Freight forwarding in Mexico is undergoing a quiet adjustment phase that contrasts sharply with the visible volatility of recent years. Far from the extraordinary peaks brought on by the pandemic, the market appears to have entered a stage where oversupply of capacity, weak consumption, and regulatory pressure are beginning to shape a more complex and less profitable environment for logistics intermediaries.

The clearest evidence lies in the industry’s performance during 2025. It was not a good year. The contraction in volumes and the pressure on margins affected even the most established players, in a context where supply growth—particularly in maritime transport—exceeded demand’s absorption capacity. “There was a slowdown; we saw a contraction at the industry level,” acknowledges Nicolás Portenza, CEO of Eternity Group Mexico , in an interview, describing a market that has yet to regain traction.

The problem is not temporary. The supply and demand equation has become unbalanced at a time when economies, especially in Latin America, are showing signs of weakness. The result is constant pressure on ocean freight rates , which continue to deteriorate, although without reaching critical levels. Shipping companies, more disciplined than in previous cycles, have managed to contain sharp declines through operational strategies, but the market remains far from a solid recovery.

In that adverse context, not all players performed equally. Eternity Group Mexico managed to weather the general market downturn and even close the year with positive numbers. “Having surpassed the previous year’s (2024) volumes was good, and we took great care of profitability,” Portenza points out, in an analysis that reveals a strategy more focused on operational discipline than aggressive expansion.

The outlook for 2026 is not particularly encouraging . Long-term contracts anticipate rates below those negotiated the previous year, while the spot market remains volatile, making planning difficult.

In this context, freight forwarders face a structural dilemma: compete on price or build value . The first option, while tempting in a depressed market, tends to erode margins in an industry where operating costs are increasingly difficult to absorb. The second, on the other hand, requires investment, sophistication, and a business narrative that the customer is willing to pay for.

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El cargo Logistics under pressure: the new game of forwarding apareció primero en T21.

A giant doesn’t arrive suddenly. It announces itself loudly, yes, but it settles in quietly. And in the case of DP World , its arrival in Mexico isn’t a sudden incursion, but rather a presence that has been developing its capabilities, refining its offering, and now, explicitly stating its ambition, for at least two years: to deploy a logistical footprint that transcends the traditional discourse of freight forwarding .

The company’s formal launch in the country, held yesterday, revealed more than just a commercial expansion. It was, essentially, the unveiling of a model that seeks to reshape the way the supply chain is structured , at a time when the logistics market is experiencing structural tension: volatile rates, a concentration of power in shipping companies, and increasing pressure on intermediaries’ margins.

“We are a logistics integrator that can basically integrate all services within the supply chain,” summarized Francia Páramo, general manager of Freight Forwarding in Mexico, outlining the starting point of a company that seeks to differentiate itself not through rhetoric, but through the depth of its assets.

That is precisely the central theme running through DP World’s entire narrative. It doesn’t present itself as just another player in the saturated freight forwarder ecosystem , but rather as a structure that combines physical infrastructure with operational capabilities on a global scale. The figure is revealing: “10% of international freight moves through our terminals,” stated Carla Montenegro, Commercial Vice President for the Americas, when illustrating the reach of a network that spans more than 80 countries and 126,000 employees.

But the data alone doesn’t explain the bet. What the company is trying to capitalize on is a deeper transformation of the sector. “International transport has become a stock market ,” Montenegro warned, describing an environment where prices respond to geopolitical variables, disruptions, and cycles that no longer return to normal after the pandemic.

In this context, the asset-light model that has historically defined freight forwarding is beginning to show its limitations. “ Forwarders , those without assets , continue to shrink,” he noted, in a significant observation: the pure intermediation business is losing ground to structures that control infrastructure and can absorb or mitigate volatility.

This is where DP World is trying to position itself . Its central argument is that vertical integration—terminals, maritime services, land transport, warehousing, and contract logistics—can translate into operational control and, consequently, certainty for the customer. This is no small promise in a market where, as the players themselves acknowledge, logistics budgets can easily “boil over.”

