Monica Ruebenkoenig, Rhenus.
- The increase in Rhenus-managed export volumes from Spain to Latin America reflects strengthening trade ties between the two regions, driven by growing interest from Spanish companies in diversifying their markets and expanding their international presence.
Based on Rhenus volume data, the company’s export volumes from Spain to Latin America grew by more than 30% year-on-year in 2026 across both air and ocean freight. This strong performance makes Spain one of the best-performing European markets within Rhenus’ network on the trade corridor and reflects growing interest among Spanish companies in Latin American markets.
“Behind these figures lies a very clear reality: more and more Spanish companies are making Latin America part of their growth strategies. The simultaneous increase in both air and ocean freight volumes demonstrates that their trade activity is strengthening steadily,” says Monica Ruebenkoenig, Route Development Manager at Rhenus Air & Ocean.
Spain plays a key role in Europe’s trade relationship with Latin America thanks to its strong economic, cultural and business ties with the region. Industrial sectors continue to underpin these trade flows, with raw materials and chemicals accounting for more than 60% of ocean export volumes to Latin America.
The trend also coincides with a particularly important moment for bi-regional economic relations. The European Union-Mercosur Agreement, which entered provisional application in May 2026, could further reduce trade barriers and create new opportunities for exporters and importers on both sides of the Atlantic.
“The EU-Mercosur Agreement has the potential to reinforce the positive momentum we are already observing. For many Spanish companies, Latin America is becoming an increasingly relevant destination for trade and investment, and greater economic integration could unlock new possibilities for businesses across Europe while strengthening ties between the two regions,” adds Monica Ruebenkoenig.
Rhenus is also observing a shift in the profile of companies expanding into Latin America. Beyond large multinational corporations, a growing number of Spanish mid-sized industrial companies are incorporating the region into their international growth strategies. As these businesses expand across multiple markets, they increasingly require supply chains that offer greater visibility, flexibility and scalability.
“What we are seeing is that Latin America is becoming a natural part of the growth strategy of many Spanish companies, not only large multinationals but also mid-sized industrial businesses. As these businesses expand across multiple markets, their logistics requirements are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Companies are demanding greater visibility, stronger supply chain control, faster responses to disruptions and, importantly, the ability to scale their operations without having to redesign their logistics setup country by country,” says Marc Ortega, Head of Sales Spain at Rhenus Air & Ocean.
With an extensive operational network across Europe and Latin America, Rhenus provides freight forwarding services, customs solutions, warehousing and end-to-end supply chain management, supporting companies from a wide range of industries in their international operations.
Beyond the trade flows themselves, Spain is playing an increasingly important role as a bridge between Europe and Latin America that continue to operate within different business environments, regulatory frameworks and market dynamics. In this context, companies increasingly value a partner capable of supporting them consistently on both sides of the Atlantic while facilitating alignment between teams, processes and supply chains.
“Spain has unique advantages when it comes to developing trade with Latin America. Cultural and linguistic proximity certainly play a role, but so does the ability to connect different business environments and help companies operate seamlessly across both sides of the Atlantic. The figures we are seeing today may be just the beginning of a broader growth trend in both Europe and Latin America as companies seek new markets and more diversified and resilient supply chains,” concludes Monica Ruebenkoenig.
At a time when global supply chains are undergoing significant transformation and companies are seeking new avenues for international growth, the trends observed by Rhenus confirm the increasing importance of the Europe-Latin America trade corridor and reinforce the company’s role as a strategic partner for businesses looking to expand their activities between the two regions.
