In an environment of uncertainty, insecurity and cost overruns, industry leaders agreed that logistics in Mexico is facing one of its most complex, but also decisive, moments for its transformation.
During the dialogue panel “Mexican Logistics in 2026: Between Resilience and Competitiveness” , at the Forum of the National Association of Vehicle Tracking and Protection Companies (ANERPV) , Osiel Cruz Pacheco, CEO of Grupo T21 , acknowledged the role of logistics entrepreneurs, whom he described as “heroes” who keep commerce operating in an adverse environment.
However, he was also emphatic that Mexico still has not managed to reduce its logistics costs to levels that are competitive with more advanced economies.
Insufficient infrastructure, outdated toll systems, downtime on roads and in ports, as well as regulatory burdens, are part of a “salad of factors” that increase the cost of logistics operations and directly affect the end consumer.
From the perspective of importers and exporters, Javier Lagunes , president of the National Association of Importers and Exporters of the Mexican Republic (ANIERM) , stated that the country is going through an evolutionary process forced by global competition.
Among the main challenges, he highlighted the need to clearly define the roles within the logistics chain, the lack of concrete actions to solve structural problems, and the urgency of generating effective public policies.
Even so, he stressed that Mexico has a privileged position to become a key logistics hub , provided it manages to correct its weaknesses.
For his part, Fernando Con y Ledesma , president of the Mexican Association of Shipping Agents (Amanac) , emphasized that one of the main obstacles is the lack of alignment among the actors in the logistics chain.
“The challenge is to put aside individual interests in order to build collective efficiency,” he said.
Furthermore, he proposed promoting a national initiative under the concept of “Safe Mexico” , with the aim of improving international perception and generating more reliable conditions for trade.
Rising costs and operational uncertainty
From the Mexican Association of Freight Forwarders (Amacarga) , its president, Eva Muñoz, offered one of the most critical diagnoses: insecurity has completely transformed the logistics operation .
Today, he explained, companies face increased theft and violence, higher insurance premiums, a need for security and constant monitoring, and an inability to maintain stable rates.
This has eliminated practices such as just-in-time , forcing a redesign of routes, schedules, and operational strategies, which directly impacts costs and efficiency.
In this context, Luis Villatoro , president of ANERPV, highlighted the role of technology as a central element in mitigating risks.
He noted that the use of artificial intelligence , telemetry, and tracking systems has improved vehicle recovery and strengthened traceability. He also emphasized the importance of collaboration with authorities, which has led to the development of analytical frameworks, incident reports, and critical points.
Intermodal: progress, but with structural challenges
Luis Hernández, president of the Mexican Association of Intermodal Transport (AMTI) , presented a more optimistic outlook for intermodal transport, with progress in the use of rail and greater integration with ports and borders.
However, he warned that structural problems persist , such as complex customs processes, a lack of standardization between ports and regions, and increased regulatory costs.
Added to this is the need to redefine Mexico’s role in an environment of regionalized trade, where economic blocs are becoming more relevant.
Participants agreed that the transformation of the sector involves the use of data for decision-making; training and certification of talent ; adoption of new technologies; and greater collaboration between associations and authorities.
In particular, the importance of professionalizing all levels of the logistics chain and generating reliable information to design more effective strategies was highlighted.
In conclusion, the consensus was clear that without security and legal certainty, logistics competitiveness is limited; since insecurity hinders investment, damages the country’s international image, increases operating costs, and limits the sector’s growth.
Despite this, the final tone was optimistic. The industry acknowledged the challenges, but also its capacity for adaptation.
Comment and follow us on LinkedIn: @Jennifer Galindo / @GrupoT21