The scale of that infrastructure is part of the message. More than 79 port terminals , its own maritime operations on intra-regional routes, a dominant presence in Africa with 6,300 trucks, and logistical capabilities ranging from warehousing to specialized services for industries such as automotive and technology.

The example of the Jebel Ali port in Dubai serves as an operational metaphor for the model: a terminal that moves 20 million containers a year , surpassing complexes like Los Angeles-Long Beach, with highly automated operations. But beyond the data, what underlies it is a logic: control of critical nodes in the supply chain.

This logic also extends to the end customer. “We want to have a more strategic relationship with cargo owners,” Montenegro pointed out, implicitly acknowledging another market tension: the growing power of shipping companies , which “dictate prices and dictate the future of their products.”

The message is clear: DP World seeks to position itself as a counterweight in that equation, not through intermediation, but through infrastructure .

And in Aztec lands?

In Mexico, that ambition is beginning to take shape with a base that, although recent in its visibility, already has a certain degree of operational maturity. The company currently has five offices —Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Querétaro, and soon Puebla—and five warehouses located in Monterrey, Juárez, San Luis Potosí, Querétaro, and Puebla.

“We offer the full range of services, from land freight, ocean freight and air freight, to contract logistics ,” explained Luis Segura, commercial director in Mexico, describing an offering that replicates, on a local scale, the global integration model .

However, beyond the existing infrastructure, the discourse points toward what’s to come. “We have big expansion plans in Mexico (…) we are going to be very strong, not only in logistics, but also in port operations ,” Montenegro stated, hinting that the country is not a tactical market, but a strategic one within their global network.

The stakes are high. In an environment where Mexico is gaining relevance as a logistics hub due to nearshoring , but at the same time faces structural bottlenecks —overburdened ports, stricter customs, and uneven land infrastructure —the promise of logistics integration faces a complex reality.

Therefore, more than the arrival of a new player, what is being tested is the viability of a model : whether vertical integration and asset control can effectively translate into efficiency and resilience in a market like Mexico’s.

DP World doesn’t just discover that market . It comes to compete for it. And it does so with a clear narrative: in an increasingly fragmented and volatile supply chain, whoever controls the infrastructure will also control the rules of the game.

Comment and follow us on LinkedIn:  @Enrique Duarte Rionda  /  @GrupoT21

El cargo DP World enters the logistics battle in Mexico apareció primero en T21.

Grupo Aeroméxico was crowned the Mexican airline that transported the most cargo internationally during the first 10 months of the year , finishing the cycle with 88,131 tons, 3.5% more than the same period in 2024

According to the latest statistics from the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) , mas handled  64,205.85 tons in 2025 compared to 44,760 tons last year, that is, 43.5% more year-on-year.

Meanwhile, Avianca Cargo Mexico transported 19,895.85 tons from January to October of this year compared to 13,130 tons in the same period of 2024.

Viva (Viva Aerobus) also showed growth , with a 32.1% increase, handling 1,224.73 tons compared to the 927 tons year-over-year.  Estafeta and Volaris reported decreases of 4.8% and 25.5%, respectively.

In terms of international market share , Grupo Aeroméxico again obtained the first position with 49.7%; followed by Mas with 36.2%, and Avianca Cargo México with 11.2 percent.

AFAC indicated that from January to October 2025, Mexican airlines transported 177,228 tons, 19.6% more than in the same period of 2024 , when they moved 148,151 tons

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El cargo Grupo Aeroméxico leads international cargo in the first 10 months of the year apareció primero en T21.

Logistics is undergoing a transformation, and Fidum Logistics aims to be a key player in this process. The company, specializing in comprehensive logistics and freight forwarding services , has decided to invest heavily in artificial intelligence (AI) and automation .

Its goal is no small feat: to take chatbots beyond customer service and turn them into strategic allies for predicting shipping routes and accurately selecting shipping companies, as if they were a digital copilot capable of guiding shipments from Shanghai to Manzanillo.

