The Mexican Association of Freight Forwarders (Amacarga) expressed its concern over roadblocks across the country, due to agricultural producers’ protests, and predicted impacts on distribution costs, national supply, and imports and exports .

“The delays caused by the halted transportation directly impact the distribution and delivery costs of various products, slow down national supply, and harm the country’s exports, which are currently the only engine of the economy that maintains a good pace of activity, in addition to imports,” said Eva María Muñoz, president of Amacarga.

However, he recognized the right to free demonstration and defense of the interests of the sectors involved in this movement, but “it is unacceptable that they harm other economic activities in the country . “

In response, he called on federal and state authorities to find a prompt solution that would allow the reestablishment of transportation of all types of products within the country and to distribution points for international markets.

For its part, the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation (SICT) reported road closures in several states across the country, and advised road users to take precautions.

The affected areas are as follows:

• Mexico-Guadalajara Highway.
• Ocotlán Booth (km 426+000).
• Zapotlán del Rey (km 446+000).
• La Barca Junction (km 402+000).
• Guadalajara-Morelia Highway, in Tlajomulco de Zúñiga.
• Highway to Nogales, which connects with Puerto Vallarta.
• Guadalajara-Colima Highway.
• Maravatío-Zapotlanejo Highway.

In Guanajuato the blockades are located in:

• In Comonfort: Comonfort–SMA Bypass, near the Pirámide gas station and the Road to Orduña.
• In Irapuato: Castro del Río, Procter & Gamble Zone (towards Abasolo).
• Junction with Pueblo Nuevo (Highway 90).
• Junction to Cuerámaro (Highway 90).
• North Bypass, at the Rancho Grande community.
• In Pénjamo: Laguna de Cortés (Highway 90).
• Relief drain, Santa Ana Pacueco (Highway 90) Federal 90, height La Herradura–El Tlacuache junction.
• Salamanca: Valtierrilla Clover.
• Salvatierra: The Phoenix and Yuriria–Cupareo junction.
• Santiago Valley: “Blue Vase”, exit to Salamanca.
• León: Federal 45D (Central Supply) and Federal 43D (Santa Rosa Plan de Ayala).
• Silao: Federal 45, Puerto Interior.
• Celaya: Federal 51, Rincón de Tamayo.
• Yuriria: Cuatro Caminos and Santiaguillo (exit to Salvatierra).
• Abasolo: Cuerámaro–Irapuato Highway, Joaquín Station.
• Doctor Mora: Titanic Spa.
• Tarimoro: Moncada and Panales Jamaica.
• Romita: Salamanca–León highway junction.
• Traffic has been restored and is now free on the following roads: Acámbaro–Glorieta del Caballito; Jerécuaro–Entronque Jerécuaro–Acámbaro.
• In Michoacán, road closures continue on the Maravatío-Zapotlanejo Highway, near the Panindícuaro toll booth, at kilometer 307+000; and the Maravatío-Zapotlanejo Highway, near the Zinapécuaro toll booth, at kilometer 202+200.
• In Morelos, the Siglo XXI Highway is closed near Amilcingo, in the municipality of Temoac, Morelos, while the Mexico–Cuernavaca Highway, near the Tlalpan Toll Plaza, heading toward Mexico City, has been cleared for traffic.
• In Sinaloa, farmers have taken over three toll booths: the San Miguel Zapotitlán toll booth in the municipality of Ahome; Cuatro Caminos in Guasave; and the El Pisal toll booth in Culiacán. Users have not been affected.
• In Tamaulipas, in the Matamoros-Reynosa area, the Río Bravo Bypass section was opened to traffic.

He specified that so far the State of Mexico continues without road closures, as does Nayarit .

Main image taken from the X account of the National Highway Guard .

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With figures available as of October 2024, trade between Mexico and the United States operated through the Laredo border port totaled $30.5 billion (mdd) worth of merchandise traded, of which Mexico’s exports were $18.9 billion, while Mexico’s imports from the United States were $11.6 billion.

According to figures from the United States Department of Commerce , the accumulated figures amount to 285 billion dollars in foreign trade operations between both countries. Exports to the United States amounted to 176 billion dollars, while in the opposite direction they amounted to 108 billion dollars.

When reviewing the monthly figures for trade exchange through the Laredo border port, during October 2024 the second best record was achieved for both imports from the United States, as well as Mexican exports to that territory, since January 2022.

The figures recorded in October of the year that just ended were only surpassed by the data from the previous August, when exports were 18.99 billion dollars, and imports were 11.71 billion dollars.

