SAN PEDRO GARZA GARCÍA, NL – Energy capacity has become one of the factors limiting industrial expansion in Mexico. Although the country has electricity generation capacity , limitations in transmission and distribution networks make it difficult for energy to reach industrial centers in a timely manner, which can hinder investment, delay projects, and jeopardize the arrival of new businesses.

During the conference “Energy Capacity: From Bottleneck to Competitive Advantage” , at the 51st National Index Convention of the National Council of the Maquiladora and Export Manufacturing Industry (Index Nacional) , Monte Mickle, CEO of M2 Energy , warned that the main challenge for companies is not necessarily in producing electricity, but in having the infrastructure that allows it to reach their facilities.

The executive explained that this problem is already having repercussions in different regions of the country, particularly in manufacturing corridors and industrial parks linked to export activity, where some companies are facing difficulties in obtaining the necessary electrical capacity to expand their operations.

“The problem is how to deliver this energy. The problem lies with the transmission and distribution networks,” Mickle pointed out, explaining that having an industrial building does not guarantee that a company can begin operating if it does not have the required electricity supply.

This situation also alters investment decisions. Previously, companies first sought to acquire land, a building, or a client, and then addressed their energy needs. However, given the current restrictions, Mickle believes that electrical planning must be incorporated from the earliest stages of any expansion project .

The challenge takes on added relevance in a context where Mexico seeks to take advantage of North American productive integration and attract new manufacturing investments.

Mickle noted that US, European, and Asian companies considering setting up operations in the country already consider energy availability among their top priorities, along with delivery times for industrial facilities.

In that sense, he put the problem into perspective by sharing that 91% of the country’s companies experienced some type of power outage in the last 12 months .

The problems are concentrated in northern Mexican states such as Nuevo León, Chihuahua, Tamaulipas, Sonora and Baja California, areas of high maquiladora activity.

These incidents not only represent supply failures, but also a risk to the continuity of industrial operations, as they can cause production delays, delivery failures and disruptions to business activity .

According to the Mexican Association of Private Industrial Parks (AMPIP) , the 477 parks currently operating in the country require an installed capacity of 17,708 megawatts (MW) , while the 103 parks under construction will demand another 3,456 MW between 2026 and 2029.

The executive also questioned why the resources allocated to the electricity sector don’t necessarily translate into solutions for industrial users. He explained that a significant portion of the announced projects and budgets are focused on generation, while the most pressing needs of companies are related to transmission and distribution .

According to the specialist, waiting times to obtain a connection or expand capacity exceed 18 months in several corridors, and the delivery of equipment such as transformers can take up to 36 months.

Another point highlighted at the event was the growth of data centers , whose electricity demand is beginning to compete with that of industrial parks and manufacturing plants for available capacity in transmission networks.

Some data center facilities require around 100 MW, while a substation serving an industrial park of approximately 30,000 square meters can handle between 30 and 50 MW, Mickle explained.

The difference reflects the scale of data center requirements, driven by information storage, cloud services, and the development of artificial intelligence. Furthermore, these projects have significant financial resources to ensure their energy capacity, which intensifies competition for available connections.

Market figures support the scale of this demand. According to the Mexican Data Center Association (MEXDC) , Mexico has 279 MW of installed data center capacity, another 205 MW are under construction during 2026, and the sector’s requirements could reach 1.73 gigawatts (GW) by 2031.

This growth presents an additional challenge for the manufacturing industry, as both sectors require electrical infrastructure to realize their expansion plans. In this regard, Mickle believes that companies must anticipate their energy needs and not wait for public infrastructure projects to meet their requirements.

Self-consumption and planning, alternatives for the industry

Given this scenario, the executive suggested that companies should evaluate schemes that complement conventional supply, including cogeneration, gas-fired generation systems, solar panels, and storage batteries.

He cited as an example the model used by some data centers, which combine grid power supply with on-site generation to provide redundancy and reduce the risk of outages.

According to Mickle, these types of alternatives can also be part of the strategy of industrial parks and manufacturing companies , provided that the needs of each facility and the technical and economic viability of the solutions are analyzed.

He also recommended that companies review their current energy consumption, the power factor of their facilities, and their projected electricity requirements for the coming years. In some cases, he said, making adjustments can allow them to make better use of existing capacity without relying exclusively on new connections.

