The Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade, Investment and Technology of the Northeast (Comce Noreste) presented a diagnosis of the structural risks facing Mexican foreign trade due to the deficit of logistics infrastructure and the shortage of specialized talent in customs matters.
Javier Cendejas Meneses, president of the organization, pointed out that foreign trade continues to be a central engine of the national economy, with exports of 664 billion 837 million dollars (mdd) in 2025 , a growth of 7.6% compared to 2024.
Furthermore, he noted that the Northeast region of the organization (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo León and Tamaulipas) concentrates more than 45% of total exports, driven by high technological and manufacturing value chains ; and he emphasized that highways are the main means of exchange with the United States.
“In November 2025 alone, Mexican exports to that country reached $46 billion, of which 55% crossed through the five main border crossings, led by Laredo with $19.6 billion. Data from the United States Bureau of Transportation Statistics shows that nearly six million cargo trucks arrive annually from Mexico by road, and according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) , two out of every three exports are transported this way,” Cendejas noted.
Despite its key role in foreign trade performance, the president of Comce Noreste stressed that Mexico ranks 66th out of 141 countries in logistics infrastructure , according to the World Bank ‘s Logistics Performance Index , reflecting the need to strengthen road investment; and added that the lack of investment in energy limits the establishment of new companies, since 91% report difficulties in electricity supply and 40% of industrial parks face problems with natural gas supply.
The organization indicated that Mexico faces significant challenges in trade facilitation and procedures, ranking 46th out of 141 economies in terms of waiting times for trade-related administrative processes . Therefore, the implementation of new requirements, such as the Mandatory Electronic Declaration of Value starting April 1, 2026, will increase the administrative burden and the demand for specialized talent, thus slowing down processes and raising costs and the risk of sanctions for companies.
“Given the shortage of specialized professionals, 95% of exporting companies already outsource part of their foreign trade and supply chain operations . Under the new customs regulations, companies must have at least five employees with managerial-level customs experience, whose salaries average 51,000 pesos per month. Failure to submit the Declaration of Value or inconsistencies with the Customs Law can result in penalties ranging from fines of 80% to 120% of the commercial value of the goods, to the precautionary seizure of assets and the possibility of being referred to the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office,” stated Cendejas Meneses.
The agency warned that streamlining procedures, strengthening logistics infrastructure, and developing talent in customs matters will be key to consolidating foreign trade as a regional and national economic engine.
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