DHL Global Forwarding Builds Direct Montevideo Presence Through Aero Cargas Acquisition

Erik Meade, CEO DHL Global Forwarding Latin America and Natalia Sadurskas, General Manager of Aero Cargas S.A.

(IN BRIEF) DHL Global Forwarding, the air and ocean freight specialist of DHL Group, has acquired Aero Cargas S.A., giving DHL its first direct operation in Uruguay and strengthening its presence across Latin America and the Southern Cone. Aero Cargas brings more than 58 years of South American logistics experience and a 33-year relationship with DHL Group, with capabilities in air and ocean freight, industrial project logistics, land transport, multimodal services, Free Trade Zone operations, pharmaceutical logistics and regional inventory management. DHL said Uruguay’s location at the intersection of Atlantic shipping routes and major inland waterways, together with its Free Port framework and deep-water infrastructure, makes it a strategic gateway for regional and international trade. The acquisition supports DHL Group’s Strategy 2030 growth ambitions and enhances DHL Global Forwarding’s specialised logistics offering in Life Sciences & Healthcare, project forwarding, regional distribution and high-value sectors including data centre infrastructure.

(PRESS RELEASE) BONN, 1-Sep-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — DHL Global Forwarding, the air and ocean freight specialist of DHL Group, has acquired Aero Cargas S.A., a leading logistics and freight forwarding company in Uruguay.

The acquisition gives DHL Global Forwarding its first direct operation in Uruguay and strengthens the company’s presence in Latin America.

DHL said Uruguay is becoming an increasingly important logistics hub for regional and international trade.

The move also strengthens DHL’s position in the Southern Cone and broadens access to key regional trade corridors.

The acquisition enhances DHL Global Forwarding’s capabilities in healthcare logistics, project forwarding, regional distribution, Free Trade Zone logistics and multimodal transportation.

Strategic gateway for Latin American trade

DHL said ongoing geopolitical tensions and changes in global shipping routes have exposed vulnerabilities in traditional trade lanes.

As a result, shippers are seeking more resilient and efficient routing options through Latin America.

Uruguay is well positioned to benefit from this shift.

Located at the intersection of Atlantic shipping routes and the Southern Cone’s main inland waterways, the country serves as a gateway connecting Mercosur, North America and key international markets.

DHL Global Forwarding’s expansion into Montevideo builds on Uruguay’s location, its Free Port framework and its expanding deep-water infrastructure.

The company said this will support agile freight solutions, help reduce exposure to global bottlenecks and improve access to high-growth markets across Latin America.

The acquisition also supports DHL Group’s Strategy 2030, which aims to accelerate sustainable growth through targeted investments in high-growth markets and evolving trade corridors.

Aero Cargas brings regional logistics expertise

Aero Cargas S.A. has more than 58 years of experience in the South American logistics sector.

The company has also maintained a 33-year relationship with DHL Group.

Aero Cargas brings expertise in air and ocean freight, industrial project logistics, land transport and customised multimodal services.

It has also developed strong capabilities in Free Trade Zone operations, pharmaceutical logistics and regional inventory management.

By converting a long-standing partnership into a wholly owned operation, DHL Global Forwarding is expanding its ability to support customers across Latin America.

The company said combining Aero Cargas’ local knowledge with DHL’s global network will give customers greater supply chain flexibility, improved market access and a broader portfolio of logistics services.

Strengthening specialised logistics services

Oscar de Bok, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding, said Latin America is becoming increasingly important as companies diversify supply chains and strengthen regional distribution networks.

He said the acquisition establishes DHL Global Forwarding’s first direct presence in Uruguay and adds a strategic logistics platform that improves connectivity across the Americas.

De Bok said Aero Cargas strengthens DHL’s capabilities in Life Sciences & Healthcare, Free Trade Zone logistics and industrial project forwarding.

He added that the combination creates a stronger platform for customers across the Southern Cone by bringing together global reach, local expertise and operational excellence.

The acquisition expands DHL Global Forwarding’s Life Sciences & Healthcare offering through pharmaceutical logistics know-how, regional inventory consolidation services and an established healthcare customer base.

It also adds further depth in industrial project logistics and multimodal transportation for customers in high-value sectors.

DHL said this comes as Uruguay’s data centre sector continues to expand, supported by major investments from multinational technology companies and state-backed AI infrastructure.

The company said its expertise in complex logistics can support the import and deployment of heavy machinery, cooling systems and advanced technology components used in data centre operations.

Erik Meade, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding Latin America, said the direct expansion into Uruguay accelerates the execution of DHL’s dedicated Life Sciences & Healthcare strategy.

He noted that DHL Group announced a EUR 2 billion investment plan in 2025, with about 10% expected to be invested in Latin America.

Meade said establishing a direct presence in Montevideo allows DHL to place part of that investment where healthcare customers need specialised services.

He said more than USD 1 billion worth of pharmaceuticals move through Uruguay each year, as global pharmaceutical brands increasingly use the country as a regional distribution centre for Latin America.

According to Meade, Uruguay is a key regional hub for active ingredients and finished products arriving from Europe and North America to be reprocessed, repackaged and re-exported to markets including Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Colombia.

He said the acquisition will allow DHL customers to access specialised capabilities for navigating critical supply chains across Latin America.

Building on a long-standing partnership

Natalia Sadurskas, General Manager of Aero Cargas S.A., said the company’s partnership with DHL over the past three decades has helped it build strong customer relationships and develop specialised logistics capabilities.

She said joining DHL Global Forwarding marks an important new chapter for Aero Cargas employees and customers.

Sadurskas added that the combined organisation will be able to offer greater reach, operational excellence and service solutions across Latin America and globally.

Aero Cargas S.A. will become part of the DHL Global Forwarding Peru-Ecuador-Argentina-Chile, or PAC, cluster led by Eduardo Rodrigues, CEO PAC, DHL Global Forwarding.

All employees of Aero Cargas S.A. will transition to DHL Global Forwarding.

DHL – The logistics company for the world

DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL divisions offer an unrivaled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management. With approximately 389,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global sustainable trade flows. With specialized solutions for growth markets and industries including technology, life sciences and healthcare, engineering, manufacturing & energy, auto-mobility and retail, DHL is decisively positioned as “The logistics company for the world”.

DHL is part of DHL Group. The Group generated revenues of approximately 82.9 billion euros in 2025. With sustainable business practices and a commitment to society and the environment, the Group makes a positive contribution to the world. DHL Group aims to achieve net-zero emissions logistics by 2050.

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SOURCE: DHL Group