“We need to think about 2030. Right now,” he said, insisting that companies must incorporate energy investments into their budgets and growth plans now, instead of waiting until a new expansion materializes.

Mickle recommended reducing dependence on the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) and taking advantage of alternatives such as self-consumption, allowed up to 20 MW, as well as the transfer of capacity from substations with surpluses.

On June 24, the federal government announced an electricity expansion plan that will allocate 739 billion pesos (mdp) to add 32,000 MW of generation capacity to the National Electric System before the end of the six-year term in 2030, of which 70% will come from renewable sources such as photovoltaic solar, wind, solar thermal, geothermal and hydroelectric.

Comment and follow us on LinkedIn:  @Humberto Cruz Moya  / @GrupoT21

El cargo Saturation in the electrical grid limits industrial expansion in Mexico: M2 Energy apareció primero en T21.

In August 2026, storage services in Mexico generated revenues of 10 billion 059 million pesos (mdp) , which meant an increase of 1.8% compared to last July, when they totaled 9 billion 877 million pesos, according to the statistics of 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 eighth month of the year there were  236 establishments registered  in that subsector, and the  number of people employed  was 15,471, an increase of 3.9% compared to July 2016.

Meanwhile, the total  hours worked  in August reached 2,943, representing a monthly increase of 1.2 percent.  Average wages for workers in this subsector, who were directly employed by the company, reached 32,405 pesos per person, 3.6% higher than in July.

Overall, in August 2026, the revenues of establishments participating in the IMMEX program totaled 693,315 million  pesos , representing a slight increase of 3.2% compared to the same month last year, when they were 671,725 ​​million pesos. Of the total, 58.5% corresponded to revenues from the foreign market.

With seasonally adjusted figures, in the eighth month of this year there were  6,465  establishments registered in the IMMEX program : 5,165 carried out manufacturing activities and the rest activities related to agriculture, fishing, commerce and services.

Baja California had the highest number of establishments (17% of the total). It was followed by Nuevo León (14.1%), Chihuahua (9.3%), Coahuila (7.3%), Guanajuato and Jalisco (6.4% each), and Tamaulipas (6.2%).

The number of people employed in establishments with the IMMEX program showed a drop of 0.1% on a monthly basis, while in its annual measurement, jobs increased by 0.1 percent.

Hours worked fell 0.1% month-on-month and rose 0.1% year-on-year. Meanwhile, average real wages declined 0.2% month-on-month but increased 4.2% year-on-year.

By subsector, the manufacture of transport equipment  had the highest income, with 248,349 million pesos.

The behavior of IMMEX establishments is relevant to logistics because these units are part of the operations linked to manufacturing and foreign trade. In this context, warehousing is a crucial link for safeguarding goods and supporting the flow of inputs and finished products between plants, distribution centers, and markets.

Data from August 2026 shows IMMEX activity that retains a strong export component and sustains demand for services linked to the supply chain.

Comment and follow us on LinkedIn:  @GrupoT21

El cargo This is how storage services fared in August apareció primero en T21.

Revenues in the storage services subsector amounted to 9.877 billion pesos (mdp) during July 2026 , representing a slight increase of 0.97% compared to last June, when they totaled 9.782 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 seventh month of the year there were  234 establishments registered  in that subsector, and the  number of people employed  was 14,888, a drop of 1.34% compared to June 2016.

Meanwhile, the total  hours worked  in July reached 2,906, representing a monthly increase of 1.21 percent.  Average wages for workers in this subsector, who were directly employed by the company, reached 31,270 pesos per person, 1.64% higher than in June.

Overall, in July 2026, the revenues of establishments participating in the IMMEX program totaled 695,802  million pesos , representing a slight increase of 3.23% compared to the same month of the previous year, when they were 674,017 million pesos. Of the total, 59.8% corresponded to revenues from the foreign market, reflecting the sector’s dependence on international demand.

With seasonally adjusted figures, in July of this year there were  6,516  establishments registered in the IMMEX program : 5,211 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% of the total). 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 people employed in establishments with the IMMEX program showed a drop of 0.1% on a monthly basis, while in its annual measurement, jobs fell by 0.4 percent.

Hours worked showed no change on a monthly basis and decreased by 0.8% in the annual comparison.

