The second edition of ETYL Cali-Baja (Transportation and Logistics Meeting) will take place on May 14th. This region, comprised of San Diego and Imperial counties in the United States and Baja California in Mexico, has established itself as one of the most dynamic economic and logistics corridors in North America . Its location and industrial focus position it as a strategic area for cross-border trade and the ongoing reconfiguration of the region’s supply chains .

Data from the US Census Bureau indicates that in 2025, trade between the United States and Mexico reached a new milestone, with $872.834 billion in merchandise exchange , representing a 3.9% increase compared to 2024. Much of this trade was transported by land, across the border between California and Baja California.

In that context, the second edition of ETYL Cali-Baja 2026 , a forum organized by Grupo T21 , will bring together industry leaders and nearly 200 attendees at the Real Inn Hotel in Tijuana .

During the event, industry specialists will analyze the challenges and opportunities in the binational logistics context and its impact on supply chains, through four panels and a networking session  to share success stories in transport, logistics and industry, with the aim of boosting competitiveness and innovation in the region.

The ETYL Cali-Baja 2026 program presents a robust and diverse agenda, with panels on current logistics, such as the one on Logistics Chains that are Redefining Cali-Baja , which will address the industries that are generating the real logistics demand: aerospace, electronics, medical devices and specialized manufacturing.

Factors such as specialized manufacturing in Mexico and research activities, as well as high-tech development and services in San Diego, have triggered a highly integrated binational ecosystem, according to the Binational Trade & Competitiveness Report 2025, prepared by the  World Trade Center San Diego .

In the panel “Challenges and Opportunities of Maritime and Port Connectivity ,” specialists will discuss how the growth of maritime trade has enabled the development of new infrastructure and improved process efficiency. They will also talk about the modernization of the Port of Ensenada, Baja California, which in 2025 handled 427,499 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), placing it fifth in the National Port System .

This port is relevant to binational trade, as a gateway to the industrial and production zones of the United States.

Key issues for improved cross-border logistics will be another panel at ETYL Cali-Baja 2026. It will address how the growth of bilateral trade has put pressure on border crossings, where peaks of more than 4,700 trucks are recorded in a single day between Tijuana and San Diego.

The infrastructure challenges at the Mexicali-Calexico crossing will also be discussed, as well as the progress being made in incorporating new infrastructure at Otay Mesa East .

According to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) , the Otay-Tijuana border crossing is the second most important in trade with Mexico, which in 2025 totaled $59,978 million, with trucking being the main mode of exchange.

Machinery, parts and electrical equipment, together with vehicles, represent 40% of trade in this region.

According to studies by the  San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) , it is projected that once fully completed, the aforementioned border crossing will reduce waiting times by up to 50% on average, which could generate a significant increase in the value of regional bilateral trade .

In the panel Customs, compliance and risks at increasingly demanding borders , specialists will discuss the new legal framework for foreign trade operations with new rules on security, documentation, inspection, traceability and risk management.

This issue takes on relevance within the framework of the new Customs Law, which came into force on January 1, 2026, among whose changes is the  strengthening of the Electronic Customs System  as the axis of all operations.

For more information about the ETYL Cali-Baja, you can visit  https://baja.etylmx.com/ .

Given this scenario, Tijuana’s manufacturing industry seeks to strengthen the Cali-Baja area to attract and retain investment, especially for the advanced manufacturing industry.

In that sense, the United States and Mexico share this region, which has its own commercial dynamics and particular activity, so it is necessary to take care of it and continue to make it grow.

“It is a region that cannot be understood in any other way than through a joint dynamic. It is two countries in a single region,” highlighted Alonso Ibarra Arellano, president of the  National Chamber of the Transformation Industry (Canacintra) Tijuana .

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El cargo ETYL Cali-Baja 2026, seeking the next generation of the binational logistics hub apareció primero en T21.

Volatility is no longer the exception: it’s the rule. In Mexico, the supply chain faces constant fluctuations in demand, cost pressures, road blockades , and service demands that leave no room for error. In this environment, logistics leadership has ceased to be merely operational, according to Jessica Rodríguez, Deputy Director of Logistics and Supply Chain Operations at asdeporte .

“Strategic to anticipate, technical to execute, and human to lead. That is what a logistics leader cannot lack,” Rodríguez stated.

The specialist maintained that the biggest challenge continues to be the volatility of demand and its impact on inventories, transportation and the capacities of distribution centers (DCs).

“We need more flexible supply chains, with data-driven planning and near-immediate reaction capabilities,” he explained.

Cost pressures , he added, are no longer solely operational; they are strategic. It’s not about cutting costs for the sake of cutting costs, but about balancing total cost with service level. In sporting events, for example, a one-hour delay can directly impact the athlete’s experience. Logistical decisions must align with the event’s value, without compromising quality or critical timing.

Regarding land transport —the backbone of the movement of goods in the country—, Rodríguez identified a clear root cause of inefficiency: fragmented planning .

“The chain should be thought of as a single system,” he noted.

