The Mexican Association of Shipping Agents (Amanac) began a new stage with the swearing-in of Roberto Meillón Covarrubias as president of its Board of Directors for the period 2026-2028, in a context where the maritime sector faces increasing pressures to modernize its processes, strengthen the country’s logistical competitiveness and consolidate a stronger dialogue with the authorities and the industry.
During his first address as head of the association, Meillón outlined an agenda based on six strategic pillars aimed at making Amanac more institutional, technological, and inclusive. “Our mission is clear: to strengthen the unity of the industry, promote reorganization, and ensure that the voice of shipping agents is heard loud and clear and respected in all areas,” he stated before representatives of the maritime, logistics, and industrial sectors.
The new president of Amanac stated that one of the main challenges will be strengthening internal governance through statutory reforms, working committees, and more robust financial mechanisms. In this regard, he announced plans to extend the presidential term from two to three years to ensure the continuity of strategic projects and accelerate institutional processes that, he acknowledged, require further development to become fully established.
Among the highlights was the launch of the Amanac Institute , an initiative spearheaded by the outgoing administration and which, according to Meillón, will be a cornerstone of his administration. “Our task will be to transform it from a project into a living reality, with academic programs, specialized instructors, and students who represent the future of the profession,” he stated.
Professionalization of the sector emerged as one of the central themes of the event. Following this line of thought, Meillón also announced the start of the ISO 9001:2015 certification process for the association, as well as a technological modernization strategy focused on digitizing processes and improving responsiveness to shipping members. “Digitalization is not a luxury; it is a necessity to respond quickly and effectively to an increasingly interconnected world,” he stated.
Another key focus of his administration will be promoting gender equality and female leadership within the maritime sector. The new president of Amanac announced mentorship and training programs to increase women’s participation in decision-making positions within the industry.
The economic agenda also featured prominently. Meillón noted that one of the main projects will be the standardization of electronic rehabilitation fees for general cargo, a measure aimed at generating direct economic benefits for members, as well as strengthening training programs and agreements that reduce operating costs. “We want every member to feel that belonging to Amanac means obtaining concrete, measurable, and valuable advantages,” he stated.
Fernando Con y Ledesma, outgoing president of Amanac, also participated in the event, emphasizing the need to maintain institutional continuity in the face of an increasingly complex maritime and port environment. “Strong institutions are those that evolve, renew themselves, and understand that each administration contributes an important part to the long-term collective effort,” he stated.
The ceremony also revealed the support of other business and transportation organizations. Francisco Fabila, president of the Mexican Association of Railroads (AMF) and representative of the Confederation of Industrial Chambers (Concamin) , stated that shipping agents have become a strategic component for national competitiveness , particularly given the reconfiguration of global supply chains and Mexico’s repositioning within international trade.
“Shipping agents are a fundamental part of Mexico’s productive structure. Without their work, goods don’t arrive, exports don’t leave, and value chains don’t function ,” stated Fabila, who also offered Concamin’s support for the agenda promoted by Amanac’s new leadership on issues such as port modernization, legal certainty, digitalization, and the training of specialized human capital.
The association comprises approximately 70 shipping agencies that account for 95% of vessel calls, facilitating the movement of roughly 95% of cargo in Mexican ports. In the tourism sector, it collaborates closely with major cruise lines.
The renewal of Amanac comes at a time when the Mexican maritime-port system faces simultaneous pressures: increased demand for logistical efficiency, more complex regulatory requirements, and the need to accelerate technological adoption to remain competitive with other international hubs. Under these circumstances, the new administration will seek to position shipping agents not only as operators of maritime trade, but also as strategic players in the country’s logistical transformation.
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