Revenues in the storage services subsector amounted to  9.616 billion pesos (mdp) during May 2026, representing a slight increase of 0.87% compared to last April, when they totaled 9.533 billion pesos, according to statistics from the Manufacturing, Maquiladora and Export Services Industry (IMMEX) program, prepared by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) .

According to the report, in the fifth month of the year there were  233  establishments registered  in that subsector, and the number of people employed was 14,765 , a drop of 1.28% compared to April 2016.

Meanwhile, hours worked in May totaled 2,700 , representing a monthly decrease of 5.42 percent.  Average wages for workers in this subsector, who were directly employed by the company, reached 31,434 pesos per person, 0.47% less than in April.

Overall, in May 2026, the revenues of establishments participating in the IMMEX program totaled 693,939 million pesos , representing a slight increase of 0.40% compared to the same month of the previous year, when they totaled 691,123 million pesos. Of the total, 59.7% corresponded to revenues from the foreign market, reflecting the sector’s dependence on international demand.

With seasonally adjusted figures, in May of this year there were  6,520  establishments registered in the IMMEX program : 5,221 carried out manufacturing activities and the rest activities related to agriculture, fishing, commerce and services.

Baja California had the highest number of establishments (17.3%). It was followed by Nuevo León (13.8%), Chihuahua (9.3%), Coahuila (7.1%), Guanajuato (6.5%), Jalisco (6.4%) and Tamaulipas (6.2%).

Meanwhile, the number of employed personnel showed no change on a monthly basis, while in its annual measurement, jobs fell by 1.5 percent.

Hours worked fell 0.2% month-on-month and 1.4% year-on-year.

In May 2026, average real wages grew 1.1% monthly and showed an annual increase of 5.8%, representing an improvement in the income of workers in the sector.

By subsector, the manufacture of transport equipment  had the highest revenue, with 263,900 million pesos.

According to the results from May 2026, although the income of IMMEX establishments registered an annual increase, jobs and hours worked showed declines in their annual measurement; however, wages improved.

These figures come in a context where Mexican international trade has performed well. In May 2026 alone , the country’s exports totaled US$69.544 billion , representing a 25.4% increase compared to the same month in 2025, according to INEGI (Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography).

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El cargo Storage service revenues grow in May apareció primero en T21.

The positive trend shown by trade between Mexico and the United States in recent months continued in May 2026, when the country’s exports to the United States totaled 54,179.6 million dollars (USD) , a growth of 17.5% compared to the same period in 2025, according to figures from the  US Census Bureau .

This represents a record for Mexican goods shipped to the United States since records began, a result of the country’s preferential access to the U.S. market. Mexico’s main exports to the United States are computers, televisions, vehicles, auto parts, electrical equipment, machinery, and other manufactured goods.

Meanwhile, Canada totaled $36,337.2 million , representing a 21.2% year-on-year increase; while China exported goods to the United States worth $23,507.8 million , 15% more than in May 2025, according to an analysis by  T21 Business Intelligence .

The figures for Canada and China last May represented a rebound after a period of fluctuations. Canada’s recovery is explained by sales to the United States of crude oil, vehicles, auto parts, machinery, and equipment; while China’s recovery is mainly due to technological products, driven by the demand generated by artificial intelligence.

Meanwhile, total trade between Mexico and the United States reached $87.23 billion in May, a 17.4% increase compared to May 2015. Canada’s trade totaled $66.128 billion, representing a 13.5% increase over the same period last year. China’s trade reached $32.6252 billion, a 21.2% year-on-year increase.

In the cumulative period from January to May 2026, Mexico totaled $404,566.5 million , Canada totaled $307,479.3 million, and China $150,060.7 million.

In terms of imports, Mexico purchased US goods worth $33.05 billion in May 2026, a 17.4% increase compared to May 2025. Canada registered $29.79 billion, a 5.3% increase over the same month last year. During the same period, China imported US products worth $9.117 billion, 40.7% more than in May 2025.

