LATAM Cargo's Europe-Brazil pharma freight jumps 150%

LATAM Cargo has reported a dramatic 150% surge in pharmaceutical transport between Europe and Brazil during the first seven months of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. The exponential increase in healthcare logistics between the two regions was predominantly driven by skyrocketing global demand for GLP-1-based medications, a class of therapeutic drugs widely prescribed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Data released by the air freight carrier reveals that between January and July 2026, GLP-1-based pharmaceuticals accounted for approximately 15% of the total cargo volume carried by the company between European origins and Brazilian destinations.

When accounting for all categories of freight, LATAM Cargo transported nearly 32,000 tonnes of cargo across both directions during the seven-month period. This marks a 27% overall increase compared to the first seven months of 2025. While healthcare products represented the primary catalyst for specialised transport growth, general and consolidated cargo continued to form the backbone of overall volumes, representing approximately 75% of the total freight moved. Key commodities within this general cargo segment included industrial automation equipment, heavy mining machinery, textiles, and various bulk commodities.

Highlighting the strategic importance of these operational milestones, Jorge Carretero, Cargo Sales Manager Europe at LATAM Airlines Group, emphasised the evolving logistics requirements connecting the two continents.

"The growth in pharmaceutical transport demonstrates how demand for specialized logistics solutions is gaining prominence between Europe and Brazil. Our priority is to support this evolution through a safe, efficient operation equipped for the specific requirements of each cargo type. At the same time, the 27% growth in total volume reinforces the importance of connectivity between both markets and our network's capacity to serve diverse economic sectors," said Jorge Carretero, Cargo Sales Manager Europe at LATAM Airlines Group.

To accommodate the stringent demands of the pharmaceutical sector, particularly climate-sensitive pharmaceuticals like GLP-1 therapeutics, LATAM Cargo has continually enhanced its specialised cold chain infrastructure. The carrier's specialised healthcare product offerings include continuous temperature monitoring, dedicated climate-controlled rooms, rigorous cargo segregation, thermal insulation blankets, and protocols designed to minimise ramp exposure time during transfers.

For high-value or temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical shipments carried inside active containers, LATAM Cargo enforces dedicated operational protocols. These encompass mandatory ground power supply connections alongside systematic monitoring and real-time tracking of both container battery levels and interior temperatures.

Supporting its transatlantic operations, LATAM Cargo relies on its specialised CEIV Pharma Hub located at Miami International Airport. The facility features climate-controlled chambers operating across multiple temperature bands, as well as dedicated space for the handling, charging, and storage of active pharmaceutical containers. To maintain quality standards across its global network, the carrier conducts comprehensive annual procedure reviews, delivers IATA-certified staff training, issues corrective quality notices, and systematically expands its Temperature Controlled Rooms (TCR) across key hubs. In recognition of these operational standards, LATAM Cargo was named the winner of the Air Cargo Week Pharma Award in the pharmaceutical category in 2025.

Trade flows between Europe and Brazil during the January-to-July 2026 period were largely anchored by key industrial economies. Germany, Belgium, Spain, and Italy emerged as the primary countries of origin for European exports carried by LATAM Cargo, followed closely by the Netherlands and France.

In terms of belly capacity on passenger aircraft, the highest volume trade lanes included Lisbon–São Paulo, Madrid–São Paulo, and Frankfurt–São Paulo. On the dedicated freighter side, the primary corridors driving transatlantic trade were Frankfurt–Viracopos and Brussels–Viracopos.

Network expansion has played a vital role in unlocking additional capacity for shippers. The introduction of new passenger services linking Brussels and Amsterdam directly to São Paulo has significantly expanded belly cargo capacity. Furthermore, LATAM Cargo introduced a new freighter route connecting Brussels directly with São José dos Campos, providing European manufacturers with an innovative air logistics alternative into Brazil's key industrial heartland.

Beyond transatlantic routes, LATAM Cargo continues to leverage its broader global network to support diverse economic sectors. Today, the airline connects Brazil to more than 15 countries across a combined freighter and passenger network covering over 70 origin and destination points.

Domestically, LATAM has maintained a dominant market position, leading belly cargo transport on domestic passenger aircraft since April 2025. Official data from Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) indicates that LATAM captured a 40.9% market share in this segment in July 2026. By integrating international transatlantic routes with its robust domestic belly distribution, LATAM Cargo continues to strengthen supply chain connectivity for both high-value pharmaceuticals and industrial goods moving between Europe and South America.