Air trade demand from Puerto Rico to the mainland US is reflective of its growing life science exports, but investment and training are necessary for the island territory to reach its full potential. The Puerto Rico Life Sciences Air Cargo Community (PRLSACC) predicts a 24% year-on-year growth in life science exports by 2027, signaling significant potential for growth in pharma operations. Puerto Rico is currently the largest bioscience manufacturing hub in the US by export volume, with major pharmaceutical and medical device companies operating on the island.
The region is poised to become a central hub for serving the growing healthcare demands in the US, presenting a golden opportunity for growth. However, to fully capitalize on this potential, cool chain operations and facilities in Puerto Rico need to be optimized for temperature-critical pharma shipments. The PRLSACC’s temperature-controlled exports are expected to increase annually, necessitating high-quality air freight services.
Efforts are being made to improve the quality of cool chain infrastructure at Puerto Rico’s airports, including Luis Muñoz Marín and Rafael Hernández. While Luis Muñoz Marín has more connections and serves multiple airlines, Rafael Hernández only has direct routes to a few countries. The PRLSACC is advocating for more direct routes for Rafael Hernández to leverage the mass supply of pharmaceutical products from Puerto Rico.
The community’s board includes various stakeholders such as the Department of Economic Development and Commerce, Invest Puerto Rico, the Industry University Research Center, Aerostar Airport Holdings, and the Port Authority of Puerto Rico. Investment in infrastructure and improved air connections are crucial for Puerto Rico to fully capitalize on its growing life science exports and establish itself as a key player in the healthcare industry.