In July 2026, average real wages grew 1.3% monthly and showed an annual increase of 5.5%, representing an improvement in the income of workers in the sector.

By subsector, the manufacture of transport equipment  had the highest revenue, with 246,675 million pesos.

Data from July 2026 shows IMMEX activity that retains a strong export component and sustains demand for services linked to the supply chain, although with a more contained evolution in employment and hours worked.

For logistics, the behavior of warehousing is particularly relevant: its revenues advance as manufacturing companies maintain Mexico as a production platform oriented towards the international market.

Comment and follow us on LinkedIn:  @GrupoT21

El cargo Storage service revenues showed slight growth in July apareció primero en T21.

The storage services subsector added 235 establishments in June 2026 , representing a slight growth of 0.85% compared to last May, when there were 233 units, 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, the number of employees was 15,091 , an increase of 2.20% compared to May 2026.

Meanwhile,  hours worked in June totaled 2,871 , representing a monthly increase of 6.33 percent.  Average wages for workers in this subsector reached 30,765 pesos per person, 2.12% less than in May.

Revenues in the subsector amounted to  nine billion 782 million pesos (mdp) in the sixth month of the year, that is, a slight increase of 1.72% compared to May, when they totaled nine billion 616 million pesos.

Overall, in June 2026, the revenues of establishments participating in the IMMEX program were 697,032 million pesos, a 3.99% increase compared to the same month in 2025, when they totaled 670,246 million pesos. Of the total, 59.9% corresponded to revenues from the foreign market, reflecting the sector’s dependence on international demand.

With seasonally adjusted figures, in June of this year there were  6,520  establishments registered in the IMMEX program : 5,214 carried out manufacturing activities and the rest were related to agriculture, fishing, commerce and services.

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

On a monthly basis, employment grew by 0.4%, while year-on-year it fell by 0.4%. Hours worked increased by 0.2% month-on-month and decreased by 0.4% year-on-year.

In June 2026, average real wages fell 0.6% monthly and showed an annual increase of 4.7% in the income of workers in the sector.

According to the results of June 2026, the IMMEX establishments showed a mixed balance, with variations among the components that make it up.

These figures come in a context where Mexican foreign trade has once again registered strong performance. In June alone, the country’s exports totaled $72.551 billion , a 34.4% year-on-year increase.

Comment and follow us on LinkedIn:  @GrupoT21

El cargo Storage service establishments in Mexico increase in June apareció primero en T21.

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).

Comment and follow us on LinkedIn:  @GrupoT21

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

Revenues from establishments participating in the Manufacturing, Maquiladora and Export Services Industry Program (IMMEX) totaled 678.374 billion pesos (mdp) in April 2026 , representing a slight increase of 0.13% compared to the same month last year, when they reached 677.454 billion pesos. Of the total, 59.4% corresponded to revenues from the foreign market, reflecting the sector’s dependence on international demand.

According to information published by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) , in the fourth month of the year there were 6,523 establishments registered in the IMMEX program : 5,222 carried out manufacturing activities and the rest activities related to agriculture, fishing, commerce and services.

Meanwhile, employment increased by 0.1% on a monthly basis: in manufacturing establishments it rose by 0.2% and in non-manufacturing establishments it increased by 0.1%.

Conversely, in its annual measurement, jobs fell by 1.6% in April 2026.

Meanwhile, hours worked rose 0.4% on a monthly basis, although they registered an annual decline of 2.4 percent.

In April of this year, average real wages grew 0.6% monthly and showed an annual increase of 2.6%, representing an improvement in the income of workers in the sector.

By subsector, the manufacture of transport equipment had the highest income, with 246,978 million pesos.

The results of the IMMEX establishments in April 2026 showed a mixed performance , as while employment and hours worked registered ups and downs, remuneration in the sector had an upward trend, reflecting a slight improvement in the income of workers in this industry.

According to analysts, the export manufacturing sector is one of the most important in Mexico and will be one of the topics that will be put on the table in the review of the Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada (USMCA) .

Comment and follow us on LinkedIn:  @GrupoT21

El cargo IMMEX company revenues grow in April; employment results are mixed. apareció primero en T21.

