Amid an international landscape marked by trade uncertainty, the review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), technological transformation, and growing environmental demands, the Mexican Association of Shipping Agents (Amanac) took advantage of its 39th anniversary and Shipping Agent Day to send a message that transcended the institutional celebration: Mexico’s maritime competitiveness will increasingly depend on the sector’s ability to work in a coordinated manner with the authorities and anticipate the changes that are already redefining global trade.
The ceremony brought together representatives of the federal government, business organizations and companies in the maritime-port sector, who agreed that strengthening national logistics chains requires greater coordination between private initiatives and public institutions to respond to an increasingly complex international environment.
During his participation, Bernardo Vela, treasurer of Amanac, recalled that the association reaches its first 39 years after consolidating itself as one of the main voices of shipping agency in Mexico and as a permanent bridge between the industry and those who design the public policies of the sector.
“It’s been 39 years now, not just a simple number, it’s four decades of history built by those who decided to organize, represent and defend the interests of the shipping agency in Mexico,” he stated.
The executive acknowledged that the operating environment has changed profoundly in recent decades. Digitalization, new international regulations driven by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) , environmental sustainability, and the reorganization of supply chains are forcing the industry to evolve rapidly to maintain the relevance of maritime transport within Mexican foreign trade.
“The future of shipping activity in Mexico will depend on our ability to work together, anticipate changes, and defend with one voice the strategic importance of our sector,” he said, calling on both associates and authorities to renew collaboration mechanisms.
That call resonated with the General Directorate of the Merchant Marine . Its head, Claudia Hernández Sordo, emphasized that behind every ship that arrives at a Mexican port lies specialized work that is rarely visible, but which allows for the coordination of authorities, shipping companies, terminals, port operators, and foreign trade users to guarantee the continuity of logistics chains.
The official stressed that strengthening the maritime sector will require simultaneous progress in legal certainty, innovation, training, and institutional coordination , elements she considered essential to take advantage of Mexico’s strategic geographic position and consolidate “more efficient, competitive, safe, and sustainable” ports.
From the Ministry of Economy , the message shifted to the international context. José Ignacio Aguado, Director General of Innovation, Services, and Domestic Trade at the federal agency, acknowledged that the global economy is going through a period of commercial, economic, and geopolitical disruptions ; however, he maintained that Mexico is in a favorable position to face the review of the USMCA.
“We are confident and very optimistic,” he said, conveying Secretary Marcelo Ebrard’s message, while also asserting that the current uncertainty comes from outside and not from the country’s internal conditions.
However, he also identified the remaining challenges to boosting national competitiveness . Security, infrastructure development, and the training of specialized talent, he said, continue to be some of the main areas for strengthening the Mexican logistics ecosystem.
“It is our decision whether we grow at a speed of 40 kilometers per hour or 100,” he stated, insisting that the only way to accelerate that growth will be through joint decision-making between government, businesses, associations, and academia.
The president of the Confederation of Industrial Chambers (Concamin) , Alejandro Malagón, shifted the discussion to the strategic role that ports play in the national economy. He noted that while much of the country sleeps, port operations keep foreign trade moving through constant coordination that rarely receives public recognition.
“Ports have something very curious about them. They are a permanent economic engine in the operation that benefits the nation,” he noted.
For Malagón, the challenge is no longer just about manufacturing more products, but about moving them with greater speed, efficiency, and reliability . In that context, he warned that any logistical disruption has effects that extend beyond a single company.
“When merchandise is stopped, it’s not just a company that suffers a loss; we lose the competitiveness of the entire country,” he stated.
The business leader argued that reducing regulatory obstacles, strengthening logistics chains, and facilitating foreign trade will be key factors for Mexico to take advantage of the opportunities arising from the reconfiguration of international trade, while also recognizing the role of shipping agents as one of the least visible but most crucial links in keeping the country connected to global markets.
Nearly four decades after its creation, Amanac used its anniversary not only to recognize the contributions of those who have built the organization, but also to outline the agenda facing Mexican shipping agencies. In a context of global trade transformation, the consensus between authorities and the private sector was clear : maintaining Mexico’s maritime competitiveness will depend on accelerating modernization, strengthening institutional dialogue, and consolidating a shared vision to respond to the challenges redefining global supply chains.
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