Logistics
Disruptive technologies for disrupted times
Economist Joseph Schumpeter’s concept of ‘creative destruction’ describes how crises, disruptions and historical developments act as catalysts for innovations and technologies that replace old ways of doing things. The process, driven by progress and historical change, tears down established systems to make way for new, more efficient ones. Adaptability and evolutionary capacity were crucial features of Schumpeter’s view of the market economy.
Today, in chemical and petrochemical logistics, geopolitical and economic disruptions have forced the industry to devise strategies to improve efficiency and resilience. Emerging solutions include new software, location monitoring devices, and enhanced infrastructure – all signs of an industry undergoing its own cycle of Schumpeterian ‘creative destruction.’
Troubled waters
The current international landscape is fraught with tensions, from the US’ trade tensions with China and other countries, disrupting supply chains; to Middle East conflicts jeopardizing key routes and raising oil prices. Chemical logistics companies are turning these challenges into opportunities, improving operations and navigating turbulent conditions – in some cases, quite literally – to ensure the continuous supply of essential products.
“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,” described Martin Sack, Managing Director – Cluster Mexico, Colombia, Peru at integrated logistics company Leschaco.
Raquel Loanda, managing director of Latin America at logistics and supply chain solutions provider PSA BDP, also observed how these conflicts are adding new layers of complexity, forcing companies to adapt: “Global logistics are currently under pressure. The effects of tariffs, shifting trade policies and geopolitical instability have manifested in enhanced complexity and cost of supply chains. Consequently, companies are rethinking their logistics strategy and diversifying their sources.”
On strategy, Jean Felipe Albuquerque, general director for Latin America at Royal Den Hartogh, reflected particularly on industry reverberations arising from conflicts in the Middle East, and the key adaptions the company is making: "Disturbances within global trade, such as the Red Sea crisis, meant additional transit days, and consequently, we have had to expand our fleet. In this context, efficient logistics have become paramount."
That search for efficiency was also a cornerstone of Argentine trucking firm Celsur Logística’s strategy: “It is key to focus on process design, because you can build robust processes regardless of inflation, and they will remain once inflation stabilizes. Our clients value it beyond unit cost, being the cornerstone for long-term commercial relations,” said executive director Gabriel García Polignano.
Meanwhile, geographically, for Latin America, which appears a relative safe haven at this moment of widespread tension, that adaption has the potential to foment new opportunities: “Uncertainties are reshaping global trade flows, with companies prioritizing stability – even at higher costs. This creates opportunities for regions like Latin America to position themselves as stable, reliable partners,” Matthew Eric Bassett, CTO at freight management software company Voyager Portal, explained.
Yet this region, too, is not entirely spared, thanks to US president Donald Trump’s still-simmering tariff regime and trade wars. Guy Bessant, president of liquid and gas storage company Stolthaven Terminals, outlined his priorities to understand and manage the potential impact of US tariffs on its Brazilian operations Brazil: "We are developing mitigation plans to ensure that we can deliver the best customer service. This includes adapting supply chains, helping existing customers, and finding new ones," he said.
Geopolitical tensions, trade disruptions and tariff volatility are compelling Latin America’s chemical logistics sector to rethink traditional approaches. By adapting operations, diversifying supply chains, and preparing for unpredictable shocks, the region is building a foundation for innovation, efficiency and long-term resilience.
“We are seeing an increase in demand for door-to-door logistics services, simplifying customers’ supply chains by acting as a one-stop-shop from loading to discharge.”
Carlos Elizalde, Latin America Regional Commercial Manager, Intermodal Tank Transport
Turning the tide
This disruption – following Schumpeter’s theory – is creating opportunities for innovation that help address these challenges. In Latin America, a region that has oftentimes lagged behind in technological adoption, this new wave offers a chance to accelerate digital transformation, enhance efficiency, and redefine the region’s role in global value chains.