TIJUANA, BC.- The reform to the Customs Law that came into effect in 2026 not only modified operational processes in Mexican foreign trade; it also altered the logic under which authorities, customs agents, carriers, logistics integrators and IMMEX companies – maquiladora and export manufacturing companies with a special customs regime in the country – interact .

Under a renewed regulatory environment – for importers, exporters and their logistics chain – marked by greater documentary requirements, reinforced traceability and a new approach to compliance , the participants in the panel “Customs, compliance and risks in increasingly demanding borders”, held during the ETYL Cali-Baja 2026 of Grupo T21, agreed that the logistics chain is currently facing one of its most complex moments in decades.

Moderating the discussion, Héctor Landeros, partner at HXLA Customs & Trade , argued that the major challenge lies in the new paradigm that attempts to balance trade facilitation and customs control . However, he cautioned that the authorities still don’t seem to fully understand how to achieve both objectives simultaneously. “Facilitation is an act in which I (the government), as customs, allow goods to flow while still maintaining control,” he explained, noting that risk management should be the mechanism for distinguishing compliance profiles and avoiding widespread overregulation.

This paradigm shift was evident in the operational experience of IMMEX companies. Gabriela Fernández, Trade & Logistics Manager at TACNA Services , described the radical transformation that foreign trade has undergone in the last 25 years, from improvised operations with Excel spreadsheets and radio communication, to a hyperconnected ecosystem where traceability has become a regulatory requirement . “Before, you’d say ‘bless’ to the driver and you’d never know if he’d actually crossed the border,” she recalled.

However, technological advancements have brought new obligations that, from her perspective, have significantly increased the pressure on companies. The executive pointed out that one of the most sensitive issues is the new requirement to share sensitive information related to contracts, labor costs, and production processes, something that has generated particular concern among foreign companies operating under shelter schemes . “What guarantee can you give them that all this information we’re uploading tomorrow won’t be hacked and shared with the competition?” she asked.

Fernández also warned that the regulatory impact is not uniform . While large companies have the capacity to invest in technological infrastructure, automation, and servers, small and medium-sized enterprises face real difficulties in complying. “Small businesses are praying and crying that they don’t get audited because it’s truly difficult for them to comply,” he stated, explaining that many don’t even have sufficiently structured processes to generate documents like waybills or maintain robust traceability systems.

Furthermore, the pressure no longer falls solely on importers and exporters. Jacinto Romero, general director of the Romero Galaviz Customs Agency , maintained that the new environment has transformed the customs broker into a kind of “compliance officer” obligated not only to review documentation but also to verify its authenticity and substance. “We have just been given the responsibility of verifying and confirming that all the documents the client gives us are indeed genuine,” he explained.

The problem, he added, is that the new regulations are significantly increasing the administrative and technological burden on logistics providers. He even revealed that recent regulatory changes already require photographs of offices, machinery, and products, which increases the need for information storage and data transmission in ever-shorter timeframes. “ Just -in -time is becoming increasingly difficult and increasingly expensive,” he concluded .

Romero also anticipated that the real impact is only just beginning, due to the growing capacity of authorities to cross-reference information between agencies such as Mexico’s National Customs Agency (ANAM) and the Tax Administration Service (SAT) . From his perspective, the next step will be much more aggressive and automated electronic audits 

Meanwhile, Adrián Salinas Rangel, VP of Enterprise Sales Intermodal at STG Logistics , explained that logistics integrators have been forced to strengthen internal controls and validation mechanisms to avoid errors that could lead to delays or penalties at the border. “We must always be very vigilant, stay up-to-date with the information, and share it with the client,” he stated.

For Salinas, the central problem is that digitization and automated data matching by the authorities virtually eliminate the margin for documentary inconsistencies. Incorrect information can translate into operational delays , inspections, or direct impacts on the carrier. “If I or the client fails to provide certain information, the carrier could face problems at the border crossing,” he warned.

Speaking from the trucking industry, Alfonso Esquer Millán, vice president of the Northwest region of the National Chamber of Freight Transportation (Canacar) , described a scenario where the loss of productivity is beginning to become a severe financial risk. He explained that crossing times for trucking are increasing, while operating costs remain under commercial pressure . “What we used to sell for a certain amount of money for a two-hour trip, people now want to buy for the same price in four hours or more of service,” he stated.