In October 2024, the main products that Mexico imported from the United States through Laredo were auto parts with 10% of the total, gasoline and other fuels with 3.2%, storage batteries with 2.9%, diesel engines with 2.8% and passenger vehicles with 2.3 percent.

Meanwhile, during the 10th month of the year, Mexico’s main exports to its northern neighbor were auto parts with 12% of the total, passenger vehicles with 8.6%, computers 7.7%, commercial vehicles 5.2% and cell phones and related equipment with 3.8 percent.

In October 2024, the Port of Laredo ranked as the second most important commercial port in the United States, with a 6.5% share of the country’s total foreign trade, behind only the Port of Los Angeles with 6.7%. Third place is occupied by Chicago O’Hare Airport with 6.4 percent.

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Following the terrorist attacks in the United States in September 2001, supply chain security became a priority for our northern neighbor and its main trading partners: Mexico and Canada.

In response to this fact, in November 2001 the US government promoted the creation of the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) . “This is a joint initiative between the government and private companies whose objective is to build a relationship of commercial cooperation that strengthens and improves the business value chain ; due to this initiative, Mexican companies must be certified and thus strengthen their security systems not only in their company but also throughout their supply chain,” explained the Mexican Institute of Transport (IMT) in its research Impacts and benefits of the CTPAT program, in the competitiveness of exporting companies .

In turn, the Customs and Border Protection Office (CBP) reported on its official website that to date there are more than 11,400 certified partners covering the entire spectrum of the commercial community. It detailed that these partners include American importers and exporters, road transporters between the United States and Canada, as well as road transporters between the United States and Mexico. Mexican and Canadian manufacturers are also considered; and Mexican long-distance transporters, which represent more than 52% of the cargo imported to the United States.

To continue the program and further strengthen the border, the official opening of the new CTPAT office at the World Trade Bridge (WTB) port of entry in Laredo, Texas, was announced.

National freight transport companies with operations on the border were invited to the inauguration. “This opening marks a significant moment for the logistics community and strengthens collaboration in our operations,” the Palos Garza company said in a statement.

The new office’s activities will include reviewing CTPAT program applications, as well as assessing eligibility requirements, certifying and validating new members , and ongoing account maintenance and revalidation of CTPAT members in accordance with the Safe Harbors Act of 2006.

“I am pleased to announce the official opening of this critical office. Laredo is the nation’s number one port of entry, and we need all available resources to ensure it is not only secure, but also able to process trade efficiently. I look forward to working with CBP to ensure this project is successful and that we continue to have the resources necessary to keep our communities safe,” said Congressman Henry Cuellar.

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In recent years, customs agents in Mexico have shown a lack of concern for the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) certification.

There are currently 189 customs agents with this certification, an international measure that the Mexican government adopted in the middle of the last decade as part of its commitments to increase security in supply chains and goods transported globally – especially after the attacks of September 11, 2001.

It should be remembered that this certification is not only aimed at customs agents but at other participants in these supply chains, but they have also shown a lack of motivation to obtain it.

The Tax Administration Service (SAT) has almost a thousand of these certifications , including importers and exporters (584), customs agents (189), cargo motor carriers (166), audited premises (13), courier and parcel companies (two) and industrial parks (two).

At the recently held LXXXIV National Congress of Customs Agents , organized by the  Confederation of Associations of Customs Agents of the Mexican Republic (CAAAREM) , David Jarillo, central administrator of Certification of International Affairs of Foreign Trade Audit of the SAT, indicated that in the In the last five years, there has been an increase of just 5% in applications for new customs agent certifications.

Just over 800 customs agents operate in Mexico , the majority of which are integrated into the CAAAREM.

Companies that decide to become certified as AEO have to approve at least 11 security standards imposed by the authority, and on many occasions obtaining it has become an expensive and administrative burden for companies, mainly medium and small ones.

At the same time that they obtain the certification, the authority promises companies streamlining customs clearance , among other benefits; although, according to specialists consulted by T21, since the entry of the military or sailors into Mexican customs these benefits have almost disappeared.

“All foreign trade operations handled in Mexico are practically concentrated in 57% of our AEO companies, which is very important because the authority is trusting these companies that have certification and are in constant review and compliance. only in customs matters but also in fiscal matters,” explained David Jarillo.

With the aim of stimulating greater certification of customs agents, this year the tax authority undertook a streamlining of procedures, so that certifications are granted more expeditiously . “Thanks to this measure we have managed to receive 30% more registration procedures compared to last year and we will continue working to increase this volume,” according to the official.

