were being moved away from air freight, potentially reflecting greater competition and the availability of alternative transport modes as supplies expanded beyond their initial markets. He explained that the goods no longer come only from Denmark, so they can now go via ocean because the first waves have already been shipped.
He added that growth in pharmaceutical logistics was increasingly concentrated in high-value products, including cell and gene therapies, requiring more intensive monitoring throughout transport.
For LATAM Cargo, Germany, Belgium, Spain, and Italy were the leading European origins for pharmaceutical shipments to Brazil between January and July, followed by the Netherlands and France. Services included belly capacity on routes such as Lisbon-São Paulo and Madrid-São Paulo, as well as freighter connections from Frankfurt and Brussels to Viracopos.
The carrier said its pharmaceutical handling measures included temperature monitoring, climate-controlled rooms, cargo segregation, thermal blankets, and reduced ramp exposure. Active temperature-controlled containers can be connected to power, with batteries and temperatures monitored periodically.
The importance of qualified routes was also highlighted during an industry panel discussion at the EU CBEC Cross Border Ecommerce Forum in Liege last month. Julia Celetaria, a global pharma director and healthcare specialist, cautioned that adding a route did not automatically create a suitable alternative for pharmaceutical cargo. She emphasised the need for qualified airports and routes, trained personnel, and appropriate standard operating procedures.
Meanwhile, DHL Global Forwarding has expanded its Health Logistics Cold Chain Network with six dedicated air corridors linking Europe and North America with markets in Asia. The new connections include routes from Liège and Brussels to Shanghai, Brussels to Singapore, and Cincinnati to Singapore, Tokyo Narita, and Seoul Incheon. It said the expansion reflected continued investment in dedicated healthcare logistics capacity.
Impact on Shippers
For Chinese cross-border e-commerce sellers and exporters shipping to the US, the flat global pharma airfreight market suggests that competition for general air cargo capacity may not intensify significantly. However, demand for specialised logistics for high-value, temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products continues to grow. If your products involve pharmaceuticals, health supplements, or require temperature control, verify whether the route has pharma handling qualifications and temperature-controlled facilities.
In terms of transit times, growth in pharma shipments on specific routes like Europe-Brazil may tighten ground handling resources at relevant transit airports, but the direct impact on China-US routes is limited. On cost, a flat global pharma airfreight market may keep general air cargo rates relatively stable, but costs for specialised temperature-controlled containers and monitoring services could rise. For customs clearance, pharmaceutical products typically require additional regulatory documents and certifications; shippers should ensure complete documentation to avoid delays.
Recommendations
Shippers should choose transport modes based on cargo characteristics: general cargo can continue to leverage the current stable airfreight market; pharmaceutical or temperature-sensitive products should confirm in advance whether the route has pharma qualifications, temperature-controlled facilities, and trained personnel, and verify destination import regulations and documentation. For less time-sensitive cargo, consider alternative modes such as ocean freight to control costs. Also, monitor capacity changes at major transit airports and book space in advance.