In May 2026, Mexico reaffirmed its leadership in trade with the United States , positioning itself as the largest supplier of goods to the United States and as the main buyer of products from its northern neighbor.

The above reflects the integration of Mexican foreign trade in the North American region, despite the fact that the occupant of the White House, Donald Trump, has shown his disagreement with the Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada (USMCA) , which he has decided to review annually instead of extending for 16 years.

The uncertainty generated by the new provisions of the USMCA based on the annual evaluations will impact the country’s trucking and logistics sectors , given that these sectors require investments in tractor-trailers, trailers, distribution centers, intermodal terminals, and technology.

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El cargo Mexico consolidates its trade position with the US during May apareció primero en T21.

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) began operations of its new regular PAMEX service at the Grupo CICE Semi-Specialized Container and Project Cargo Terminal , located in the North Bay of the Port of Veracruz.

The service officially began on July 4th with the docking of the MSC KEY F vessel , marking the start of a weekly containerized cargo operation aimed at serving import and export markets.

According to information released by Grupo CICE , the PAMEX service will initially consist of the ships MSC KEY F and MSC NORDEROOG , and includes four weekly calls that will strategically connect the ports of Veracruz, Altamira and Cristóbal, with the aim of expanding logistical options for foreign trade.

The addition of this service strengthens the maritime connectivity of the Port of Veracruz and expands the range of services offered by the Grupo CICE terminal in the North Bay to support foreign trade operations.

Grupo CICE stated that the incorporation of the PAMEX service is part of its strategy to strengthen port infrastructure and services, as well as maintain alliances with international shipping lines operating in Mexico.

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El cargo Mediterranean Shipping Company incorporates PAMEX service at Grupo CICE terminal in Veracruz apareció primero en T21.

The continued growth in Mexican manufacturing exports is also increasing pressure on companies’ working capital. In May 2026, exports of manufactured goods grew 25.1% year-on-year, but the long payment cycles of international trade represent one of the main challenges for manufacturers to sustain their operations and meet demand, according to Mundi , a company specializing in international trade finance.

According to Mexico’s Merchandise Trade Balance , prepared by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) , exports of manufactured products reached 62 billion 990 million dollars (mdd) in the fifth month of the year, consolidating itself as the main component of Mexican sales abroad.

In this context, Mundi pointed out that the increased export dynamism also increases the need for working capital among manufacturing companies to meet new orders without affecting their operations .

However, this growth does not eliminate one of the main challenges for companies in the sector: maintaining sufficient liquidity to finance the purchase of inputs , production and payroll while waiting for payment for their exports, whose cycles can extend up to 180 days.

“The manufacturing sector in Mexico has world-class technical capabilities that compete globally. All this at a time when payment cycles can extend up to 180 days and bank credit for foreign trade operations remains limited for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs),” said Carlos Missirian, VP Business Development at Mundi.

An example of this need for liquidity is  Dincosa , a company located in Chihuahua dedicated to the manufacture of bolted structures, mechanical equipment and specialized sheet metal for the mining, oil and gas, processing industry and data center sectors, which exports to the United States, Central America and Asia.

Alejandro Hernández, general manager of Dincosa, explained that several months can pass between receiving a purchase order and receiving payment, a period during which the company must continue acquiring materials, producing and covering its operating costs.

“During that time we need to continue buying supplies, producing and paying payroll,” Hernández stressed.

This scenario shows that export growth depends not only on international demand but also on companies’ financial capacity to sustain operations while completing their payment collection processes . For manufacturers, having timely access to working capital can mean the difference between fulfilling new orders or limiting their growth due to a lack of liquidity.

In this context, timely access to working capital is emerging as a key factor for manufacturing companies to take advantage of the growth in international demand without compromising their operations.

Having liquidity to finance inputs, production and delivery times will be key for more manufacturers to maintain their competitiveness and expand their presence in export markets.

