If you've been shipping airfreight from Latin America to the US lately, you might have noticed something strange: rates going up while space seems to be disappearing. And no, it's not your imagination.
The World Cup final on July 19 wasn't just a big moment for football fans. It also marked the end of a temporary airfreight boom between Latin America and North America – and the capacity hangover is hitting shippers hard.
What Just Happened?
In the run-up to the tournament, airlines had bulked up their presence across the Americas. Colombia's Avianca, for example, added 42 weekly flights to the 400 it already operated to 14 US destinations. More flights meant more bellyhold cargo space, and for a few weeks, shippers had breathing room.
Then the final whistle blew. And just like that, the capacity evaporated.
US carriers – American, Delta, and United – have been pulling passenger aircraft out of their Latin America schedules and redeploying them on transatlantic routes for the summer season. The cuts are hitting services to Miami hardest, which happens to be the top airfreight gateway between the two regions.
The numbers tell the story. According to WorldACD data for July 1-26, airfreight rates from Central and South America to North America jumped 7.3% – even though volumes actually contracted by 1.5%. That's a classic supply-demand squeeze: less capacity, higher prices, and cargo owners left scrambling.
The Ripple Effects
This isn't just a Miami problem. The capacity crunch is being felt across the region. Traffic from Buenos Aires' Ezeiza Airport has been growing steadily, driven in part by Chilean salmon exporters who find it easier to reach the Argentine capital than Santiago. Argentina's own US-bound exports – beef and pharmaceuticals, in particular – have actually benefited from US tariffs on Brazilian goods, adding to the demand for northbound lift.
But here's the kicker: when the growing season in Argentina kicks off, demand for lift is only going to increase. And with US carriers pulling bellyhold capacity, that means more pressure on an already tight market.
Freighter capacity has remained relatively stable, but it's not enough to fill the gap left by the passenger airlines. And while Emirates has started charter flights to Ezeiza, Santiago, and Quito – and e-commerce flows from China have spawned direct freighters to Buenos Aires – those services are mostly serving different trade lanes. They don't do much to help shippers trying to move cargo north to the US.
What This Means for Your Supply Chain
So here's the reality: if you're shipping airfreight from Latin America to North America right now, you're facing higher rates, tighter capacity, and longer lead times. And the situation isn't going to magically fix itself overnight.
This is exactly the kind of market where having the right logistics partner makes all the difference.
1. Experience That Cuts Through the Chaos
At Xiamen AE Global, we've been navigating volatile airfreight markets since 2018. We're a government-licensed company with IATA, FIATA, FMC, and NVOCC credentials – which means when capacity tightens, we have the global network and the relationships to find alternatives.
We work with over 100 overseas agents worldwide. When US carriers pull capacity out of Latin America, we don't just shrug and say "sorry" – we're already on the phone with our partners, looking for alternative routings, consolidations, and creative solutions that keep your cargo moving.
2. Real Visibility, Real Options
We've invested in technology that gives our clients actual transparency into their shipments – not just a tracking number, but real insight into capacity, schedules, and alternatives. When rates spike and space disappears, we alert you immediately and present options. Reroute through a different gateway? Consolidate with other cargo? Switch to ocean freight for less time-sensitive shipments? We've got the data and the experience to make those calls quickly.
3. Global Reach, Local Knowledge
Based in Xiamen – one of Asia's busiest port and airfreight hubs – we combine global reach with deep local expertise. We've moved thousands of shipments across the Americas, Europe, and Asia, with a 98.6% on-time delivery rate for our SME clients. That's not luck – it's the result of relentless execution and a network that doesn't fall apart when the market gets complicated.
The Bottom Line
The World Cup is over. The temporary capacity boost that came with it is gone. And for shippers moving airfreight between Latin America and North America, that means a tougher market ahead.
But here's the good news: you don't have to navigate it alone.
At Xiamen AE Global, we don't just move boxes. We help our clients stay ahead of market shifts – whether that's finding creative capacity solutions, optimising routing, or simply making sure your cargo gets where it needs to go, on time and on budget.
Because when the final whistle blows on cheap capacity, what you really need is a partner who knows how to keep playing.
Ready to work with a logistics partner who actually understands the airfreight market? Contact Xiamen AE Global today – and let's keep your supply chain moving, no matter what the market throws at it.
