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.

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.