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El cargo Liquidity, the challenge behind the manufacturing export boom apareció primero en T21.

In May 2026, Mexican exports totaled 69 billion 544 million dollars (USD) , which represented an increase of 25.4% compared to the same month of 2025, according to the Mexican Merchandise Trade Balance (BCMM), prepared by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) .

Meanwhile,  the trade balance showed a surplus of $2.259 billion , compared to $4.520 billion in April.

“The reduction in the trade surplus between April and May originated from a smaller surplus in the non-oil trade balance, since the deficit in the oil trade balance remained at a similar level in that same comparison,” Inegi noted.

Export performance

The increase in Mexican exports stemmed from a 25.6% rise in non-oil exports and an 18% increase in oil exports. Within non-oil exports, those destined for the United States increased by 27.2% year-on-year, while those destined for the rest of the world rose by 17.7% annually.

In the fifth month of 2026,  the value of exports of manufactured products was 62 billion 99 billion dollars , representing an increase of 25.1% year-on-year.

The most significant advances were observed in exports of machinery and special equipment for various industries (98.1%), mining and metallurgy products (47.2%), electrical and electronic equipment and apparatus (13.8%), plastic and rubber products (4.3%) and food, beverages and tobacco (4.2%).

Meanwhile, exports of automotive products showed an annual drop of 2.2% , which resulted from a 3.5% decrease in sales channeled to the United States and a 5.7% increase in those directed to other markets.

In May 2026,  the value of agricultural and fisheries exports was US$1.997 billion , representing a 2.2 percent year-on-year increase. The most significant year-on-year growth was recorded in exports of grapes and raisins (65.4%), tomatoes (45.2%), and fresh vegetables and legumes (28.4%).

In the first five months of this year, the structure of the value of merchandise exports was manufactured goods 91%, agricultural goods 3.2%, non-oil extractive products 3%, and oil products 2.8 percent.

Imports are on the rise 

In May 2026,  the value of merchandise imports was $67.285  billion , representing an annual growth of 24 percent.

In the month under comparison, imports of  consumer goods  totaled $8.305 billion, a year-on-year increase of 6.5 percent. Meanwhile, imports  of intermediate goods  reached $54.314 billion, 29.8% higher than the figure reported in May 2025.

Imports  of capital goods  reached 4.667 billion dollars, which implied an annual increase of 1.6 percent.

In the period January-May 2026, the structure of the value of imports was intermediate goods 80.1%, consumer goods 12.6%, and capital goods 7.3 percent.

According to the BCMM results, Mexican foreign trade figures, especially exports, reveal the dynamism that the country has in the North American economy, although on several occasions the President of the United States, Donald Trump, has rejected the entry of Mexican products into the United States.

Just last June 10, Trump reiterated his threats not to continue with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) .

“I don’t know if I’m going to renew it because, to be honest, the United States is doing much better. We don’t need anything that Canada has, we don’t need anything that Mexico has, but they need everything we have and they have to treat us better,” the White House occupant stated.

Meanwhile, the negotiating teams from the three USMCA countries are preparing for the review of this trade agreement.

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El cargo Unstoppable! Mexican exports accelerate in May apareció primero en T21.

In the first half of 2026, the performance of logistics chains showed signs of recovery and growth, driven mainly by domestic consumption and the favorable expectations generated by the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as noted by Diego Casares Zambrano, Warehouse and Commercial Manager of Work One Solutions , a company specializing in comprehensive logistics solutions in North America.

According to Casares, in 2025 commercial and economic uncertainty caused various productive sectors to remain cautious in their operations ; however, so far this year there is a greater willingness to invest and develop new projects, which has resulted in a positive first half of 2026 for the company.

One of the sectors that has driven logistics activity during this period has been consumption. In an interview with T21, he explained that the increased demand for products related to the World Cup has generated greater movement of goods in import, storage, and distribution processes within the country.