Likewise, he warned customs agents that already have certification to maintain high security standards. “We have estimates, based on recent monitoring, that 29% of (customs) agents who initially complied with all requirements are no longer doing so. However, it is pertinent to make it known that this does not represent the withdrawal of the certification, there are mechanisms to resolve these absences and it can be fulfilled to maintain the certification,” he stated.

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Manzanillo, Col. – The Wait is Over Contecon Manzanillo has become the first container terminal in the Americas to operate with two 60-meter-high STS cranes, considered the largest and most modern in the world.

This new equipment will help achieve the expansion plans that Contecon Manzanillo has outlined for the country’s most important port and marks a watershed moment for the development of logistics and international trade.

During the unveiling, José Antonio Contreras, CEO of Contecon Manzanillo, explained that the commencement of crane operations signifies the beginning of a new era for Contecon, not only in terms of facilities, equipment, and technology, but also in fostering closer relationships with cargo owners.

The terminal’s plan is to increase its annual operation from 1.4 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) to more than 2.2 million TEUs, aided by the new cranes and the ongoing expansion of the Specialized Container Terminal (TEC) II.

“This must be accompanied by new access points and increased customs capabilities, along with better coordination among all parties involved. It is unacceptable that a port like this has had the same access and evacuation capabilities for the past 10 years, while terminals and trade continue to grow. However, I believe we have all taken responsibility and share a common goal of advancing this great port of Manzanillo,” stated Contreras.

In an interview with T21, José Antonio Contreras detailed that the Mexico-Asia trade exchange continues to grow exponentially at an increasing pace. He noted that due to this dynamism, the size of the ships is also increasing. Four years ago, only 10% of the ships arriving in Manzanillo were over 350 meters long; by 2024, nearly 50% of the ships are over 350 meters and up to 400 meters long. “We believe this is a trend that will continue to accelerate,” he said.

“We bought these STS cranes two years ago because we believe that Manzanillo should have this capacity. If you don’t have a dock designed for these ships and a crane that can operate them, Mexico would suffer as it would be excluded from international traffic,” he asserted.

The CEO of Contecon Manzanillo explained that the port receives semi-finished products for manufacturing in Mexico, which are then exported to the United States, serving industries such as automotive, electronics, and textiles. “But domestic consumption is also growing; we’ve seen a 70% increase when comparing the first quarter of 2020 to the first quarter of 2024,” he said.

During the unveiling of the STS cranes, considered the largest in the Americas at 60 meters high and designed to operate the world’s largest container ships, Mario Gasque Peña, Director General of the National Port System Administration (Asipona) Manzanillo, explained that the arrival of this equipment marks a significant milestone in the growth of the port’s operations. Last year, 22.6 million tons of containerized cargo were moved, and in the past 10 years, the port’s throughput has grown from 2.1 million to 3.7 million TEUs, making it the busiest container port in the country.

“This action (the commencement of crane operations) not only strengthens the infrastructure of a dock but ensures that the port of Manzanillo continues to be a fundamental pillar of Mexico’s economy and a benchmark in Latin America. It is also a clear demonstration of the confidence in our port and its future—a promising port. The increased cargo capacity and operational efficiency will allow us not only to maintain but surpass our position as the port handling the most containers in Mexico and advance among the most dynamic ports in Latin America,” affirmed Gasque Peña.

Expansion Plans

To date, Contecon Manzanillo has invested over 5.7 billion pesos in infrastructure and 3 million pesos in equipment. “We are investing more than 4.6 billion pesos to realize this new era for Contecon, which in its first phase from 2022-2024 includes the construction of 180 meters of docks, storage yards for up to 260,000 TEUs, the installation of over 900 additional reefer plugs, as well as 13 RTG cranes and two new super Post Panamax dock cranes capable of operating 24,000 TEU mega vessels,” Contreras detailed.

The second phase, from 2024 to 2025, involves the construction of an additional 227 meters of docks, storage yards for up to 275,000 TEUs, and the acquisition of two super Post Panamax dock cranes and six RTG cranes. These investments will enable the terminal to expand its capacity from 1.4 million to over 2 million TEUs.

The expansion project also includes the enlargement of the intermodal facility, which will double the current 2 km to nearly 5 km by 2025. This will allow Contecon to operate dedicated unit trains with 120 cars, speeding up the movement of goods, reducing transit times, and improving transportation costs.

Additionally, the construction of a new access road to Contecon, nearly 3 km of dual carriageway, will streamline truck transit times and expedite the dispatch and reception of containers.

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