In Latin America, both  Mexico and Brazil would be the countries most affected by a potential total closure of the Strait of Hormuz , although the partial closure has already led to price increases and shortages of products—such as helium and methanol—due to disruptions in global maritime and air transport. For some commodities , the impact would be felt not only in supply chains but also in basic food items.

Arcadio Martínez, VP Global Tender Management at DSV Air & Sea, specified that, in maritime transport, the most exposed would be Mexico, as well as Brazil due to its direct service from Asian ports and its connection to the Persian Gulf .

“The other countries wouldn’t be as exposed, but the impact on air travel would be felt by almost everyone. Gulf airlines operate many services worldwide. Emirates, for example, has a service via Miami to Bogotá or Brazil, or to other countries. Initially, they offered passenger transport, which allowed for cheaper air freight, and then cargo services, which have disappeared because they’ve repositioned themselves in other traffic. The delay in maritime transport will lead to an increase in air freight, and Latin America will be affected by the reduced available capacity,” he explained in the webinar “The Crisis in the Middle East: What Does It Mean for Your Supply Chain?”

Santiago Zapata, Business Development Specialist Sales Colombia at DSV, explained that there has been an 8% impact on global air capacity , as well as a 40% increase in fuel prices.

He emphasized that Emirates and Qatar Airways are among the most affected airlines, which has harmed their services to Latin America and forced them to relocate fleets.

“The shutdown affects 13% of global capacity, and we have three factors that, combined, will not allow for fare stability and will continue the trend of maintaining inflationary pressure and the loss of capacity globally . In addition, some airlines have implemented war surcharges , and insurance premiums have increased,” he noted.

According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) ,  risk premiums for ships operating in the area have increased by up to 300%, quadrupling insurance costs per voyage in some cases, adding to the price of the shipment.

He added that there is currently more than 20% capacity between Asia and Europe, while in South Asia it exceeds 13%, “which affects volumes across the entire region.”

Arcadio Martinez explained that, since the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz began on February 28, stemming from Iran’s offensive within the framework of the conflict it faces with the United States-Israeli axis, fuel prices for shipping companies have skyrocketed, to the point of doubling, so companies have begun to implement emergency fuel surcharges (EFS), in addition to the war surcharge .

“Shipping companies have fuel costs that account for 25% of their expenses, and if it’s almost 50%, they’ll lose a lot of money, which is why they’re implementing this surcharge. If a container is moved from Asia to Latin America, we’ll be affected; that explains the price increase in Los Angeles and Long Beach,” he explained.

In that regard, Santiago Zapata said that  shipping companies will begin to redistribute their fleets on the most profitable routes to Europe or Asia , which could affect Latin America, since that region can afford a larger fleet, just like North America.

“This will cause many services that do not originate directly from the Middle East region to be affected, such as those that come through the Caribbean,” he stressed.

As of March 16, 2026, 140 active container ships with a combined capacity of 458,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) were stranded in the Persian Gulf, representing 1.9% of the global fleet. This resulted in the disruption of 650,000 TEUs of weekly traffic.

“A prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz would force a reconfiguration of these services. Furthermore, we have options: leave the cargo at transshipment ports and wait for the following weeks and accept the delay, repurchase the cargo elsewhere and send it via a route that is safer, and return the cargo to its origin,” he added.

He mentioned that MSC , Maersk , and CMA CGM are the main shipping companies affected by the conflict in the Middle East.

Under this scenario, both specialists pointed out that it is necessary to anticipate urgent shipments and have a clear vision of the forecast ; in addition, impacts on transit times to Latin America, lack of services, some shipping companies may even avoid certain ports, or China may increase the production of new containers, among other things.

Martínez and Zapata indicated that 20 million barrels and between 120 and 140 ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz daily , while after the blockade it dropped to between four and five, only oil tankers, from Iran.

Similarly, Arcadio Martínez explained that the impact is not only on crude oil, but also on products such as urea, helium, sulfur, methanol, aluminum, polyethylene, and others .

“This region is a major producer of raw materials, and we are currently in the spring planting season in the Northern Hemisphere, which will lead to an increase in fertilizer prices, as well as in the price of food and helium, which is used in electrocardiogram machines. Given the revolution we are experiencing in artificial intelligence and data centers, this will cause a standstill. This will generate a cascading effect if it is not resolved soon, and the longer supply chains remain closed, the longer it will take to reopen them,” he explained.

Martínez predicted that if crude oil production were to stop, for example, in Iraq, it would take up to a month and a half to reach the same levels as before the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz.

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The National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) reported on Wednesday that in 2023, income from the supply of goods and services in wholesale trade totaled nine billion 713 million 574 thousand 966 pesos , which meant an annual increase of 4.8% .

According to the results of the Annual Trade Survey (EAC) , the agency also announced that 49% of said income corresponded to agricultural and forestry raw materials for the industry, and waste materials. This was followed by wholesale trade of groceries, food, beverages, ice and tobacco, with 24.2% , and the wholesale trade intermediation subsector, with 0.1 percent .

In its report, it indicated that the subsectors with the greatest growth were those specialized in machinery, equipment and furniture for agricultural, industrial, service and commercial activities, and other machinery and equipment for general use with 12.6% , as well as the intermediation sector with 21.2 percent .

