BRAZIL ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT MARKET - GROWTH, TRENDS, COVID-19 IMPACT, AND FORECAST(2022 - 2027)

BRAZIL ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT MARKET - GROWTH, TRENDS, COVID-19 IMPACT, AND FORECAST(2022 - 2027)

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) incidence advances in Brazil, economic fallout and major impacts are witnessed in different consumer goods and services industries. This comes not long after industries showed signs of recovery following the country’s economic crisis in 2014-2018. Although the immediate impacts were more noticeable in the transportation of passengers, cargo transportation companies are also already aware of the reflexes of the pandemic. The slowdown in economic activity due to the closing of commercial establishments and the shutdown of industries and civil construction drastically reduced the demand for its services. There is, therefore, a double risk: shortages of cities and closing of carriers. The pharmaceutical and frozen food markets witnessed growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, thus driving the Brazilian cold chain logistics market. From March 17 to March 31, 2020, the road traffic in major cities in Brazil decreased due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The cities of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro showed the greatest impact, with a vehicle traffic drop of 62% compared to the same period a year earlier.

Road freight transport is defined as the transportation of goods by road between two places (a place of loading and a place of unloading). The road is the largest freight and logistics market segment in Brazil, amounting to about 60% of the total market. But in April 2020, road transport of manufactured goods, such as household appliances, declined by 38%.

The rise in truck sales shows that the demand is increasing and that the players in the segment are heavily investing to increase the fleet size. At the same time, players in the market are gradually investing in technologies to improve the logistics process and reduce costs.

Latin America is steadily making efforts to improve its multimodal transportation infrastructure. In Latin America, Brazil is among the major freight and logistics countries and is one of the most important logistics hubs in Latin America, with a vast area, high population, and a large economy.

In 2019, the Brazilian trucking sector transported 1,373 billion metric ton of goods per kilometer. This represented about 65% of the volume transported in the country.

Key Market TrendsGrowing E-commerce in the Country

Major e-commerce firms, such as MercadoLibre and Amazon.com, have been investing in bolstering their logistics infrastructure in the Northeast of Brazil in a push to expedite deliveries and challenge local retailers, such as Magazine Luiza, B2W Companhia Digital, and Via Varejo.

Brazil is an essential e-commerce market in Latin America. It has been estimated that the country accounts for over one-third of the region’s e-commerce market.

Aside from the region-wide marketplace, Mercado Libre (known in Portuguese as Mercado Livre), some of the most popular e-commerce platforms are of local origin, namely B2W Digital, which owns brands such as Americanas.com and Submarino, and Magazine Luiza, a traditional retailer that has been increasingly thriving in the online environment.

The end of the year is undoubtedly a crucial season for e-commerce; altogether, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas generated over BRL 20 billion in online sales in 2019 (nearly USD 5 billion at December 31, 2019, exchange rates).

Rising Industrial Activities due to Economic Rebound from COVID-19 Pandemic

The economic activity started recovering in the third quarter of 2020, which was welcome news for Brazil. The country was trying to shake off a tragic year as COVID-19 continued to infect people and claim lives.

Firstly, while there is positive news about vaccines, ensuring that a sizable share of the population is vaccinated involves logistical challenges and will take time.

Secondly, the domestic demand outlook is likely to remain challenging. A weak labor market and uncertain economic prospects will weigh on consumer confidence, and hence, spending. This, in turn, will impact businesses, some of which have already been hit hard by the pandemic.

The scenario for external demand is not better, as the global economy appears unlikely to rebound quickly.

Finally, as the focus shifts from recovery to economic fundamentals, Brazil will have to reconcile with its fiscal health, which has taken a hit during the pandemic as the government stepped in to support those impacted by the downturn.

Private consumption, which accounts for a little less than two-thirds of the economy, grew by 7.6% in the third quarter, a contrast to the previous two-quarters of contraction.

Government consumption and investments also aided the recovery in Q3, although both faced headwinds. While government spending will have to contend with deterioration in fiscal health, the trajectory of business investment will depend much on the recovery in consumer demand in the economy.

Competitive Landscape

The industry is fragmented, with approximately 217.84 thousand companies legally registered in Brazil's transportation and logistics sector in 2018 under the National Register of Freight Haulers.

The industry is dominated by local domestic players, including JSL SA, Transportes Bertolini Ltda, Braspress Logistics, RTE Rodonave, and many more that outsource their work to self-employed truck drivers.

International players such as DHL Global Forwarding, Kuehne +Nagel, and CEVA Logistics also partner with local companies for their fleet and contacts.

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Companies Mentioned
 
Domestic Companies
International Companies

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