I explain that decisions such as strategically placing products within the warehouse ( slotting ), grouping orders to make better use of each transport trip ( load consolidation ), establishing clear cut- off times for orders to be included in the daily schedule, and correctly classifying inventories according to their turnover and priority, are actions that reduce urgent deliveries, avoid reprocessing, and allow the last mile—the final stretch to the customer—to operate without unnecessary pressure.

The lack of available operators adds pressure to the entire chain, as it directly affects on-time and complete deliveries (OTIF), raises costs, and can impact road safety, the specialist considered.

Given this scenario, Rodríguez stressed the importance of scheduling realistic delivery times by destination, designing routes that avoid downtime, maintaining constant monitoring of the units, and establishing incentives linked to punctuality and safe driving.

“A better operator experience equals better retention and better service,” he summarized.

Regarding fleet renewal , he indicated that there are mixed decisions in the market. Some are extending fleet cycles; others are renewing selectively. The position is clear: the analysis should be based on the total cost of operation per route or event, not solely on the age of the vehicle.

Another area gaining prominence is reverse logistics. In retail , he explained, it’s key to controlling shrinkage and profitability.

From a methodological perspective, Rodríguez pointed out that there is still room to achieve double-digit productivity improvements through the application of Lean Six Sigma . However, he warned that three common mistakes are: misdefining the problem, failing to assign clear responsibility for the process, and measuring activities instead of results.

He explained that the difference lies in rigorously executing each phase of DMAIC — define, measure, analyze, improve and control —, mapping the value stream before proposing solutions and establishing control plans that ensure the sustainability of the results.

Regarding digitization , he commented that the process is first redesigned and then automated.

“Otherwise, we just automate inefficiency. Technology is 30%; process, leadership, and data are 70%,” he said.

The challenges are significant; the logistics network remains vulnerable to disruptions and insecurity , and resilience cannot rely solely on reaction time. Predefined alternative routes, backup inventories at critical points, control tower systems, and real-time visibility are now fundamental to the operational framework.

For Rodríguez, logistical excellence is not tied to the sector itself, but rather to the discipline to anticipate, the technical capacity to execute, and the human leadership necessary to manage teams under pressure. In logistics, he affirmed, it’s not just about moving goods: it’s about protecting the customer experience, the value of the operation, and competitiveness.

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El cargo Volatility and operational precision: challenges facing logistics in Mexico apareció primero en T21.

From an operational perspective, Claudia Serano, Senior Sales at Traffix , explained that the impact of this environment has been widespread for all companies operating land transport in Mexico , regardless of whether it involves domestic freight, last-mile delivery, or border crossings. Regulatory and customs pressures, coupled with a shrinking market, have forced companies to rethink priorities and strategies to sustain operations.

In that context, the focus shifted to nurturing existing relationships. Serano noted that, faced with an aggressive market, the strategy is to protect current clients while maintaining a balanced relationship with transportation providers, recognizing that carriers today are also selective about who they work with.

This logic is reflected in the way the company structures its ground transportation operations in the region. Traffix, a Canadian company founded in 1979 , operates ground transportation services in North America with a hybrid model: its own fleet in Canada and a network of transportation partners in Mexico and the United States. According to Serrano, this approach makes the development, evaluation, and compliance with standards by suppliers crucial, especially in an environment where capacity is limited and operational risk is constant.

The selection of these partners is not accidental. Serano explained that there is an internal process focused on procurement and compliance , which includes requirements such as certifications, legal and tax compliance, as well as minimum fleet capacities. These criteria aim to reduce risks in an environment where ground operations face increasingly uncontrollable variables .

Beyond the operational structure, one of the daily challenges lies in incident management. Accidents, thefts, border crossing delays, overnight stays, or extended stays are all part of the daily reality of land transport. Faced with these scenarios, Serano emphasized the importance of clear communication, presenting the full picture, and explaining potential additional costs, while avoiding unnecessary alarm.

Security has emerged as one of the main bottlenecks in Mexico . Serrano acknowledged that some routes, due to their level of risk, simply cease to be viable, regardless of demand. This is compounded by infrastructure challenges and port congestion, particularly in Pacific corridors, where additional costs and operational uncertainty discourage suppliers.

The result is a more cautious market , with clients seeking to reduce costs in a context where operating expenses continue to rise. For Serano, this disconnect between expectations and operational reality is one of the sector’s major challenges in 2025, a year he describes as particularly challenging for land-based logistics.

In this context, cross-border operations demand increasingly precise decisions. It’s not just about moving cargo between countries, but about doing so under changing conditions, with tight margins, and a supply chain that only survives if each link understands the context in which it operates.

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El cargo Cross-border operations: between uncertainty and no margin for error apareció primero en T21.

The land transportation of hydrocarbons faces a complex situation, with the entry into force of new regulations (beaconing rules, QR codes, and the Hydrocarbons Law regulations), which have imposed an additional burden on companies that transport fuels in Mexico, according to specialists.

During the panel “Impacts of the new regulatory framework on fuel transportation and storage ,” held at the Midstream Forum Mexico 2025 , organized by Grupo T21 ( Energy21 and T21 ), participants agreed that these provisions result in higher costs, duplicate procedures and a climate of regulatory uncertainty.