Meanwhile, revenue from the supply of goods and services in retail trade totaled nine billion 277 million 724 thousand 904 pesos , which represented a growth of 7.8% compared to 2022.

The largest contribution to the sector’s revenues was made by the distribution of motor vehicles, spare parts, fuels and lubricants, with 30.5 percent. This was followed by retail trade in self-service and department stores, with 27.9 percent. According to the survey, the subsectors with the greatest growth were trade exclusively through the Internet and printed catalogs, television and similar, and self-service and department stores.

In turn, the total employed personnel in wholesale trade was one million 714 thousand 651 people and in retail trade it was six million 213 thousand 516 .

Regarding fixed assets, he stressed that companies invested the most in real estate : 26.2% corresponded to wholesale trade and 52.8%  to retail trade. The lowest investment item for both commercial sectors was computer equipment and peripherals, with shares of 4.2% and 6.1% , respectively.

These results come in the context of a 1.5 % year-on-year growth of the Mexican economy during the third quarter of 2024, which was driven by primary activities (agriculture, fishing and livestock), which in the period registered a 3.8% year-on-year increase, according to figures from Inegi.

According to the agency, the rise in the economy exceeded market expectations and broke a streak of seven consecutive quarters of deceleration.

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El cargo Agricultural Raw Materials Drive Wholesale Trade Revenue in 2023 apareció primero en T21.

The National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) reported on Wednesday that in 2023, income from the supply of goods and services in wholesale trade totaled nine billion 713 million 574 thousand 966 pesos , which meant an annual increase of 4.8% .

According to the results of the Annual Trade Survey (EAC) , the agency also announced that 49% of said income corresponded to agricultural and forestry raw materials for the industry, and waste materials. This was followed by wholesale trade of groceries, food, beverages, ice and tobacco, with 24.2% , and the wholesale trade intermediation subsector, with 0.1 percent .

In its report, it indicated that the subsectors with the greatest growth were those specialized in machinery, equipment and furniture for agricultural, industrial, service and commercial activities, and other machinery and equipment for general use with 12.6% , as well as the intermediation sector with 21.2 percent .

Meanwhile, revenue from the supply of goods and services in retail trade totaled nine billion 277 million 724 thousand 904 pesos , which represented a growth of 7.8% compared to 2022.

The largest contribution to the sector’s revenues was made by the distribution of motor vehicles, spare parts, fuels and lubricants, with 30.5 percent. This was followed by retail trade in self-service and department stores, with 27.9 percent. According to the survey, the subsectors with the greatest growth were trade exclusively through the Internet and printed catalogs, television and similar, and self-service and department stores.

In turn, the total employed personnel in wholesale trade was one million 714 thousand 651 people and in retail trade it was six million 213 thousand 516 .

Regarding fixed assets, he stressed that companies invested the most in real estate : 26.2% corresponded to wholesale trade and 52.8%  to retail trade. The lowest investment item for both commercial sectors was computer equipment and peripherals, with shares of 4.2% and 6.1% , respectively.

These results come in the context of a 1.5 % year-on-year growth of the Mexican economy during the third quarter of 2024, which was driven by primary activities (agriculture, fishing and livestock), which in the period registered a 3.8% year-on-year increase, according to figures from Inegi.

According to the agency, the rise in the economy exceeded market expectations and broke a streak of seven consecutive quarters of deceleration.

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The dynamism of the industry in Mexico, especially in the north of the country, has allowed for greater demand in different sectors to meet supply and logistics services , which in turn has forced companies to expand to meet the needs of their customers.

In the case of the raw materials trading company Koprimo , as a result of the pandemic, the demand for inputs grew considerably, which brought with it significant logistical challenges.

In this regard, Cyntia Mendoza, Supply Chain Manager at Koprimo, highlighted in an interview that the chemical industry represents a fundamental link for many industries, since it plays an important role in the production of, for example, different products in the glass, ceramic, textile, and automotive industries, among others.

For this reason, Koprimo has followed an expansion plan that seeks to satisfy the needs of its clients, both in terms of product and logistics service for these raw materials, which is why it expanded its operation in Monterrey, Nuevo León.

“This versatility that we have adopted and adapted to the needs of our clients has opened up the market for us to other clients and industries. With nearshoring, the industry in Nuevo León has seen a significant upturn and they are prepared for this opportunity in Mexico. We believe that we can be an option to provide this investment,” Mendoza explained.

Likewise, in November 2023, Koprimo moved its operations from Tacuba, in Mexico City, to Toluca, State of Mexico , an infrastructure that has 40 thousand square meters (m2) and 1.6 kilometers of railway track.

The new facility in Monterrey now has 12,000 m2, of which 7,500 m2 are for storage, and also has railroad tracks.

The goal, according to Mendoza, is to grow the Koprimo territory, especially because they represent companies from other countries in Mexico, making use of their sales force, infrastructure and clients.

On the other hand, Koprimo seeks to streamline its operations , seeking specialized labor to provide follow-up and immediate response to its services, as well as providing alternatives.

With this, the company has a presence in Monterrey, Toluca, Guadalajara and Mexicali.

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