The transport leader was even more critical, pointing out that the new regulatory approach seems to be based on a presumption of guilt toward the private sector. “When they made the rule, they thought we were all fraudsters,” he stated, noting that fines and liabilities have grown disproportionately compared to the actual profit margins of the transport industry.

Beyond sectoral differences, the panel revealed a common concern: the speed at which new regulatory requirements are advancing contrasts sharply with the operational and technological capacity of much of the logistics chain to adapt. In this tension between control and trade facilitation , the risk is that the Mexican border will end up becoming an increasingly bureaucratic, costly, and slow space for those who do seek to comply.

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

El cargo New Customs Law strains border operations in Mexico apareció primero en T21.

The transformation of supply chains in North America, driven by nearshoring (relocation of production lines) and the growing need to reduce dependence on Asia, positions local and regional suppliers as a strategic component for industrial competitiveness. In this context, Baja California seeks to strengthen its supply capabilities for the export-oriented manufacturing industry .

According to Alfredo Vega, director of the Supply Committee of the National Council of the Maquiladora and Export Manufacturing Industry (Index) Mexicali , the region is going through a historic moment in this matter.

“There is now an explicit demand from purchasing companies to map which inputs and services can be acquired locally or regionally and not depend on Asia,” Vega stressed, referring to the impacts of tariffs on Asian inputs, mainly from China, and the reconfiguration of global supply chains.

Supply chain: the cornerstone of export competitiveness

Baja California is a state with a strong export and manufacturing focus. The maquiladora sector reached record exports in 2025, with 390,972.9 million pesos (MXN) , representing a 14.7% increase compared to 2024, according to figures from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) .

This figure reflects an environment in which the demand for local suppliers has become more relevant in the face of challenges such as volatility in international logistics and changes in trade policies , which have become increasingly frequent since Donald Trump’s arrival to the presidency of the United States for a second term.

Vega indicated that Baja California has one of the largest volumes of companies that are within the Manufacturing, Maquiladora and Export Services Industry Program (IMMEX) , which is made up of approximately 1,128 operating units, concentrating 17.3% of the national total, according to figures from Inegi in January 2026.

“We are in a strategic area that has always been so and now we must take greater advantage of it, which is the so-called Cali-Baja region, in addition to Arizona and Sonora, which is a region that is not only working in a coordinated manner in terms of product innovation and alliances, but also for the development of talent, the skilled workforce that the entity has,” the specialist emphasized.

In that sense, the area seeks to leverage the talent that has been developed to boost the IMMEX industry with local and regional suppliers, which is a strategic priority.

“Currently, there are agreements with universities in Arizona and California, along with universities in Baja California and Sonora, to address this specialized demand for talent, such as software engineering , specialized semiconductor engineering, and the aerospace industry,” Vega explained.

Supply Match Platform

To address this structural opportunity, Index Mexicali has developed a platform called Supply Match that centralizes key information on the capabilities of regional suppliers.

In an interview with T21, Alfredo Vega explained that the project, built over two years with support from the state government and a business trust, allows for the registration of suppliers and buyers; the display of certifications, production capacities and contacts, as well as facilitating the link between companies and decision-makers.

“We’ve already reached 100% registration of companies and suppliers, and we’ll begin working with success stories to monitor and support business connections. The platform is practically ready and already operational,” Vega stated.

In this way, the platform becomes a key tool for multinational companies with operations in Baja California —from the aerospace, semiconductor, metalworking, plastic injection, and other industries— to identify and connect with local suppliers capable of meeting quality requirements, delivery times, and certifications.

Compliance programs are also being developed to raise supplier standards ; financial tools are being implemented to enable small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to scale their production capacity; and virtual and in-person events are being organized to connect buyers and suppliers. The goal is to increase the proportion of locally sourced inputs.

Currently, between 3% and 5% of the inputs for exporting industries are acquired within the country, a figure that the business sector considers insufficient given the regional potential, Vega noted, indicating that greater integration of national suppliers could improve resilience, reduce logistics costs and delivery times , especially in strategic industries facing global disruptions, such as the conflict in the Middle East.

Strengthening local suppliers is also linked to public policy objectives such as the Mexico Plan , which aims to ensure that 50% of the supply in strategic sectors – steel and aluminum; heavy and light vehicles; auto parts and others – is made in Mexico.

