Mexico remains a key player in the global logistics architecture, but its drop of one position in the Agility Emerging Markets Index 2026 , developed by Agility Global , from seventh to eighth place , reveals a signal that cannot be interpreted as a mere statistical adjustment. Rather, it reflects the accelerated pace at which other emerging markets are strengthening their logistics, digital, and institutional capabilities to attract investment and consolidate themselves as new strategic nodes in global supply chains.

The index, which assesses 50 emerging economies based on their logistics opportunities, business environment, and digital readiness , shows that countries’ rankings are being redefined based on their ability to adapt to a global context marked by volatility, regionalized production, and digitalization. As the report itself notes, the current environment is characterized by “a competitive landscape marked by shifts in rankings,” reflecting how markets are being reassessed based on their capacity to respond to the new demands of international trade.

Mexico’s setback comes at a time when companies are actively reconfiguring their supply chains. The report notes that “more than 97% of executives say their companies have made or will make significant changes to their production and sourcing through relocation, nearshoring , or regionalization strategies.” This process, driven by geopolitical tensions, rising costs, and the need for resilience, is benefiting multiple emerging markets that have managed to accelerate their investments in infrastructure, connectivity, and digital capabilities.

Mexico maintains significant structural strengths. In the international logistics opportunities sub-index, it ranks third globally , confirming its role as a strategic platform for international trade, particularly due to its proximity to the United States and its integration into North American production chains. However, the index also makes it clear that geographic location alone is no longer sufficient to guarantee sustained competitiveness.

The global environment has become more demanding and unpredictable. The report warns that “uncertainty has increased to an exceptionally high level globally, and is likely here to stay,” a condition that is forcing companies to redesign their logistics networks and prioritize markets that offer greater stability, efficiency, and adaptability.

In this new context, digital infrastructure has become a decisive factor. The report emphasizes that countries integrating physical and digital infrastructure will be “the likely winners in the coming years ,” a statement that reflects how logistics competitiveness no longer depends solely on ports, roads, or geographic location, but also on technological capacity, process digitization, and readiness to integrate artificial intelligence into logistics operations.

Mexico’s drop in the ranking does not imply an immediate loss of its strategic relevance, but it does demonstrate that competition among emerging markets is intensifying . Countries in Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America are accelerating their logistics investments and strengthening their operational ecosystems to position themselves as viable alternatives in the new geography of global trade.

Latin America, a mixed outlook

The performance of the rest of Latin America presents a mixed picture, with some countries making significant progress while others face structural setbacks. Brazil ranked tenth globally , solidifying its position as the second-best performing Latin American market, driven by improvements in its business environment and the protection of contractual rights—factors that strengthen its attractiveness for logistics investment. Its progress reflects the impact of institutional reforms aimed at increasing operational certainty.

Chile , for its part, ranked 13th, maintaining its position as one of the most stable markets in the region thanks to its institutional strength and the reliability of its business environment. In contrast, Colombia fell to 23rd place, highlighting the challenges it faces in strengthening its logistics competitiveness in an increasingly demanding international environment, where operational efficiency and infrastructure have become determining factors.

Further down the rankings are Peru in 26th place and Argentina in 29th, both reflecting limited progress compared to the dynamism of other emerging markets. Uruguay , in 17th place, stands out as one of the best-positioned in the region in terms of operational stability, while Paraguay, Ecuador, and Bolivia occupy intermediate and lower positions, highlighting the structural gaps that still limit their logistical development. Overall, the regional performance confirms that Latin America remains relevant in the reconfiguration of supply chains, but it also exposes the growing global competition to attract investment and consolidate itself as a strategic logistics platform.

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Agility , in collaboration with Transport Intelligence , released the Emerging Logistics Markets Index 2024 , in which Mexico climbed two positions and was placed in seventh place on the list with a score of 5.77 points; while China (8.58), India (6.94) and the United Arab Emirates (6.31) remained in the top 3.

This index examines four key areas for logistics market development: domestic logistics opportunities, international logistics opportunities, business fundamentals and digital readiness.

John Manners-Bell, CEO of Transport Intelligence, highlighted that “2024 could be remembered as a turning point in global politics and economics ”, as elections across regions led to significant changes in governments, with increased support for populist politicians and a backlash against globalist agendas, impacting international trade and supply chains.

“US importers and manufacturers continue to diversify their sources of supply, favouring economies in Southeast Asia and increasing cross-border trade with Mexico,” Manners-Bell said.

However, greater scrutiny is expected to prevent the Mexican market from functioning as a “back door” for Chinese products , after the re-election of Donald Trump to the presidency of the United States, which has revived threats of tariffs.

The survey of more than 550 industry professionals conducted by Transport Intelligence between October 2023 and December 2024 revealed a cautious outlook, with 54.6% of respondents anticipating a recession in 2025, an increase of five percentage points on the previous year, with persistent inflation, rising operating costs and uncertainty in global supply chains the main reasons for this concern.

According to the results, the logistics sector is in a period of recalibration , in which resilience is prioritized over efficiency.

To achieve this, companies are adopting strategies of offshoring, regionalisation and diversification , favouring regions such as Southeast Asia, India and Africa , but barriers to entry persist that hinder the full exploitation of these opportunities.

While China remains a key player, many companies are mitigating business and regulatory risks by partially decoupling from its economy.

The survey found that India is gaining prominence thanks to improvements in infrastructure and government incentives , although corruption and bureaucracy remain challenges, while the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region , the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia lead with strong investments in infrastructure and human capital.

According to the results, logistics costs will also remain high over the next 12 months, due to factors such as inflation, labor shortages and the transition to renewable energy.

In addition, sustainability mandates are increasing the regulatory burden on logistics providers, which could accelerate investment in green technologies and green infrastructure solutions.

On the other hand, e-commerce remains a key driver in emerging markets, driving innovation in last-mile deliveries and digital tools , but rising protectionism and the imposition of tariffs could hamper operational efficiency and raise costs throughout the supply chain.

More than 80% of respondents believe that tariffs have a significant impact on their supply chain and the possible expansion of protectionist measures in 2025, especially in the United States under the Donald Trump administration, could accelerate the trend towards regionalization of production and sourcing.

Supply chain investment and reconfiguration

Investment flows show that North America, with 12.9%, is the main investment destination, benefiting from nearshoring , while Africa (9.9%) also experiences growth due to its improving infrastructure and the rise of e-commerce; Southeast Asia (4.9%) remains an alternative to China, and Latin America (2.7%) continues to consolidate its position in nearshoring to North America and Europe.

On the other hand, India (-31%) faces a net outflow of investment, attributed to high costs and regulatory hurdles, although its long-term attractiveness is expected to remain, while China (-2.7%) continues to lose investment as companies seek to diversify.

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