To cope with growing uncertainties, chemical logistics companies are increasingly trying to predict the future. PSA BDP has developed new tools: “The goal of tools such as Risk Monitor is to provide our clients with predictive, real-time intelligence to proactively stay ahead of disruptions. Moreover, we leverage PSA’s portside data to gain early insights regarding bottlenecks or congestion,” explained Helio Coelho, director of global chemical sales for Latin America.
Similarly, HOYER Group is leveraging predictive technology to enhance the effectiveness of its operations. “We use predictive tools to optimize fleet management and minimize empty mileage by forecasting container arrivals and matching surplus areas with laden cargo opportunities. This reduces unnecessary transport, lowers emissions, and increases operational efficiency,” said Patrick de Heide, the group’s overseas director.
Streem Group is another company embracing digitalization. “Streem is actively furthering the digitalization of its operations through work like our Digital Twin project. We are investing heavily in people, technology, and major IT developments to maintain our competitive edge,” affirmed its containers business director, Jan Röbken.
“Hoyer Group enhances transparency and efficiency by linking all tank containers and equipment via GPS, giving customers real-time, 24/7 access to cargo location, including vessel and truck arrival times. This replaces manual updates and improves supply chain planning.”
Patrick de Heide, Business Line Director – Overseas, HOYER GROUP
Digital Twins are becoming key instruments for monitoring, predicting and simulating logistics scenarios. Such tools are helping to revolutionize the robustness and visibility of supply chains, which ratchet up in complexity with each new step on a shipment’s journey. Another such project is Leschaco’s Lighthouse control tower, which tracks cargo across key waypoints like customs, ports and warehouses. It was described by Sack as “combining automation with human oversight” in line with the company’s “end-to-end logistics strategy,” helping to manage exceptions and shocks.
Companies are finding technological solutions to supply chain bottlenecking at Latin America’s key ports, too. Describing the long-entrenched problem, Leschaco’s Sack said: “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.”
This has proven a major obstacle for companies and countries alike in the region, hampering their trade capacity and directly impacting their competitiveness. Yet, thanks to new technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), the situation is improving. “The region now has a unique opportunity to leapfrog the slow, decades-long digitization paths of other regions’ ports, enabling smarter decision-making today,” predicted Voyager’s Bassett.
One example is Stolthaven’s Santos site, currently in the midst of major upgrades. "Stolthaven Santos is continuing its investments in automation and digitalization, and we are focusing on the planned expansion of the jetty in Santos," assured Bessant.
Other players have focused more on the physical aspects of their infrastructure. Carboclor has upgraded the pier at its storage terminal on the Paraná, enabling greater capacity for fluvial trade toward Paraguay and Bolivia. “Fuel exports to Paraguay are rising sharply, supported by the terminal’s natural draft and direct barge access via the Paraná de las Palmas river, providing a competitive edge,” affirmed Eugenia de Fazio, the company’s general manager.
At the same time, Carboclor has invested in making its operations more sustainable. “Our new steam system and boiler, and a major investment in optimizing our entire steam distribution network, will enable more efficient and environmentally responsible heating for all products requiring temperature control,” said Ernesto Bastarrica, Carboclor’s president.
Some key ports are taking a proactive approach, preparing for future increases in demand and the seemingly inevitable emergence of new vessel classes. Port Houston, the US’s primary gateway for energy, petrochemical, and finished goods destined for Latin America, is a prime example. John Moseley, its chief commercial officer, offered a view of infrastructural developments to come at the port: “We have several infrastructure projects underway right now, including building a new wharf at Bayport Container Terminal, which will be complete later this year and allow us to service five vessels simultaneously instead of four,” he said.
Crucially, Project 11, a US$1 billion dollar widening and deepening of the Houston Ship Channel, is expected to be completed in 2029, expanding its vessel TEU capacity and extending its daily operational hours.
Some projects may even profoundly reshape long-standing, critical trade routes. To that end, Mexico is investing in both its harbor portfolio and its overland logistics. “The Interoceanic Corridor across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec offers an alternative to the Panama Canal, benefiting both Mexican and US industries,” put forward Miguel Benedetto, executive director of the Mexican chemicals association ANIQ.