This dynamism has been particularly evident in categories such as household appliances, electronics, and clothing . For logistics companies, this has meant greater operational capacity requirements in distribution centers and ground transportation.

Although a moderation in consumption is expected during the second half of the year, Casares Zambrano considered that the flow of tourists and goods generated by the World Cup held between Mexico, the United States and Canada will continue to boost regional logistics activity.

According to the Ministry of Tourism (Sectur) , the 2026 World Cup will attract 5.5 million visitors and generate an economic impact of more than 60 billion pesos (mdp), which will increase the demand for logistics, transportation and distribution services in Mexico.

Beyond consumption, the sector’s focus is on strategic industries such as automotive and export manufacturing . These segments remain pillars of Mexican logistics due to their close relationship with the U.S. market and the need for efficient cross-border operations.

According to the executive, increased US consumption could translate into greater demand for Mexican exports, especially in the automotive sector. This would strengthen transportation, warehousing, and customs services related to foreign trade

According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) , in the period  January-May 2026, 1,388,236 light vehicles were sent abroad , which meant an increase of 4% compared to the same period last year.

However, much of the growth outlook hinges on the renegotiation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) . Casares noted that the industry needs long-term certainty so that projects currently under analysis and pricing can materialize into concrete investments in the coming months.

The combination of a more dynamic domestic market, greater regional integration, and a stable trading environment will be the foundation for a strong finish to 2026 and a favorable start to 2027. In this scenario, logistics chains will continue to play a strategic role in connecting production, trade, and consumption in North America .

“We are closing the first half of 2026 with the conviction that major logistics projects reflect business confidence,” concluded Diego Casares.

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El cargo Global and domestic consumption drive the storage and distribution of goods in Mexico apareció primero en T21.

Mexico reaffirmed its position as the largest supplier of goods to the United States and became the top buyer of US products in April 2026. Meanwhile, Canada saw an increase in its trade with its northern neighbor, while China experienced a decline.

According to figures from the  US Census Bureau , trade between Mexico and the United States was $86,035.5 million in the fourth month of the year, a growth of 23.6% compared to April 2025.

Canada and China showed contrasting figures . While the North American country showed a 14.6% increase in April 2026 with $64,769.2 million, China, which ranked fourth, registered a 12.7% year-on-year contraction, with a total traded value of $29,184.3 million, according to an analysis by T21 Business Intelligence .

In the first four months of 2026 (January-April),  Mexico performed well in trade with the United States, totaling $317,336.1 million . Canada’s trade reached $240,895.3 million and China’s $117,435.6 million.

As for exports, Mexico sent goods to its northern neighbor worth $50.692 billion in April 2026 , an increase of 21.1% compared to the same month in 2025.

Canada exported goods to the United States worth $35.0281 billion, a 20.3% year-over-year increase. China shipped products to its northern neighbor worth $19.7892 billion, representing a 21.8% decrease compared to the same month in 2015.

Regarding imports, Mexico purchased US goods worth $35.3435 billion in April 2026, a 27.3% year-over-year increase. Canada’s imports totaled $29.7411 billion, an 8.5% increase compared to the same month last year. During the same period, China imported US goods worth $9.3951 billion, 16.1% more than in April 2025.

Trade between Mexico and the United States continued to perform well in April 2026, reflecting the positive trend in Mexican foreign trade, even in times of uncertainty.

These figures come amid repeated threats from US President Donald Trump not to continue with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

“I don’t know if I’m going to renew it because, to be honest, the United States is doing much better,” Trump said on June 10, while declaring that “we don’t need anything that Canada has, we don’t need anything that Mexico has, but they need everything that we have, and they have to treat us better.”

However, trade figures between Mexico and the United States contradict Trump’s claims. Meanwhile, authorities from both countries are on the verge of reviewing the USMCA.

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El cargo Mexican exports to the US in April contradict Trump apareció primero en T21.

