1. Mid-sized markets recorded the strongest growth:
International air cargo traffic grew 3.2% year-on-year, reaching 4.1 million metric tonnes. The highest percentage growth rates were recorded in:
- Peru (+15,4%)
- Panama (+14,7%)
- Argentina (+11.1%)
- Costa Rica (+10,9%)
- El Salvador (+10,7%)
Regional growth was largely driven by these mid-sized markets, as the combined volume of the largest markets remained broadly unchanged.
2. Large markets showed limited variation and mixed trends:
The region’s three largest markets accounted for nearly 60% of total international cargo volume:
- Brazil: 880.930 metric tonnes (–1,2%)
- Colombia: 818.415 metric tonnes (+1,6%)
- Mexico: 661.429 metric tonnes (–0,3%)
3. The United States remained the region’s main external cargo partner:
More than half of the international cargo transported in the region had the United States as either origin or destination.
The Colombia–United States corridor remained the largest in the region, with 500,333 metric tonnes transported between the two countries in 2025.
4. Mexico stood out for its exposure to the Asian market, particularly China:
While the Mexico–United States corridor remained the country’s main international air cargo route, traffic with China expanded significantly in 2025, growing 14.6% year-on-year, largely driven by higher imports from China.
5. Cargo operations remained highly concentrated in a few major hubs:
Airports such as São Paulo–Guarulhos (GRU), Bogotá (BOG), Lima (LIM), Panama City–Tocumen (PTY), and Santiago (SCL) handled the majority of international cargo in their respective countries, reinforcing their role as the main cargo gateways in the region.
“Air cargo growth in 2025 was moderate but steady. Mid-sized markets recorded double-digit percentage increases, while the region’s largest markets showed only limited variation. These results highlight both the logistical potential of Latin America and the Caribbean and the importance of continuing to strengthen infrastructure and operating conditions to enhance competitiveness. The United States remained the primary origin and destination for international air cargo, further consolidating its position as the region’s largest trade corridor.” said Peter Cerdá, CEO of ALTA.
The full analysis—including country-level performance, origin–destination corridors, cargo capacity, and fleet trends—is available in the ALTA Air Cargo Report – 2025.
Note: Unless otherwise indicated, all percentage variations refer to year-on-year comparisons.