With these actions, Baja California is committed to a strategy to consolidate a more competitive local and regional production ecosystem , aligned with the needs of global supply chains. The Supply Match platform, along with training initiatives and buyer connections, represents a firm step toward regional integration to leverage the advantages of nearshoring , border logistics, and the export industry.

On May 14, these topics will be addressed at the second edition of ETYL Cali-Baja (Transportation and Logistics Meeting) , a forum organized by  Grupo T21  that will bring together industry leaders and nearly 200 attendees at the Real Inn Hotel in Tijuana.  For more information, visit https://baja.etylmx.com/ .

Comment and follow us on LinkedIn:  @Humberto Cruz Moya  /  @GrupoT21

El cargo Baja California: A regional supply hub for the export manufacturing industry? apareció primero en T21.

After closing 2025 with a monthly drop of 0.9% and an annual drop of 7.2%, Mexican mining and metallurgical production , which includes extraction, processing, smelting and refining activities of metallic and non-metallic minerals, registered an increase of 1.5% in January 2026 compared to last December, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) announced this Monday  .

According to the Mining and Metallurgical Industry Statistics (EIMM), which provides information on the activity of this sector in order to generate timely indicators,  in its annual measurement, production fell 5.3%  at the start of 2026.

During the period, copper  production remained unchanged, while  non-coking coal  – which is used for electricity generation – grew by 0.6%,  gypsum increased by 0.7% and iron pellets by 11.8% annually.

On an annual basis, the largest declines in mining and metallurgical production during the cycle were in  sulfur (33.9%), zinc (23.2%), and lead (15.1%). Gold, silver, and fluorite production decreased by 8.7%, 3.6%, and 3.6%, respectively.

According to Inegi, Zacatecas stood out in gold production with an annual variation of 14%, as well as silver with 6.4% at an annual rate.

Durango  registered positive figures in lead with 3.2%,  Chihuahua  in zinc with 6.4%,  Nuevo León in sulfur with 2.1% and  Coahuila  in fluorite production with 1.2% annually.

The Mexican mining and metallurgical industry is one of the topics that will be in the negotiations of the Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada (USMCA) , especially regarding tariffs on steel and aluminum.

As part of the strategy to combat unfair practices, the  Ministry of Economy has identified  750 companies  with allegedly irregular activities, which are dedicated to the manufacture and marketing of steel products, of which 350 were suspended in their imports and procedures were initiated to cancel the Manufacturing, Maquiladora and Export Services Industry Program (IMMEX) .

Comment and follow us on LinkedIn:  @GrupoT21

El cargo Mexican mining and metallurgical production starts 2026 with mixed results apareció primero en T21.

Baja California has established itself as one of the main logistics hubs for North American trade. In this context, Mexicali faces a period of adjustments and expectations marked by three factors: the renegotiation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) , the regulatory challenges of the Manufacturing, Maquiladora and Export Services Industry Program (IMMEX) , and the evolution of the industrial space market in the region.

For Carlos Ceballos, president of SDL Group and Open Warehouse , 2026 is shaping up to be a year of transition for border logistics . “It’s been a roller coaster,” he stated in an interview with T21, describing the current regional logistics environment, affected by tariff changes, political uncertainty, and adjustments in supply chains.

However, he also identified opportunities if the trilateral trade agreement comes to fruition in its next review, scheduled for July of this year, and under new rules that provide certainty to the export industry.

IMMEX under pressure

The export manufacturing industry, operating under the IMMEX program, continues to be one of Baja California’s main economic and logistical drivers. This program allows for the temporary import of raw materials for processing and subsequent re-export, integrating the region into global supply chains.

However, the sector faces administrative hurdles. Ceballos, who was a panelist at the first edition of ETYL Cali-Baja, organized by T21 , and whose second edition will take place on May 14 , pointed out that procedures that could previously be resolved in days—such as opening warehouses or expanding tax addresses—can now take between six and eight months. In the case of new IMMEX operations, the process can even extend to two years, when it previously took a couple of months.

This situation has had direct effects on the logistics and industrial ecosystem: companies renting buildings without being able to operate immediately, developers with available spaces, and suppliers delaying their installation in the region, Ceballos indicated, adding that representatives of the sector continue to promote dialogue with the authorities, such as the Ministry of Economy (SE) , to expedite the processes.

