Peak Season Calendar

Latin America Trade Peak Season Calendar

Peak shipping periods for Latin America Trade: when capacity tightens, what drives it, expected rate increases, and planning tips.

Origin
Latin America
Destination
Global
Mode
Both
Origin ports
Santos, Buenos Aires, Callao, Manzanillo (Mexico), Cartagena
Destination ports
Rotterdam, Shanghai, Los Angeles, Miami, Houston

Freight demand on the Latin America Trade lane changes through the year. Use the periods below to plan bookings around peaks, holidays, and expected surcharges.

Peak periods

  • Agricultural Export Season (Brazil) (March–June, very-high intensity). Drivers: Soybean harvest, Corn exports, Coffee harvest, Agricultural commodities. Impacts: Santos congestion severe, Rate spikes for agri-lanes, Equipment diverted to bulk.
  • Pre-Christmas Import Rush (September–November, high intensity). Drivers: Holiday consumer goods, Electronics imports, Retail stocking. Impacts: Import rates increase, Container demand up, Customs delays.
  • Carnival Period (February–February, high intensity). Drivers: Business closures, Pre-event rush, Post-event backlog. Impacts: Logistics disruptions, Brazil partially shut down.

Off-peak periods

  • Southern Winter (7, 8): Lower agricultural volumes, Better availability, Rate negotiations possible.
  • Post-Carnival (3): Business normalizing, Catch-up period, Some rate relief.

Holidays that affect this lane

  • Carnival (Brazil) (February, 1 week): Major Brazilian shutdown
  • Christmas/New Year (December, 2 weeks): Regional slowdown
  • Various Independence Days (September, Variable): Country-specific disruptions

Expected surcharges

  • Brazil agri-season: 20-50% Santos-related
  • Pre-Christmas: 15-30% import lanes
  • Carnival: Emergency charges possible

Planning tips

  • Santos port congestion is chronic during agricultural season
  • Brazil customs (Siscomex) is complex - use experienced brokers
  • Consider alternative ports (Paranaguá, Itajaí) during Santos peak
  • Mexican nearshoring is creating new demand patterns
  • Currency fluctuations significantly affect landed costs

More in this directory

Frequently asked questions

Why is Santos so congested during harvest season?

Santos handles 25%+ of Brazil's exports. During soybean/corn harvest (Mar-Jun), agricultural cargo competes with container traffic, causing severe congestion.

How does Carnival affect Brazilian shipping?

Carnival effectively shuts down Brazil for 5-7 days. Ports operate minimally, trucking stops, customs closed. Plan shipments around it.

Is nearshoring to Mexico affecting shipping patterns?

Yes. US companies nearshoring to Mexico are creating new freight patterns. Cross-border trucking and Pacific routes to Mexico are seeing increased demand.