The megaproject has involved the expansion of Pacific ports such as Lázaro Cárdenas and Manzanillo, as well as Atlantic ports including Altamira, Coatzacoalcos and Veracruz.
These investments in physical and digital infrastructure may prove decisive for Latin America. By combining automation, AI, and strategic port upgrades, the region will hope to strengthen its reliability as a logistics hub, fully capitalize on nearshoring and friendshoring trends, and turn infrastructure development into a key driver of regional competitiveness.
“"Latin America has a strong focus on sustainability, as demonstrated by the fact that the first place where we devised an EV distribution fleet for a client was in Colombia.”
Raquel Loanda, Managing Director LATAM, PSA BDP
Thinking outside the box
In something of a ‘revolution within the revolution’, tank containers appear to be undergoing their own cycle of ‘creative destruction.’ In particular, ISO tanks have emerged as one of the defining trends in chemical logistics, increasingly seen as a solution for safe, sustainable carriage of liquids, hazardous or otherwise. They are safer than alternatives such as flexitanks or drums, easy to clean, and compliant with ISO regulations, making them ideal for transport across jurisdictions.
Eurotainer, part of the Streem Group, has prioritized the development of its ISO tank range. Olivier Houel, general manager for the Americas at Eurotainer, explained: “Environmental concerns and ESG requirements from downstream clients are accelerating this shift, with a growing preference for reusable tank containers over single-use plastic-based alternatives like flexitanks.”
Houel added that technology enhancements, such as GPS tracking and automated inventory management, are making these tanks even more versatile and efficient.
Fernando Costa, commercial manager for Latin America at NewPort Tank Containers, built on the potential for added technological features with an explanation of NILS, the company’s digital integrated logistics system it built in-house: “NILS is an intelligent logistics tool powered by industry experience and data. The system integrates CRM data, GPS tracking, and artificial intelligence to analyze transport routes, optimize new lanes, and support end-to-end logistics operations.”
This helps to maximize ISO tanks’ potential across complex intermodal transport routes.
Carlos Elizalde, Latin America regional commercial manager at Intermodal Tank Transport (ITT), further illustrated how clients are leveraging ISO tanks in response to market volatility. Elizalde explained that clients historically maintained minimal stock, but recent market volatility and geopolitical shifts are encouraging them to purchase and hold larger volumes: “In particular, big production plants have limited stock capacity, so our ISO tanks can serve as an emergency storage solution for their needs, or for those seeking to enter new markets.”
ITT, the regional leader in this modality, is set to expand to 32,000 ISO tanks with its acquisition of UK-based Bulk Tainer Group, positioning it among the top-five global fleets.
Den Hartogh’s Albuquerque underscored broader regional drivers: “Latin America is a market that demands a lot of specialty chemicals, as many countries in the region do not produce them locally. This situation is unlikely to change in the medium term, so the import of ISO tanks will remain a strong trend.”
Albuquerque also noted Den Hartogh’s acquisition of food logistics company H&S Group, highlighting synergies for clients using both food-grade and industrial-grade ISO tanks.
Balancing these approaches, HOYER’s de Heide emphasized the importance of flexibility: “HOYER positions itself uniquely as the only provider offering both flexitank and ISO tank solutions. This flexibility allows customers to choose the most efficient, environmentally conscious option.”
His observation reinforces that while ISO tanks are widely embraced, alternative solutions remain relevant depending on client needs, as flexitanks can reduce empty return legs.
Taken together, these insights show a sector not merely responding to disruption but actively shaping it. In Schumpeterian terms, chemical and petrochemical logistics in Latin America are fully embracing ‘creative destruction.’ Companies are adopting new strategies, integrating technologies and investing in infrastructure to emerge leaner, greener and more resilient. Challenges have become a driver of reinvention – the very mechanism securing the sector’s long-term relevance and operational strength.