LEÓN, GTO.- New foreign trade rules are changing the way the automotive industry operates in Mexico, marked by a more demanding customs environment where compliance, traceability and auditing have become central elements for the competitiveness of this sector, one of the most important in the country.

During the panel “Playing under new rules: customs reform and logistics competitiveness”, held at the second edition of the Road 2 Logistics Automotive 2026 of the Industrial Cluster , Gimena León, Industrial Services Procurement Coordinator of Pirelli Mexico, warned that it is no longer enough to know the regulatory changes, but that organizations must translate them into procedures, responsibilities and control systems that allow them to maintain operational continuity in the face of stricter oversight.

“The challenge is to translate that change into processes, times, movements and the definition of responsibilities within the organization,” León emphasized.

In her remarks, she explained that the reform to the Customs Law, which came into effect in 2026, is driving the digitization of processes and greater integration between corporate systems and government platforms . She also highlighted that authorities are using data analytics tools and artificial intelligence (AI) to strengthen audits and detect inconsistencies in foreign trade operations.

One of the panel’s main messages was that any non-compliance can become a logistical problem . An additional review, an incorrect tariff classification, or a documentation error could lead to delays, storage costs, and even halt the flow of materials to the production lines.

This issue becomes even more relevant in an industry that relies on highly integrated supply chains. Mexico maintains a strategic position within the North American automotive sector. In 2025 alone, 3,953,494 vehicles were produced and 3,385,785 units were exported, according to figures from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) .

During the panel, it was highlighted that regulatory pressure is also forcing companies to review the regional content of their products and their certificates of origin. Traceability has ceased to be a competitive advantage and has become an essential requirement for accessing the trade benefits of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) .

In that regard, Ramón Ruvalcaba, Supply Chain Director at Kasai Mexicana , agreed on the point about digitalization and modernization, and considered that given the high dependence on foreign inputs, the focus should be on regional content.

“We must focus on adding regional content and mastering the rules to minimize costs, because any impact goes directly to the market. So, as long as we remain in this situation, with this dependence on foreign countries, we have to work hard on regional content, on adding value in assembly and manufacturing,” he emphasized.

Participants felt that companies are no longer just looking for suppliers capable of delivering on time, but for partners who can demonstrate documentary compliance, responsiveness, and transparency in the origin of their inputs .

Another point addressed was the increase in customs inspection times. According to Gimena León, processes that previously could be completed in 24 or 48 hours now face more detailed reviews related to the value, tariff classification, and origin of the goods, extending the time to more than 48 hours. This has led several companies to increase safety stock levels to avoid production interruptions.

The expert indicated that maintaining larger inventories adds more costs. In addition to tied-up capital, companies must absorb expenses related to storage, delays, and potential penalties. Therefore, visibility across the logistics chain becomes a determining factor in balancing compliance and efficiency.

The panelists also agreed that foreign trade can no longer be handled solely by a specialized department. Finance, purchasing, logistics, production, legal, and foreign trade must all work under a unified strategy .

In this context, Francisco Méndez Aguiñaga, director general of the Bajío region’s Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade, Investment and Technology (Comce) , stated that foreign trade has already changed, and therefore, past procedures are no longer sufficient for the present and future. Given this, he urged the strengthening of processes through the integration of different departments .

The importance of strengthening these capabilities is reflected in the current economic context. According to the National Customs Agency of Mexico (ANAM) , in 2025, customs revenue registered a real increase of 15.5% compared to the same period in 2024, totaling a cash flow of 1,449,461.35 million pesos.

The panel discussed the challenge facing the automotive industry in maintaining agile supply chains in an increasingly complex regulatory environment.

The conclusion was clear: competitiveness will not depend solely on producing more or reducing costs . The ability to integrate information, guarantee compliance, and ensure the continuity of supply chains will determine which companies manage to adapt to the new rules of international trade.

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El cargo Customs reform and its impact on the automotive logistics chain apareció primero en T21.

