(L-R): Erik Meade, CEO DHL Global Forwarding Latin America, Natalia Sadurskas, General Manager of Aero Cargas S.A.
https://www.stattimes.com/logistics/dhl-expands-into-uruguay-with-aero-cargas-deal-1360495
DHL Global Forwarding has acquired Uruguayan logistics provider Aero Cargas S.A., establishing its first direct operation in Uruguay and strengthening its capabilities across healthcare, project logistics and regional distribution.
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The acquisition expands DHL Global Forwarding’s presence in the Southern Cone and gives the company a direct platform in Montevideo, which DHL identifies as an increasingly important gateway for regional and international trade. The move comes as shippers seek more resilient supply chains amid geopolitical uncertainty and changes in global trade routes.
Strategic Gateway For Latin American Trade
DHL said Uruguay’s position at the intersection of Atlantic shipping routes and the Southern Cone’s inland waterways provides access to Mercosur, North America and other international markets.
The company said Montevideo’s location, Free Port framework and developing deep-water infrastructure can support more flexible freight routing and help customers manage disruptions across international trade lanes.
The acquisition also forms part of DHL Group’s Strategy 2030, which calls for targeted investment in high-growth markets and evolving trade corridors.
Long-Standing DHL Partnership
Aero Cargas brings more than 58 years of experience in South American logistics and has worked with DHL Group for 33 years. Its capabilities include air and ocean freight, industrial project logistics, land transport and multimodal services, alongside Free Trade Zone operations, pharmaceutical logistics and regional inventory management.
DHL’s Uruguay operation confirms that Aero Cargas has served as DHL Global Forwarding’s exclusive agent in the country since 1993. The company was established in 1968 and operates from Montevideo.
Oscar de Bok, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding, said the acquisition would provide the company with its first direct presence in Uruguay while strengthening its position across the Americas.
“Latin America is becoming increasingly important as companies diversify supply chains and strengthen regional distribution networks,” de Bok said. He added that Aero Cargas would strengthen DHL’s capabilities in Life Sciences & Healthcare, Free Trade Zone logistics and industrial project forwarding.
Healthcare And Project Logistics
The acquisition is expected to expand DHL Global Forwarding’s Life Sciences & Healthcare capabilities through Aero Cargas’ pharmaceutical logistics expertise, regional inventory consolidation and established healthcare customer base.
DHL also expects the transaction to strengthen industrial project logistics and multimodal transportation services for high-value sectors, including the expanding data centre industry in Uruguay.
The company said its specialised logistics capabilities can support the movement of heavy machinery, cooling equipment and advanced technology components required for data centre development.
Investment In Latin America
Erik Meade, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding Latin America, said the acquisition would support the company’s Life Sciences & Healthcare strategy in the region.
DHL Group announced a €2 billion investment plan in 2025, with approximately 10% expected to be allocated to Latin America. According to DHL, establishing a direct operation in Montevideo will enable the company to direct investment towards specialised healthcare logistics and other regional supply-chain requirements.
DHL said more than $1 billion worth of pharmaceuticals moves through Uruguay annually, with the country increasingly used as a regional distribution centre for pharmaceutical products and active ingredients arriving from Europe and North America for processing, repackaging and re-export.
Integration Into DHL Global Forwarding
Aero Cargas will become part of DHL Global Forwarding’s Peru-Ecuador-Argentina-Chile (PAC) cluster, led by Eduardo Rodrigues, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding PAC.
All Aero Cargas employees will transition to DHL Global Forwarding as part of the integration. The acquisition converts a long-standing agency relationship into a wholly owned operation, combining Aero Cargas’ local market knowledge with DHL’s international forwarding network.
