Ensuring the supply of sodium carbonate in Mexico , an essential input for the glass industry, detergent manufacturers, cleaning products, paper and cellulose, among others, requires coordinating railway schedules with factory consumption.

For Koprimo —a Mexican company dedicated to the import, marketing, packaging, storage, and distribution of raw materials for various industries—the challenge lies in maintaining sufficient inventory to respond to blockades or incidents on the railways, without accumulating stock that exceeds customer demand. Based on this premise, it is preparing to expand its rail storage and receiving capacity in Mexico .

In 2024, Mexico imported 1.95 million tons of sodium carbonate, almost all of it from the United States, according to WITS, the World Bank ‘s trade information platform .

In Koprimo’s operation, the networks of Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) Mexico and Ferromex connect the supply chain to its facilities. Moving large volumes requires not only hauling capacity but also timely information on the progress of shipments to coordinate their reception and deliveries to the industry.

“Railways are concerned and focused on the continuous improvement of their services and technological platforms, because it’s not just about transportation, but about real-time visibility into the transit of our goods,” says Cyntia Mendoza, Supply Chain Manager at Koprimo, in an interview with T21.

Traceability is part of that planning: knowing the location of the cargo helps organize inventories and shipments . However, having this information doesn’t eliminate transportation disruptions. The company complements rail tracking with product reserves and physical capacity to sustain deliveries when the flow of goods is disrupted.

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Sodium percarbonate is known for its bleaching and disinfectant properties. In 2023, the trade in this compound reached 15.3 million dollars. Its management, however, presents challenges due to its classification as a dangerous commodity. 

Distributing inputs such as sodium percarbonate requires strict compliance with transport regulations . In this regard, Cynthia Mendoza, Koprimo ‘s supply chain manager, explained that these operations require trained operators and specialized units. 

“We guarantee road safety to avoid risks and comply with current regulations,” said Cynthia Mendoza. 

The sector also faces problems such as roadblocks and limitations in national infrastructure . However, companies have responded by investing in distribution centers equipped to meet these challenges. 

In this sense, the chemical industry in Mexico is moving towards sustainability . Rosario Mendoza, commercial manager of Koprimo, said that sodium percarbonate is a less harmful alternative to traditional products such as chlorine. This change reflects the interest of the sector in reducing its environmental impact. 

Rail transport has also been key to reducing CO₂ emissions. In addition, companies have implemented solar panels, pallet recycling and certified management of chemical waste. 

“We ensure that waste is treated responsibly, avoiding damage to the environment,” said Rosario Mendoza. 

In addition, the specialists commented that the adoption of technology is essential to improve operations. 

Cynthia highlighted the use of enterprise resource planning  (ERP) systems that have optimized processes and reduced dependence on paper. 

These tools enable greater agility in data management and align the sector with sustainable objectives. 

They also indicated that the chemical industry in Mexico is gradually eliminating harmful chemicals, such as phosphates, and is looking for new, more environmentally friendly formulations. 

In this context, Rosario Mendoza commented that although the country does not have environmental goals as strict as other nations , local companies are taking important steps in this area. 

Looking ahead, they said the company is working on exploring new markets in Central and South America . At the same time, it maintains a focus on improving the national logistics infrastructure to ensure its competitiveness and sustainability. 

With advances in technology, environmental commitment and attention to logistical challenges, the Mexican chemical industry continues to position itself as a key pillar for economic development. 

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Chemical product logistics involves a series of challenges, since delicate and even dangerous goods are handled , which require mobility and adherence to regulations and special transportation, according to Roberto Canales, Supply Chain Manager at Pochteca , a company specialized in the sale of raw materials and chemical inputs for the industry.

In an interview with T21 , Canales pointed out that permits are required for all units and operators to be able to move chemical materials, especially those that are dangerous, which is why the transportation of this type of merchandise is becoming increasingly more specialized .

The chemical logistics chain has a series of requirements that must be met, as well as policies and requirements that have to do with the compatibility of the products being transported.

“You cannot mix materials that, in the event of a spill, could cause an incident, a fire, an explosion, and endanger the lives of the operator and people,” he explained.

There are organic and inorganic chemicals, as well as salts and other supplies, which are identified with a safety data sheet so that we know how to respond in the event of an emergency and what measures must be taken for their transportation.

“It is a very specialized logistics. In fact, I believe that all companies that transport chemical materials, or well, not all, but many, have chosen to register with the National Association of the Chemical Industry (ANIQ) because of how specialized it has become,” he explained.

Roberto Canales said that they use units that meet the standards for transporting their products , such as pipes with all the security measures for, for example, the handling of solvents.

Also in an interview, Alejandro Prieto , director of Koprimo , a company specialized in the distribution of chemical supplies and for various industries, indicated that the role of a distributor in the value chain is very important , since in his case they bring the materials from the United States in bulk by rail, which requires special care.

“When they arrive in Mexico, we take them to our facilities in Monterrey, Toluca, Guadalajara, Mexicali, Salamanca, and from there we normally repack everything in 25-kilogram sacks and transfer them to hoppers on trucks so they reach our end customer,” he told T21.

Dangerous products are transported in special transports, in addition to having to comply with regulations and controls , and they must also take into account the compatibility of the substances.

The manager said that the driver of the unit is important in the logistics chain of this type of products , since they have to be able to handle chemical goods.

Sodium bicarbonate, zinc powder, activated carbon, micronutrients for the field, mining exploitation agents, products for the plastics, ceramics and steel industries are some of the inputs they transport. Regarding storage, he said that dangerous products are separated and stored in a special place, to which only certain people have access.

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The dynamism of the industry in Mexico, especially in the north of the country, has allowed for greater demand in different sectors to meet supply and logistics services , which in turn has forced companies to expand to meet the needs of their customers.

In the case of the raw materials trading company Koprimo , as a result of the pandemic, the demand for inputs grew considerably, which brought with it significant logistical challenges.

In this regard, Cyntia Mendoza, Supply Chain Manager at Koprimo, highlighted in an interview that the chemical industry represents a fundamental link for many industries, since it plays an important role in the production of, for example, different products in the glass, ceramic, textile, and automotive industries, among others.

For this reason, Koprimo has followed an expansion plan that seeks to satisfy the needs of its clients, both in terms of product and logistics service for these raw materials, which is why it expanded its operation in Monterrey, Nuevo León.

“This versatility that we have adopted and adapted to the needs of our clients has opened up the market for us to other clients and industries. With nearshoring, the industry in Nuevo León has seen a significant upturn and they are prepared for this opportunity in Mexico. We believe that we can be an option to provide this investment,” Mendoza explained.

Likewise, in November 2023, Koprimo moved its operations from Tacuba, in Mexico City, to Toluca, State of Mexico , an infrastructure that has 40 thousand square meters (m2) and 1.6 kilometers of railway track.

The new facility in Monterrey now has 12,000 m2, of which 7,500 m2 are for storage, and also has railroad tracks.

The goal, according to Mendoza, is to grow the Koprimo territory, especially because they represent companies from other countries in Mexico, making use of their sales force, infrastructure and clients.

On the other hand, Koprimo seeks to streamline its operations , seeking specialized labor to provide follow-up and immediate response to its services, as well as providing alternatives.

With this, the company has a presence in Monterrey, Toluca, Guadalajara and Mexicali.

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