In this regard, Marcial Díaz Ibarra, president of the Association of Energy Sector Regulated Companies (ARSE) , warned that this overregulation “far from helping, is hindering daily life,” and noted that fuel transportation in Mexico—a high-demand, high-risk activity—requires clear rules that are also viable for the companies that support it.

According to the panelists, the implementation of QR codes  to strengthen traceability and control of fuel transportation entailed additional costs ranging from three thousand to ten thousand pesos per unit, in addition to the need to re-register vehicles with the National Energy Commission (CNE) .

This process revealed delays, creating a new source of risk for transporters, according to Alicia Zazueta, CEO of Eservices , who noted that many business owners “discovered that not all of their units were authorized by the authority, despite operating for years,” so she urged a review of current permits and registrations on the platform of the former Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE).

Adding to this is the confusion among authorities . Arrests by state and municipal agencies—without federal jurisdiction—have become a source of extortion and uncertainty. “The most serious thing isn’t the fine, but being linked to the illicit origin of the hydrocarbons,” the panelists explained.

The “man-truck” challenge

Compliance with the new regulations hits small transporters particularly hard.

“If large companies struggle to stop their vehicles to mark them, imagine the truck driver who makes two trips a day,” said Fabiola Tomasini, senior partner at GMB Abogados .

Added to this are civil and environmental liability policies that can exceed 10,000 pesos annually, a figure difficult to absorb for those operating on minimal margins.

The operator has become the most vulnerable link in the system, explained Sayonara Jarillo, an independent consultant, who warned that “many do not know how to defend themselves during an inspection or arrest, which worsens the situation.”

He proposed strengthening legal training for operators, since “on the road, ignorance can lead not only to a fine, but also to a serious charge.” In an environment where road safety and inspections are constant, training becomes a survival tool.

Among the new regulatory tools is the SIRACP platform , which will require companies to manually record information on operators, units, and products transported.

Omar Camacho, General Manager of Motive Mexico , believes the challenge will be twofold: administrative burden and data security.

“The authority will have real-time mapping of all units that transport oil products. If this information falls into the wrong hands, the consequences would be serious,” he noted, emphasizing the need to ensure the cybersecurity of the CNE’s systems.

Despite the adverse context, the panelists agreed that these provisions could represent an opportunity to professionalize the sector .

“The fuel market is becoming more formal; there will be opportunities, but they won’t be for everyone; they will only be for those who are able to comply with the regulations,” Díaz Ibarra emphasized.

He acknowledged that dialogue with the authorities will be key to adjusting the guidelines and preventing regulations from hindering the competitiveness of land-based hydrocarbon transportation.

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El cargo New provisions make hydrocarbon transportation more expensive apareció primero en T21.

The Tax Administration Service (SAT) and the National Customs Agency of Mexico (ANAM) have announced that, in order to improve efficiency and help position the Tehuantepec Isthmus Interoceanic Corridor (CIIT) as a key point in commercial logistics, there will be “new facilities” for transporting goods by land and rail along this route.

In this regard, they stated that in the recently published First Resolution of Modifications to the General Rules of Foreign Trade for 2024, rule 4.6.28 was added, International Transit of Goods through the Tehuantepec Isthmus Interoceanic Corridor between the customs of Salina Cruz and Coatzacoalcos and vice versa.

This new rule will allow individuals or legal entities to take advantage of the facilities to transport their goods through the CIIT, making trade and the flow of goods more agile and efficient through land and rail transport, according to the bulletin from both federal offices.

Therefore, they indicated that they have promoted the modernization of road and rail infrastructure in various municipalities of Oaxaca and Veracruz.

CIIT will offer national and international cargo services, transportation, storage, packaging, and various logistical services, contributing to the trade, development, and economy of the region.

SAT and ANAM stated that these measures contribute to the Mexican government’s project aimed at improving the efficiency of goods transportation, positioning this route as a key point in commercial logistics, increasing the interest of global markets in mobilizing various products as a strategic, modern, efficient, and safe alternative.

CIIT under construction

The ports of Salina Cruz in Oaxaca and Coatzacoalcos in Veracruz are part of the logistics infrastructure that the CIIT project includes to support international movements of inputs or products from companies deciding to invest in development hubs or, in another market niche, as an interoceanic crossing point for goods.

Last year, the Mexican government added the ports of Dos Bocas in Tabasco and Puerto Chiapas as part of this same logistics infrastructure.

Currently, these four seaports serve the logistics demand of foreign trade activities of companies related to the chemical, petrochemical, plastics, construction supplies, and agricultural sectors, mainly.

The government’s plan is to attract between 1.3 and 1.4 million 20-foot containers (TEU) currently transiting from Asia and arriving at seaports in California, as well as the Panama Canal, which aim to reach the Midwest of the United States, a market of at least 11 million TEU.

The Tehuantepec Isthmus is the narrowest area of Mexican territory where 10 development hubs will be built, where the government will allow industrial park developers to make their real estate investments and thus attract production companies.

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El cargo SAT and ANAM Announce “New Transport Facilities” for the Tehuantepec Isthmus Interoceanic Corridor apareció primero en T21.