“This digital transformation is a trend we must follow,” says Axel Fernández Gómez, the company’s Chief Commercial Officer. In his view, it’s not a threat to traditional operations, but rather a complement that amplifies human capabilities. “It allows us to analyze data with greater scope, be more efficient and precise, and avoid manual work. In addition, we reduce costs and errors, improve supply chain efficiency, and contribute to environmental protection,” he emphasized in an interview with T21.

The firm has been working for the past two years on the development and implementation of systems focused on various areas. One of these is risk management, in partnership with a specialized technology company.

To continue reading this article from T21 magazine’s October 2025 issue, please visit the digital version  by clicking here .

El cargo AI and logistics: the digital route of Fidum Logistics apareció primero en T21.

With the opening of a new office in Mexico City, DP World consolidated its expansion in North America and reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening integrated supply chains in the region.

This decision, according to Francia Páramo , Regional Freight Forwarding Branch Manager for Mexico at DP World , responds to a global strategy aimed at developing resilient commercial networks through investments in high-potential markets.

“Mexico is a key growth market, with a strategic geographic location and a solid industrial base. Our Mexico City office will serve as a hub to meet the growing demand for integrated logistics solutions,” Páramo told T21.

DP World’s commitment to Mexico is not new. The company already operates in strategic cities such as Guadalajara, Jalisco, and Monterrey , Nuevo León , and plans to continue expanding its footprint in industrial corridors such as Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, Ciudad Juárez, Puebla, and Tijuana.

Furthermore, although it does not currently manage ports in the country, it is actively evaluating new logistics opportunities and strategic alliances.

On the other hand, DP World seeks to position itself in Mexico not only as a supplier, but also as a strategic partner.

Its offering is based on integrated and scalable logistics solutions that encompass maritime, air, and land transportation, as well as warehousing, customs brokerage, and last-mile services, all supported by advanced digital tools.

“Smooth coordination between transportation modes, industry specialization, and real-time visibility allow us to offer faster, more flexible, and more reliable logistics,” Páramo noted.

In this regard, digitalization plays a key role. From real-time tracking to predictive analytics and automated customs processing, its platforms are designed to facilitate the management of complex supply chains and minimize cross-border risks.

Among the sectors that already use its services in Mexico are the automotive, electronics, industrial manufacturing, retail , and consumer goods industries , many of them driven by the nearshoring phenomenon (relocation of production lines).

“We offer fast and secure solutions for moving parts and finished vehicles between production centers in Mexico and assembly or distribution lines in the United States, facilitating just-in-time operations,” he explained.

DP World has also initiated the process of obtaining certification from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and is already an active member of the Mexican Association of Cargo Agents (Amacarga) .

These accreditations will strengthen its air cargo capacity and raise its standards of regulatory compliance and operational reach.

From DP World’s perspective, Mexican foreign trade has a promising future, driven by its integration with the United States and commercial diversification.

However, the company acknowledged persistent challenges in infrastructure, security and customs processes .

To address these challenges, it has deployed solutions such as inland logistics centers, digital visibility platforms, and partnerships with trusted operators.  It also implements strict security protocols and strategic routes to reduce risk exposure.

In the short and medium term, the firm plans to continue expanding its presence in Mexico, both in infrastructure and services.  It plans to develop new facilities, strengthen its air and ground cargo capabilities, and explore alliances or acquisitions that complement its offering.

“Mexico is a key component of our Pan-American strategy. From here, we connect operations in the United States , Central and South America, building a unified logistics corridor in the region,” Páramo emphasized.

With this expansion and strategic vision, DP World is positioning itself as a relevant player in the Mexican logistics ecosystem, integrating global capabilities with local knowledge and a digital focus to support its clients in a new era of regional trade.

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El cargo DP World consolidates its presence in Mexico with a comprehensive logistics strategy apareció primero en T21.