"We continue to operate in a highly uncertain environment, marked by geopolitical tensions and unresolved trade negotiations, particularly involving the US tariff policy."
How was the past year for Leschaco?
Leschaco has continued to grow its market share across almost all its Latin American operations, despite the challenging economic environment. We have maintained and strengthened relationships with our customer base by positioning Leschaco as a solid and reliable logistics partner in a complex operating landscape. This approach has resonated with clients who are increasingly seeking dependable service providers.
What are the key challenging facing the logistics industry today?
We continue to operate in a highly uncertain environment, marked by geopolitical tensions and unresolved trade negotiations, particularly involving the US tariff policy. This has created hesitation among businesses, delaying investment decisions.
In Latin America, logistics are under further pressure from ongoing disruptions, including blank sailings, cargo rollovers, and shifting shipping routes. Major hubs like Cartagena and Santos face persistent congestion, while Mexico’s Manzanillo port has suffered severe delays due to customs strikes. These local issues compound regional instability. In such conditions, effective collaboration across the entire supply chain is critical, as no individual player can overcome these complex challenges alone.
How are Leschaco’s contract logistics solutions driving growth?
Contract logistics is a core component of Leschaco’s end-to-end logistics strategy in Latin America. The company targets global customers with regional operations, aiming to manage the full supply chain from origin to destination. Flexible warehousing, particularly at destination, plays a critical role in this model. Leschaco has an established presence in Asia and Europe and is now expanding its contract logistics footprint in Latin America. It is expected to be a key growth driver in the region, with future investments in infrastructure focused on maximizing the operational and sustainable impact of the model.
Where is the company expanding most in Latin America?
Mexico and Brazil continue to be key markets for Leschaco in Latin America, driven by their size and strategic importance. Colombia, following the acquisition of Coltrans three years ago, remains a primary focus as we finalize its integration. Smaller operations in Chile and Peru have also shown strong performance.
Dangerous goods logistics is a growth market. How does Leschaco differentiate from its competitors in this sector?
We maintain a proprietary global database of chemical and dangerous goods, enabling early identification of misclassifications and ensuring accurate communication with carriers and truckers.
In an environment where logistics-related accidents are increasing, often due to incorrect declarations, Leschaco also plays a critical advisory role across the supply chain. This includes supporting terminals, shipping lines, and even regulatory authorities to ensure the highest level of compliance and safety.
How is Leschaco leveraging technology to enhance its operations?
Leschaco is advancing technology-driven projects to improve supply chain visibility in Latin America. A key initiative is the Lighthouse control tower, combining automation with human oversight. Aligned with our end-to-end logistics strategy, we are enhancing inland logistics tracking, where complexities rise around customs, ports, trucking, and warehousing.
New solutions, debuting in Mexico and expanding regionally, aim to strengthen exception management. Rather than constant live tracking, we are focusing on timely, actionable updates on delays and deviations to help customers plan more effectively and respond to disruptions.
How does Responsible Care shape Leschaco’s work?
Responsible Care is a core component of Leschaco’s approach to chemical logistics, reflecting its commitment to safety, compliance, and environmental responsibility. We became an early Responsible Care partner in Mexico through our collaboration with the Mexican Chemical Association. In 2025, Leschaco was named a Partner of the Year by the American Chemistry Council. We are one of just three organizations in the US to receive this recognition. The company is now pursuing Responsible Care certification across all of Latin America, aligning itself with national chemical associations.
What can we expect from Leschaco over the coming year?
Leschaco will implement two major initiatives in the Americas in August 2025. The first is a global restructuring introducing a new cluster-based organizational model to enhance agility and regional focus amid ongoing industry challenges. For the Americas, this includes three clusters: Brazil-Chile, Mexico-Colombia-Peru, and the US.
The second initiative is the launch of Leschaco Americas Business School, a region-wide talent development program. The objective is to strengthen Leschaco’s future workforce and drive growth through investment in talent development alongside technology.