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Analysis: CH Robinson + RXO - the market weighs it up

Key takeaway: RXO is forecast to earn about 2 cents of Ebitda on each dollar of revenue this year against about 6 cents at CH Robinson, and the $300m of cost synergies - net savings from combining the two freight brokers - management is targeting would more than close the difference. Shareholders are weighing the payoff against the debt and new shares that come with the deal and the legal uncertainty around it. CH Robinson (CHRW) proudly announced yesterday that ...

Air cargo gains ground with shippers, but concerns remain on waybill changes

Airfreight is becoming an increasingly important contingency option for shippers, but new rules on direct air waybills could cause complexity, according to Global Shippers Forum director James Hookham. At Aviation Connect in Athens this week, Mr Hookham said air had traditionally been regarded as "Plan B", but since Covid had become increasingly embedded in supply chain planning. And with post-peak season holidays approaching, he added, shippers were more likely to turn to air transport as deadlines for Black Friday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas approached. "At a time when goods must be in for onward distribution, to meet sales windows and contractual deadlines, the customer may reach for the air cargo solution." But he said airfreight was especially "part and parcel of the planning for many shippers" now, because ocean transport had become less predictable, creating opportunities for the air cargo sector. Mr Hookham stressed to air cargo stakeholders that shippers should not be treated as a single, homogeneous customer group, their requirements varied, according to cargo type, destination, delivery speed, and handling requirements. For airports, however, one of the most important considerations was simply "how little time my cargo spends in a particular airport"; and he underscored that efficient interaction between commercial and statutory processes was crucial to minimising that dwell time. But he also highlighted the potential implications of recent changes on liability in direct air waybills - an issue he said could become increasingly important for shippers, forwarders, and insurers, as the changes by IATA altered where liability could fall in the event of a dispute or disruption involving a DAB. "Instead of dealing with the original shipper, the decision has been taken for the forwarder [to be the liable party], even though they are acting as an agent in the booking rather than as a contracted party. "I was surprised by the number of shippers that are affected by this," he added. However, he said, it was still too early to determine the operational impact, partly because awareness of the change had been slow to reach the market. "When I was in Australia and New Zealand last month, I have to say it hadn't really registered as an operational issue." And Mr Hookham warned: "It creates uncertainty, possibly risk; certainly for the forwarder community, with some unwelcome new liabilities which they either seek to avoid, which causes some changes in arrangements, or possibly leads to insurance, which again causes costs, which nobody wants to want to pass on." He said the lack of clarity meant the issue could ultimately become a matter for the courts. "Unfortunately, I think this is going to end up with the lawyers," he said. "Watch this space because I think it will be a continuing issue."

GLP-1 drugs see Europe-Brazil pharma soar for LATAM Cargo

Pharmaceuticals transported by LATAM Cargo between Europe and Brazil grew approximately 150% from January to July compared to the same period last year. This surge was mainly driven by an increase in the transport of GLP-1-based medications, used in treatments for type 2 diabetes. In the first seven months of the year, GLP-1-based medications accounted for approximately 15% of the total volume transported by the company between Europe and Brazil. Including all cargo types, LATAM Cargo moved nearly 32,000 tonnes between the two markets during this period, a 27% increase compared to the first seven months of 2025. Around 75% of this volume consisted of general and consolidated cargo, including automation products, mining machinery, textiles, and commodities. "The growth in pharmaceutical transport demonstrates how demand for specialized logistics solutions is gaining prominence between Europe and Brazil," said Jorge Carretero, cargo sales manager Europe at LATAM Airlines Group. "Our priority is to support this evolution through a safe, efficient operation equipped for the specific requirements of each cargo type. "At the same time, the 27% growth in total volume reinforces the importance of connectivity between both markets and our network's capacity to serve diverse economic sectors." Increased routing options Germany, Belgium, Spain, and Italy were the main countries of origin for cargo transported by LATAM Cargo from Europe to Brazil between January and July, followed by the Netherlands and France. In passenger aircraft belly capacity, the primary routes during the period were Lisbon-São Paulo, Madrid-São Paulo, and Frankfurt-São Paulo. In freighter operations, the Frankfurt-Viracopos and Brussels-Viracopos routes stood out, stated LATAM Cargo. Expanded connectivity between Europe and Brazil has also increased cargo routing options. New passenger routes from Brussels and Amsterdam to São Paulo added capacity to the network, while the freighter service between Brussels and São José dos Campos opened a new logistics alternative connecting European and Brazilian markets.