UPS Expanding Healthcare Network to Simplify Latin American Market Access

UPS held a ribbon-cutting ceremony in the state of Mexico, celebrating the addition of three healthcare-dedicated facilities to address high growth medical device and pharmaceutical consumption markets throughout Latin America.

Over the coming months, UPS will open and expand new facilities near Mexico City, Mexico, Sao Paulo, Brazil and Santiago, Chile, highlighting its continued investment in the region.

With these expansions, UPS’s network in the region reaches nearly 70 percent of the total healthcare consumption and manufacturing markets in Latin America.

The region includes two of the top 15 healthcare consumer markets worldwide and the UPS facilities are located in the largest consumption cities in these countries enabling efficient market access.

Ribbon cutting ceremony at the inauguration of UPS healthcare facility in Cuautitlan Izcalli, state of Mexico. The company announced dedicated facility expansions in Mexico, Brazil and Chile. Left to right: Agustin Picado, UPS Mexico general director and Americas Region vice president marketing, Adrian Fuentes Villalobos, State of Mexico minister of Economic Development, Romaine Seguin, UPS Americas president, Jim Barber, UPS International president and Aquilino Salgado Monroy, County director of Economic Development.

“Latin America represents a strong growth opportunity for healthcare companies and providers who rely on UPS’s network of dedicated facilities, air freight, and safety and compliance expertise to support their business goals,” said John Menna, UPS vice president, Global Healthcare Strategy. “These facilities offer greater access to the best-in-class logistics solutions for pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device companies serving Latin America, giving global healthcare customers the confidence they need.”

The growing middle class is driving increased healthcare demand across emerging markets worldwide, including Latin America. Reaching new markets was identified by nearly 80 percent of healthcare executives in UPS’s most recent annual “Pain in the (Supply) Chain” study which measures decision makers’ concerns in healthcare logistics.

Specifics of the healthcare expansions include:

Mexico
Celebrating its healthcare inauguration today, this multi-client facility located in Cuautitlan Izcalli, state of Mexico, serves the second largest medical device and pharmaceutical consumption market in the region. The existing building now includes nearly 78,000 sq. ft. of healthcare-dedicated space. UPS has been operating in Mexico since 1989.

Brazil
Brazil is the largest pharmaceutical consumption market in Latin America and this is UPS’s second healthcare-dedicated facility in the country. This new location in Sao Paulo includes 80,000 sq. ft. of space which will open in the third quarter of this year. UPS has been operating in Brazil since 1989.

Chile
Slated for completion this fall, this expansion will include 21,000 sq. ft. of healthcare-dedicated space in Santiago, Chile, a manufacturing country for many healthcare multinational corporations. UPS has been operating in Chile since 1991.

Each facility is compliant with global, regional and local regulations and designed to support ambient healthcare products for both pharmaceutical and medical device companies. UPS healthcare clients can also take advantage of a single global IT platform, providing a seamless experience and end-to-end supply chain visibility.

“The opening of these facilities are a part of UPS’s ongoing strategy to expand its footprint in vital markets and continued investment in technology to meet the demands of our customers,” said Romaine Seguin, president, UPS Americas Region. “Each expansion is designed to ensure we deliver service excellence. Our mission, which is posted in every UPS healthcare facility around the world, reminds employees that ‘It’s A Patient, Not A Package’ as we put in place dedicated solutions and specially trained people who bring the mantra to life.”

Related: SC24/7 on “Latin America”