Latin America Market Holds Firm Pricing Through September with New Service Launch

The Asia-Latin America market is expected to maintain firm pricing momentum throughout September, supported by tight space conditions and sustained demand across all major trade lanes. Carriers are projecting weekly rate increases during the first half of the month, with East Coast South America showing the strongest upward direction. Maersk’s Peak Season Surcharge for East Coast South America, implemented from August 20, remains in effect throughout September, while carriers continue managing capacity through selective port omissions rather than full blank sailings. ZIM’s new Falcon Service, launching September 18 with full Brazilian port coverage, may provide some relief to the East Coast South America market and potentially moderate further rate increases during the latter part of the month.

To help you better understand the current market dynamics and support your sales activities at origin, please find below our latest observations and outlook for September.

Rate Direction and Pricing Outlook

• Freight rates are generally expected to increase on a weekly basis during the first half of September across all Latin America trade lanes. East Coast South America is projected to see substantial weekly increases, while Mexico and West Coast South America lanes are expected to follow with moderate weekly upward adjustments, reflecting the differentiated supply-demand balance across the network.
• Maersk’s East Coast South America Peak Season Surcharge remains in effect throughout September. The surcharge, which took effect from August 20, is supporting the elevated pricing environment on East Coast South America services, where space remains consistently tight and carrier allocation discipline continues.
• East Coast South America freight rates remain strong, with Peak Season Surcharge levels significantly higher than those applied to West Coast South America services. This pricing differential reflects the tighter capacity situation and stronger demand fundamentals on the East Coast South America trade.
• ZIM’s new Falcon Service, launching September 18, may provide some relief to the East Coast South America market and potentially limit further rate increases during the latter part of the month. The service will offer direct connectivity from Shanghai to major Brazilian ports including Rio Grande, Paranagua, Itajai, Santos and Rio de Janeiro, with Buenos Aires and Montevideo served via Rio Grande transshipment.
• For partners handling larger-volume shipments or project cargo to Latin America destinations, we encourage direct engagement with our pricing team. Market conditions remain negotiable depending on shipment profile and routing requirements, and tailored solutions are available to support your commercial objectives during this firm pricing period.

Capacity Outlook and Service Developments

• Space conditions during the first half of September are selective rather than universally tight across the Latin America network. Mexico-bound cargo remains particularly attractive to carriers, while direct space to West Coast South America destinations including Callao, Guayaquil and Buenaventura remains tight. East Coast South America space also remains consistently tight throughout the period.
• Carriers are managing capacity through selective port omissions rather than traditional blank sailing programmes affecting entire voyages. Shanghai and Ningbo have experienced the highest number of omitted vessel calls among major origin ports, directly affecting space availability for Latin America-bound cargo and requiring partners to plan bookings with greater flexibility.
• ZIM’s Falcon Service maiden voyage is scheduled for September 18, departing Shanghai with arrivals at Rio Grande on October 21 and Santos on October 31, offering a 43-day transit time. The service provides full Brazilian port coverage with direct calls at Rio Grande, Paranagua, Itajai, Santos and Rio de Janeiro, plus transshipment options for Buenos Aires and Montevideo via Rio Grande.
• No large-scale vessel withdrawal programme has been announced for the first half of September. The absence of traditional blank sailings, combined with the selective port omission strategy carriers are employing, suggests that space tightness will persist but may be more manageable through early booking and flexible origin-port planning.
• For cargo moving to East Coast South America during the first half of September, booking 14 to 21 days in advance is recommended. For cargo moving to Mexico or West Coast South America, booking 10 to 14 days in advance is recommended. Additional lead time should be allowed for non-general cargo, and customers are advised to plan shipments early in preparation for China’s Mid-Autumn Festival on September 25 and National Day Golden Week from October 1 to 7.

Operational Developments and Market Drivers

• Shanghai and Ningbo ports are recovering from severe congestion experienced in recent weeks. Shanghai’s average vessel waiting time over the past week was approximately five days, while Ningbo recorded around three days. Both ports have resumed normal operations with container yards, trucking services and warehouses supporting the gradual recovery of cargo flows.
• Buenaventura port and inland operations in Colombia remain in the recovery stage following the August 10 earthquake. Vessel and terminal operations have gradually resumed, but yard utilization remains high and the Cali-Buenaventura corridor continues to experience landslides, infrastructure inspections and traffic restrictions.
• Santos port set a new import volume record in July with year-on-year increases of 22 percent in container count and 24 percent in TEU terms. The port terminals and inland logistics network are operating under heavy pressure from this elevated import activity.
• The Panama Canal Authority has adjusted transit capacity and booking arrangements due to reduced rainfall. The implementation of the maximum authorized Neopanamax draft of 14.63 metres has been postponed to September 2, with a further reduction to 14.48 metres postponed to October 1. Effective September 13, temporary booking system adjustments will take effect.
• Hapag-Lloyd will introduce a Low Water Surcharge for Manaus effective September 12, reflecting the challenging navigation conditions on the Amazon River system. The surcharge applies to all container types and underscores the operational constraints affecting inland Brazil services during the current dry season.
• September remains part of the active typhoon season in the Northwest Pacific, with ports in East China, South China, the Philippines and Vietnam potentially experiencing temporary port omissions, closures or trucking restrictions. Partners should maintain flexible booking strategies to accommodate potential schedule adjustments, particularly with China’s Mid-Autumn Festival on September 25 and National Day Golden Week from October 1 to 7 approaching.

RS Logistics will continue monitoring carrier pricing strategies, capacity deployment adjustments, port operational developments and Panama Canal transit conditions closely. Our Latin America Trade and Pricing teams remain available to support booking planning, routing evaluation and space coordination for upcoming shipments. We will continue sharing timely updates as market conditions evolve.

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