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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El cargo Roberto Meillón charts a new course at Amanac apareció primero en T21.

The Mexican Railway Association (AMF) predicted that the railroad industry will not see growth in freight movement by the end of this year , due to the impact of reduced activity in various sectors.

“While this has been a year in which we have noticed some slowdown in some segments, in others we have seen resilience and continued growth, and with this we hope to close out the year similar to 2024,” said Francisco Fabila, president of the AMF.

In an interview with the media at the  XXII ExpoRail , organized by the AMF, he reiterated that the impact is due to a general slowdown, not just the US tariff policy .

He noted that segments such as construction, steel, and cement have reported a decline in cargo movement within the country; however, intermodal and cross-border cargo have increased.

“This shows us that, tariffs or not, the dynamics at the border continue, specifically in intermodal freight. The region and supply chains are intertwined; today, the need for products whose inputs come from all three countries (Mexico, the United States, and Canada) continues. We continue to see the exchange,” he said.

Fabila also commented that they will be closely monitoring the review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) , primarily regarding border crossings and border security, as well as communication, efficiency, and standardization of processes and authorities.

“Much of what will be discussed impacts the railroad because it is the cargo that travels through this transport system, whether automotive or steel. Many of our users will have important points that will influence the negotiations, and we as a sector will be very attentive to the commercial aspect at border crossings and the border,” he emphasized.

In this regard, he commented that they are working with the Mexican National Customs Agency (ANAM) to identify the challenges faced at the various border crossings, as well as to implement best practices, such as joint inspections and international crews.

During the ExpoRail opening, Fabila said the sector is experiencing a period of strength , and has modernized its infrastructure with efficiency, technology, and regulatory standards from Canada and the United States.

He mentioned that the industry’s share of freight movement has doubled, reaching a historic record of 132 million tons in 2024 , and that investments totaling more than $15 billion have been made in fleet modernization, infrastructure renewal, and technology adoption.

“Railroads have been, continue to be, and will be a great ally of nearshoring , allowing Mexico to take full advantage of the relocation of production chains,” he noted.

For his part, Alejandro Malagón, president of the Confederation of Industrial Chambers (Concamin) , highlighted that the sector faces challenges such as insecurity, mainly due to the incidence of theft, although vandalism has decreased.

“The challenges are not obstacles, but rather pending tasks that we must address because the solution depends on the railroad and its continued competitiveness for decades to come,” he noted.

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El cargo Rail freight, no growth by 2025: AMF apareció primero en T21.

The Mexican railway sector will seek to be a consultative and collaborative entity for the federal government in passenger train projects, according to Francisco Fabila, recently appointed president of the Mexican Railway Association (AMF), who reiterated that this will be part of his agenda, along with six other actions.

“To be a permanent technical consultation tool for the new administration in the development of new passenger railway projects, to be seen as a consultative entity and an entity of permanent collaboration with the federal administration for the successful development of these projects,” he said.

In an interview with T21, he commented that the AMF has experience in both cargo and passenger railway projects, and also has national and international suppliers to serve as allies in the planned works.

“We have already been the consultation mechanism for the administration, but we want to position ourselves as that true consultation body for passenger projects. We have seen how this first stage of the extension of Lechería to the Felipe Ángeles International Airport was carried out, it was developed in a professional manner, they had very good suppliers, and it should not be different. Today, decisions are being made that are very similar to what has already been done and we are sure that they are the right ones,” he said.

He said that the AMF has consulting firms to carry out the necessary studies for passenger trains, so they will be attentive to any request, although he made it clear that as an association they are not participating.

Fabila said they will first meet with the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport (SICT) and the Railway Transport Regulatory Agency (ARTF) to discuss this and other issues.

Regarding the possibility of using freight routes for passenger transport, he said that the information they have from the government is that in order to prioritize safety, they will circulate on different routes.

“And as an association it is an extraordinary success, mainly for security reasons, and that is something that has come from the government itself. And we will be evaluating it in due time,” he said.

Regarding security in the sector, Francisco Fabila said that they will seek synergies with the different authorities and in immigration matters “we will also be on the lookout to collaborate and ensure greater fluidity.”

During the first seminar of the organization he heads, he also reiterated that he will promote and lobby for multimodal public policies that allow for an increase in the participation of the railroad in land freight; in addition to collaborating with the different authorities in terms of security and outsiders seeking to get on the train.

Likewise, transforming the AMF into a true “think tank” that can focus on regulatory improvement for all sectors, “where we can increase efficiency through governmental and operational improvements to generate greater fluidity in industrial zones and strategic points.”

Likewise, the development of an agenda that generates value for passengers and suppliers, and promoting safety campaigns “and being spokespersons for the importance of urban-railway coexistence.”

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El cargo AMF Will Seek Greater Involvement in Mexico’s Government Railway Projects apareció primero en T21.

The Mexican Railway Association (AMF) announced on Friday that Vianey De la Mora García was its new general director, as Iker de Luisa, who held that position for almost 12 years, will take on other professional challenges.

