Some of the major logistics groups that have successfully established themselves in Mexico over the past decades as leaders in the markets they serve were founded with the mission of resolving real bottlenecks affecting the smooth movement of goods within important supply chains. Grupo AAACESA is one of them.

Thirty years ago, the founders of this business group decided to revolutionize the handling of air cargo at Mexico City International Airport (AICM), addressing the numerous limitations of that era. It was 1994, and the federal government had just decided to auction off the bonded warehouses at this airport to be managed by private participants.

In this significant moment for the country’s logistics, AAACESA, Almacenes Fiscalizados, one of Grupo AAACESA’s business units, was born.

The founding partners succeeded in making the business thrive, gradually specializing in goods requiring specific and high-quality handling that not just anyone could provide, such as cargo transported by the pharmaceutical industry, ranging from raw materials to final products essential for human health.

Today, Grupo AAACESA boasts the most well-equipped facilities, both at the customs area of the capital’s airport (AICM) and at the cargo terminal of the newly built Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA), for the storage of cold chain goods. They have cutting-edge technology to track the location (traceability) and temperature of the goods, and trained personnel to handle the loading of cargo onto various types of aircraft.

Additionally, they have accumulated extensive experience that positions them as a leader in the market segments they serve, such as perishable goods, pharmaceutical products, and the growing e-commerce segment.

“We are a company that has wisely reinvested its profits to foster our growth alongside our clients and business partners,” stated Rogelio Hernández Berezaluce, Chairman of the Board and founding partner of AAACESA, Almacenes Fiscalizados, in an interview during the event celebrating the company’s 30th anniversary.

The celebration brought together the majority of AAACESA, Almacenes Fiscalizados’ shareholders and founders, as well as important clients who have accompanied them over the years, all of whom recognize the value and position of this business group.

Grupo AAACESA today consists of business units such as AAACESA Logistics, AAACESA Real Estate Holding, AAACESA Shared Services, and AAACESA Bonded Warehouses.

It currently employs 850 people directly. It also has 16 cold storage rooms within the bonded areas where it operates (customs at AICM and AIFA), as well as three more in its external distribution center.

For the pharmaceutical industry alone, it dedicates 11 cold storage rooms, holding certifications such as CEIV Pharma from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for the proper handling of pharmaceutical products, and a sanitary license from the Federal Commission for Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris) at AICM, allowing it to handle biological products and vaccines.

It also holds the ISO 9001:2015 certification, which regulates the quality management systems of service-providing companies; the RA3 certification, accrediting them as a secure exporter to Europe; the Secure Cargo Operator (OCS) certification, allowing them to export cargo to the United States, Canada, and the rest of the world; and the Authorized Economic Operator (OEA) certification, which has strengthened the foreign trade logistics chain through the application of rigorous security standards.

“AAACESA has sought to meet and satisfy any expectations according to the demands and needs of its clients, always willing to contribute to the logistics and supply chain through other warehouses outside of customs, complementing storage and distribution possibilities while positively collaborating with various authorities,” Hernández Berezaluce assured the attendees at the celebration.

“AAACESA was born as a dream of customs brokers,” the founding partner remarked. Today, 30 years after that dream, this logistics group is committed to maintaining quality and safety in its operations, as well as continuing to invest in and support foreign trade in Mexico.

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The area of Mexico City International Airport (AICM) designated for cargo handling “is now a desert,” a source working closely with the bonded warehouses told T21.

It’s not surprising. The capital’s airport has experienced an annual drop of 61% in air cargo handling during the period from January to April of this year, totaling 76,208.9 tons of goods, according to statistics from the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC).

For decades, AICM led the country’s air cargo records. However, since September 1 of last year, airlines dedicated to cargo transportation have not been allowed to land at this airport, as strictly mandated by a presidential decree.

This caused most of these airlines to start connecting with Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA), one of the infrastructure projects promoted by the current federal administration. During the first four months of this year, AIFA has handled 142,979 tons of goods, making it the air hub with the highest record nationwide.

It is worth noting that AIFA began air cargo operations just in the first quarter of last year.

The surge in cargo handled at AIFA has caused some “side effects.” The consulting firm CBRE recently stated that this airport has started to exert greater logistical influence on the industrial real estate market in its surroundings. So far in 2024, new developments (warehouse areas) have begun construction, with a growing presence in the emerging Zumpango-AIFA corridor.

National Report

The report from AFAC indicates that during the period from January to April of this year, air cargo in the country grew by 5.5% on a year-on-year basis, reaching 403,450.1 tons or 21,195.1 tons more than in the same period of 2023.

However, this growth was not seen at some airports. In this case, Querétaro decreased by 5.4%, Guadalajara by 4.6%, and Cancún by 4.2 percent.

At the national level, the movement of goods by air barely increased by 0.4%, according to the compared periods, rising from 123,363.5 tons to 123,845.1 tons. This result was influenced by a 75% drop on the Mexico-Guadalajara route.

Meanwhile, in international movement, there was an increase of 8%, ending the January-April period with 279,605 tons.

The route with the greatest decline was Memphis-Guadalajara, which ended the period with a year-on-year decrease of 33.8%.

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