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Brazil cargo theft shifts toward essential goods and new regions
Cargo theft patterns in Brazil are shifting geographically and strategically. While the Southeast region remains the primary area for losses, its share dropped from 83.2% in 2024 to 68.1% in 2025, indicating a spread of criminal activity to other regions. The Northeast has become a structural hub for theft, particularly in Bahia, Maranhão, and Pernambuco, while the North saw a significant jump in involvement, rising from 0.9% to 11.2% of losses.
Criminal strategies are also evolving to target essential goods. While fragmented cargo remains a major target, there is an increasing focus on food, which now accounts for 26.5% of losses, and medicines, which have more than doubled in frequency. In the North, thieves are increasingly targeting high-value electronics.
Data from NTC&Logística shows that although the total number of cargo theft occurrences in 2025 fell by 16.7% compared to 2024, resulting in 8,570 incidents, the financial impact remains severe, with estimated losses of approximately R$ 900 million. Industry experts suggest that transport insurance must evolve from a mere contractual obligation into a comprehensive risk management strategy to protect small and medium-sized enterprises from operational collapse.
Entities
Brazil · Genebra Corretora de Seguros · Guilherme Silveira · NTC&Logística · Nstech
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Theft of food products accounted for 26.5% of losses. www.estadao.com.br
- [● 2 SOURCES] Estimated losses from cargo theft in Brazil are approximately R$ 900 million. leianoticias.com.br · dicaappdodia.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Cargo theft in the North region increased from 0.9% to 11.2% in one year. www.estadao.com.br
- [● 2 SOURCES] Estimated losses from cargo theft in 2025 are approximately R$ 900 million. leianoticias.com.br · dicaappdodia.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Cargo insurance should be treated as part of a broader risk management strategy rather than just a fixed expense. leianoticias.com.br · dicaappdodia.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The share of stolen food cargo rose to 26.5% of total losses. www.estadao.com.br
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The presence of stolen medicines more than doubled. www.estadao.com.br
- [● 2 SOURCES] Cargo theft occurrences in 2025 were 16.7% lower than in 2024. leianoticias.com.br · dicaappdodia.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Southeast region's share of cargo theft losses in Brazil fell from 83.2% in 2024 to 68.1% in 2025. www.estadao.com.br
- [● 2 SOURCES] Brazil recorded 8,570 cargo theft occurrences in 2025. leianoticias.com.br · dicaappdodia.com