The review of the United States – Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) could extend for at least two more years and result in annual evaluations until 2028 before reaching a final agreement, estimated Paulina Anciola, deputy director of Economic Studies at Banamex .

During a discussion organized by Mundi , the specialist explained that the agreement includes a review in July 2026, at which time the three countries will have to decide whether to extend its validity for another 16 years. However, there is also the possibility of maintaining annual reviews while negotiations continue.

“There are about three possible scenarios regarding this review. The first would be that on July 1st, all three parties say, ‘we agree,’ and the treaty is extended for another 16 years. That’s what we think is unlikely to happen,” he noted.

Anciola explained that the second scenario would be that one of the countries decides to abandon the agreement , while the third contemplates successive annual reviews in case the parties do not reach a consensus on the future of the treaty.

“What we see right now as the most likely scenario from Banamex is annual reviews, at least until 2028,” he stated.

The economist explained that this mechanism could remain in place for up to 10 years as long as the three trading partners remain within the agreement. If there is no consensus at the end of that period, the treaty would expire .

According to Banamex, the uncertainty associated with the review process will remain present in the coming years, although investors have begun to adapt to a more complex decision-making environment.

Anciola believes that an automatic renewal in 2026 looks complicated due to the pressure exerted by the United States, since the discussion of the agreement is no longer limited to trade issues.

“Everyone was already expecting that it would be very difficult to have a clean review on July 1st and that it would be automatically renewed because of all the pressure we have seen from the United States, not only on trade issues, but it is now mixed with security issues, with migration issues, with trade issues,” he commented.

The specialist added that the administration of Donald Trump, President of the United States, could use the review process as a tool for political and commercial pressure on various fronts, so the uncertainty surrounding the agreement could extend beyond 2026.

“We believe that the review of the USMCA will be a process, not an event,” he concluded.

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El cargo Banamex anticipates annual reviews of the USMCA until 2028 apareció primero en T21.

In light of the review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) , the National Agency of Automotive Sector Suppliers (Anapsa) raised the need for Mexico to promote the signing of “parallel letters” that would protect heavy and light vehicles and auto parts from possible tariff measures by the United States.

Alberto Bustamante, president of Anapsa, explained that the automotive industry is once again at the center of North American trade discussions due to its importance in the trade between Mexico and the United States.

The executive noted that the sector represents approximately 5% of the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 24% of the manufacturing GDP, so any modification to trade rules would have significant repercussions for the Mexican economy.

“Difficult times are coming, the issue is that a good negotiation has to be done,” he stated during a discussion organized by Mundi .

Although Anapsa has already presented the proposal to the Ministry of Economy (SE) , Bustamante indicated that so far they have not received a response regarding the possibility of incorporating parallel letters or a similar scheme that would help protect the industry from potential tariff measures by the United States.

He also warned that one of the proposals currently under discussion includes raising the “regional content value of vehicles ,” as well as incorporating a requirement that 50% of said content must come from the United States.

Bustamante explained that the regional content value corresponds to the percentage of components, materials and manufacturing processes that a vehicle incorporates from North America to access the tariff benefits of the USMCA.

Currently the requirement is 75%, but the proposal would raise that percentage to 85% and add a specific minimum share of content produced in the United States.

“There is an increase in the value of regional content, which now includes US content that is not currently available,” he commented.

The representative of Anapsa indicated that the organization stated that it is a priority to avoid establishing mandatory percentages of national content for any of the three member countries of the trade agreement, considering that this could alter the productive integration that currently exists in the region.

He argued that the review of the USMCA is taking place in a different context than originally planned and that, in practice, it has evolved into a renegotiation driven by the trade policies of the administration of Donald Trump, President of the United States.

According to the business leader, the outcome of the negotiations will be decisive for an industry that currently produces around 4.2 million light vehicles per year in Mexico and whose auto parts chain exceeds 120 billion dollars in annual production.

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El cargo Anapsa calls for protecting the automotive sector with parallel letters ahead of the USMCA review apareció primero en T21.