What specific logistics bottlenecks exist between Latin American ports and inland destinations?

The primary issues include inadequate inland transportation capacity, limited warehouse infrastructure near ports, customs clearance delays, and poor real-time visibility across the handoff from ocean to inland carriers. Port congestion often stems from slow cargo pickup and distribution into the hinterland, creating a cascading effect that increases dwell times and overall supply chain costs.

How does the ocean-to-inland connectivity gap affect import and export competitiveness in Latin America?

Fragmented logistics networks increase total landed costs and extend transit times, making Latin American products less competitive in global markets and making regional sourcing less attractive for multinational companies. Better connectivity would enable faster market access and lower total cost of ownership, directly impacting sourcing decisions and regional trade flows.

What role does digitalization play in solving this connectivity problem?

Digital platforms enable real-time tracking, automated customs documentation, dynamic routing, and better coordination between ocean and inland service providers. Maersk and other carriers are investing in visibility tools and API integrations to create seamless handoffs, though adoption across the fragmented Latin American logistics ecosystem remains uneven.

Which Latin American markets are most affected by poor ocean-to-inland integration?

Countries with large inland populations relative to port infrastructure—such as Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina—face the most acute challenges. Mexico benefits from USMCA integration and proximity to U.S. markets, which has driven more coordinated logistics development; smaller economies like Peru and Chile depend heavily on their limited port capacity.

What actions should supply chain teams take to mitigate this risk?

Companies should prioritize partnerships with integrated 3PLs offering end-to-end solutions, invest in real-time visibility systems, build closer relationships with freight forwarders familiar with regional customs and inland networks, and consider consolidation strategies to maximize truckload utilization and reduce handoff delays.

Shipping & Freight

Moderate

Latin America's Ocean-Inland Gap: Why Connected Logistics Matters

Jul 21, 2026

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The signal

Maersk has identified a critical gap in Latin America's logistics infrastructure: the disconnect between ocean freight networks and inland distribution systems. This fragmentation creates inefficiencies that ripple through supply chains, extending lead times and increasing costs for shippers moving goods from major ports into regional and domestic markets. The region's rapid e-commerce growth and increasing nearshoring from Asia have intensified demand for seamless end-to-end logistics solutions.

The core issue stems from the lack of integrated planning and coordination between ocean carriers, inland transporters, warehousing operators, and customs brokers. Each operates relatively independently, leading to port congestion, delays in inland transit, and suboptimal inventory positioning. For supply chain professionals, this represents both a challenge and an opportunity: companies must either invest in proprietary logistics networks or partner with 3PLs and freight forwarders capable of orchestrating multimodal solutions across the continent.

Maersk's focus on this theme suggests the logistics industry recognizes that regional competitiveness will increasingly depend on end-to-end visibility and coordination. Latin American shippers who can establish stronger ocean-inland partnerships will gain competitive advantages in serving both domestic and cross-border markets more efficiently than competitors relying on fragmented services.

#latin-america-logistics

#ocean-to-inland

#supply-chain-connectivity

#inland-transportation

#last-mile-delivery

#intermodal-networks

#regional-integration

#maersk-strategy

#logistics-infrastructure

#trade-corridors

Frequently Asked Questions

What This Means for Your Supply Chain

Simulation Suggestion

this month

What if inland transit times from major Latin American ports increase by 30%?

Simulate a scenario where truck and rail capacity from key ports (Santos, Callao, Buenaventura) becomes constrained due to infrastructure limitations, causing inland delivery times to extend by 3-5 days. Model the impact on safety stock requirements, warehouse positioning, and order-to-delivery performance across e-commerce and retail channels.

Run this scenario

Simulation Suggestion

strategic

What if you consolidate inland distribution through a single 3PL instead of multiple carriers?

Model the cost-service tradeoff of switching from a fragmented network of regional carriers to a single integrated 3PL offering ocean-to-inland services. Compare total logistics costs, transit time variability, and service level compliance across different Latin American origin-destination pairs.

Run this scenario

Simulation Suggestion

this month

What if port dwell times increase and you need to reposition inventory further inland?

Simulate a scenario where port congestion extends dwell times by 4-7 days, forcing you to establish distribution centers deeper into the hinterland (e.g., São Paulo instead of Santos for Brazilian operations). Model the impact on network costs, service levels, and working capital tied up in transit inventory.

Run this scenario

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Supply Chain Simulation: A Guide for Operators

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