“Vianey has extensive experience acquired during a long railway career in the public and private sectors. Her technical knowledge and proven ability are what we need in the sector. It is time for women,” said Francisco Fabila, president of the organization.

During the AMF’s first meeting of the year, Fabila said that De la Mora García has the capacity to face the sector’s upcoming challenges.

Vianey de la Mora has extensive experience in infrastructure, as well as in the railway sector in both the public and private spheres. She was General Director of Railway Regulation at the Railway Transport Regulatory Agency (ARTF) , Project Manager at Cal y Mayor y Asociados , as well as Project Control Engineer at Grupo México, and has also worked for companies such as Siemens and Autónomo. She becomes the first woman to assume this position.

She is an architect from the Intercontinental University and has a Master’s Degree in Projects from the Technological University of Mexico.

“For 20 years, the AMF has been an important pillar for the Mexican railway sector. This has been driven by the tireless efforts of those who preceded me, of all members and of all collaborators who dedicate their talent and passion to make it possible,” said the new director.

De la Mora said that this will be a new stage in the history of the AMF, “a disruptive moment and, yes, it is time for women.”

Francisco Fabila thanked Iker de Luisa, who will take on professional challenges in Europe . However, he assured that by joining the AMF they will be a fundamental piece in the history of the North American railway sector in the last two decades.

“It is necessary to recognize that in the railway sector, the image, promotion and how we are seen abroad, there is a before and after the lobbying work of almost 12 years by Iker de Luisa,” he said.

De Luisa expressed her gratitude and explained that during her almost 12 years as head of the AMF she carried out various tasks such as media relations, government and legislative relations, among other issues.

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El cargo It’s Time for Women in the Mexican Association of Railroads; Vianey De la Mora Appointed New General Director apareció primero en T21.

Francisco Fabila is a man who has committed to growing the activities and freight service on the railroad tracks in Mexico and from different trenches, the same ones that have recently taken him to a peak where he will be able to contribute more to this sector. 

Since 2020, it has joined the ranks of Ferrocarril y Terminal del Valle de México, better known as Ferrovalle, a strategic logistics enclave for Mexico City and its surroundings. 

From there, merchandise is received or sent to literally all over the country. But Fabila’s vision has been to cross borders and also encourage connections with the United States and Canada, Mexico’s two largest trading partners. 

At any conference or public event, he makes his vision evident, but also his affection for the work done . “Proud to be part of the extraordinary team that for 26 years has managed to position itself as the most important logistics hub in Mexico , acting as a driver of growth and development of new opportunities .” 

In the past, he has also held strategic positions in different companies or private organizations related to the Mexican railroad. He was in Corporate Affairs at Kansas City Southern, a company that merged in 2023 with Canadian Pacific, creating Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) . 

He was also president of the Government Affairs Commission of the Mexican Railway Association (AMF) , vice president of the American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico and is a member of the Council of the International Chamber of Commerce of Mexico .

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El cargo Francisco Fabila: Youth and Experience on Track apareció primero en T21.

The Board of the Mexican Railway Association (AMF) elected Francisco Fabila Rubio, current general manager of the Railroad and Terminal of the Valley of Mexico (Ferrovalle) , as its new president.

After two years at the helm of the AMF, Oscar Del Cueto, president of Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) of Mexico, is leaving the presidency of the organization.

During the Assembly session of the organization, the change of president took place, for which Francisco Fabila thanked the Council for the trust placed in him to assume this responsibility.

The new president announced that during his term he will develop a cross-cutting agenda with the Government of Mexico in favor of better interaction in development and growth plans at the federal, state and municipal levels with the intention of acting as a technical consulting body.

In addition, in terms of safety and good practices in terms of railway assets and operations , as well as in a modal transition that favours increasing the railway’s participation in the land freight market.

Also in full collaboration with the strategic passenger train projects and continuing to strengthen the institutional relationship with the different chambers and business associations.

“The objective is clear: to continue being an active player in the country’s decision-making,” Fabila said.

It is worth mentioning that the announcement of the change of management of the AMF is also expected , which is currently headed by Iker de Luisa, who has been at the head of the institution for just over 11 years, and that sources consulted by T21 confirm that such a change will take place.

Oscar Del Cueto, the outgoing president of the organization, acknowledged and thanked Iker de Luisa for his support and leadership throughout these two years that he was at the head of the AMF.

“They were fundamental in guiding the work and setting the roadmap. I enthusiastically pass the baton to Francisco Fabila, new blood, whose drive will be decisive in exploiting the development potential of the association in the national context where the railroad is the center of infrastructure and economic development plans in North America,” he said.

It is worth remembering that Francisco Fabila was named “Logistics Entrepreneur of the Year” last March by Grupo T21, for the actions carried out that resulted in growth in his operations in terms of billing and operation.

The above, because  during 2023 they directed more than 500 million pesos in equipment, infrastructure and technology .

This allowed the inauguration of the  automotive terminal , being an alternative to the supply chain problems faced in the automotive industry.

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El cargo Francisco Fabila, New President of the Mexican Association of Railroads apareció primero en T21.