Supply chains, transportation and talent: key challenges

Supply chains face significant operational challenges. One of them is the shortage of freight transport operators .

According to the  National Chamber of Freight Transportation (Canacar) , Mexico has a shortage of more than  90,000 truck drivers , a situation that could worsen in the coming years, since if the trend continues, by 2028 the figure could exceed 110,000 drivers.

To reduce the shortage of operators, Ceballos explained that in Mexicali the transportation industry is promoting training programs together with public educational institutions and the Canacar in Mexicali to increase the availability of professional operators.

“And we need to train female operators. I think there’s a great opportunity there to reduce the deficit in the sector, but we have to hurry, we have to work harder with the schools. Here in Mexicali, Canacar has a very good initiative with the academy, training tractor-trailer operators,” pointed out the member of the Board of Directors of the National Council of the Maquiladora and Export Manufacturing Industry (Index) Mexicali .

This initiative seeks to strengthen regional logistics capacity at a time when land mobility remains the main channel for cross-border and national trade.

According to the  National Association of Bus, Truck and Tractor-Trailer Manufacturers (ANPACT) , more than 80% of the goods that move in Mexico travel by road.

Ceballos also identified a strategic opportunity in the use of rail . Although trucking dominates current logistics due to its flexibility, rail could regain prominence in certain freight flows, especially on long routes from the eastern United States to the Tijuana-Mexicali border.

“For general merchandise, there is a great opportunity to use the railroad and utilize the existing tracks between Ferromex and the major railroads in the United States. This reduces transportation costs, although it slightly increases travel time,” Ceballos explained.

Industrial spaces under adjustment

The industrial real estate market is also undergoing a period of readjustment. During the logistics boom following the COVID-19 pandemic—especially between 2022 and 2024—demand for warehouses and distribution centers on the border triggered a wave of construction.

As a result, Mexicali went from registering minimal availability levels to currently reaching approximately 9% vacancy in industrial spaces , while in Tijuana the figure hovers around 10% . This increase is due to the arrival of new projects developed during the logistics boom , coupled with a slowdown in the arrival of new industrial operations. In Tijuana, projects that are underway or in the planning stages represent 4%, according to Ceballos.

In addition, regulatory changes in the United States—such as modifications to cross-border e-commerce programs—reduced the viability of some fulfillment centers located in Mexicali for distributing merchandise to the U.S. market; however, Tijuana had a greater impact than Mexicali on these logistics facilities.

Another factor facing the region is the electricity crisis, which has prevented the full development of industrial parks.

“Last year there were a good number of new industrial parks in Tijuana that were operating with diesel plants, so it is impossible to meet the needs of a heavy industry with a plant of that type; maybe a distribution center can do it, but not heavy industry,” Ceballos said.

This is particularly relevant given that Baja California ranks among the top recipients of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Mexico. In 2025 alone, the border state attracted $1.892 billion , placing it fourth nationally, representing a 4.6% share, according to the Ministry of Economy.

According to the Tijuana Economic and Industrial Development Agency (Deitac) , the electronics sector led the way in attracting capital with 34 projects, solidifying its position as the state’s main industrial driver. Logistics and distribution centers followed with 14 projects. Addressing these challenges could increase the attraction of foreign investment to this state.

USMCA, crucial for regional logistics

The review of the USMCA is currently the focus of attention for businesses, carriers, and logistics operators . The outcome of this process will determine the stability of supply chains between Mexico, the United States, and Canada.

For the industry, the trade agreement not only facilitates trade, but also promotes the development of technical talent in Mexico, highlighted the president of SDL Group, who added that for decades, export manufacturing has allowed for the formation of highly specialized human capital in production, engineering and industrial management in Baja California , which represents a competitive advantage over other regions.

In this scenario, Ceballos indicated, the business sector’s expectation revolves around the review of the USMCA keeping the doors open to regional trade and strengthening North American productive integration.

By 2026, the logistics landscape in Baja California presents a mix of caution and opportunity. The industry continues to invest in infrastructure, training programs, and transportation optimization, while awaiting greater certainty within the North American trade framework.

Comment and follow us on LinkedIn:  @Humberto Cruz  /  @GrupoT21

El cargo USMCA, the IMMEX program, and industrial parks are redefining logistics in Baja California apareció primero en T21.