In an environment of uncertainty and global economic moderation, the Mexican Railway System (SFM) registered a 4.6% decrease in freight movement from January to September 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
According to statistics from the Agency of Trains and Integrated Public Transport (ATTRAPI) , 96.52 million tons were moved, while in the period compared it was 101.23 million tons.
“The results reflect the system’s adaptability and its strategic role in national and international logistics,” the organization stated.
He specified that the resilience and operational recovery of the rail system was reflected in the volume of loaded railcars transported. Between January and September 2025, 1,112,517 loaded railcars were transported.
“Although this performance represents an annual contraction, it is also noted that in the third quarter there was an increase of 3.6% compared to the first quarter, which suggests a gradual reactivation of rail freight transport,” he stressed.
The agency specified that foreign trade accounted for 76.07% of the total volume transported by rail. In this context, and despite persistent tariff uncertainty, it noted that international traffic showed a year-on-year growth of 1.6% compared to the same period in 2024. Meanwhile, domestic traffic fell by 20.4% .
Imports reached 55.91 million tons, which were distributed between land borders and seaports, while exports totaled 17.52 million tons, registering increases of 1.32% and 2.83%, respectively.
In this environment, the borders of Nuevo Laredo and Piedras Negras consolidated themselves as the main rail and land exchange nodes between Mexico and the United States, concentrating 67.1% of imports and 63.6% of exports.
On the other hand, the ports of Veracruz and Manzanillo stood out as key rail points for receiving maritime cargo , handling 70.2% of imports transferred to the rail network, primarily from Europe, Asia, and South America. Regarding exports, the ports of Guaymas and Mazatlán channeled 38.8% of the maritime volume moved by rail, “underscoring their role in the export of Mexican products to international markets.”
ATTRAPI highlighted that from January to September 2025, Ferromex and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) of Mexico concentrated the majority volume of rail freight moved, with shares of 46.7 and 39.7%, respectively.
During the period, Ferromex transported 45.08 million tons, representing a year-on-year decrease of 6.9%, while CPKC de México reached 38.3 million tons, with a slight decrease of 0.5%. Meanwhile, Ferrosur moved 10.04 million tons, with a drop of 10.2%.
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