CICE Group has reached one of its greatest milestones in its 34 years of operations in Mexico, with the launch of its new Semi-Specialized Container and Project Cargo Terminal in the North Bay of the Port of Veracruz, the most important maritime hub for the country.

Leoncio Pérez López, CEO of Grupo CICE, talks in an interview with T21 about the business vision of the business group and the details of the new infrastructure that has taken 13 months of intense work to complete in its first stage, possibly placing it as the port terminal with the fastest construction in time and form , while increasing Mexico’s competitiveness with a facility capable of meeting the needs of current international trade.

Just over 110 Mexican shareholders with experience as customs brokers, shipping agents, and in the land transportation sector laid the groundwork for the group’s formation in Veracruz, Mexico, in 1991, as a port services company. A few years later, it obtained a contract for the partial transfer of rights to operate an 11-hectare multipurpose terminal in the southern bay of the Veracruz port. This was the first multipurpose port facility operating as a bonded facility at the time , but with the limitations of not being able to expand and not having its own waterfront, as it operated only in public docks.

True to this diversified business approach that has characterized them since their founding, they established their vision of becoming “the most comprehensive option in logistics solutions.” The group’s growth led it to expand its service portfolio with the creation of a division specializing in transportation and another in logistics. It has deployed strategic investments to serve its clients in the country’s main industrial and consumer hubs, with extensive warehouses in Veracruz, the State of Mexico, and Monterrey.

“We found a way to do things well, compete, and handle containers without a container terminal,” recalls Leoncio Pérez. Since then, CICE’s growth has been remarkable. By the end of 2024, its operations in the port of Veracruz reached just over 4.4 million tons of merchandise handling, both imported and exported, positioning it as one of the leading mixed cargo and container operators, handling nearly 110,000 boxes during the year.

Growth opportunities are something CICE has taken advantage of. A clear example was its participation in the second tender for the Mixed Cargo Terminal, the last facility to be awarded in the expansion zone of the Port of Veracruz . This occurred after another operator announced an agreement with the then Comprehensive Port Authority (API) Veracruz to voluntarily terminate the Partial Assignment of Rights Contract for said facility early.

This opened the door for CICE to compete for the terminal in a new bidding process , which was declared in its favor in February 2023, after having passed the analysis of the Federal Economic Competition Commission (COFECE) due to its consolidated presence in the southern bay of the port of Veracruz.

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El cargo CICE’s new port terminal in Veracruz boosts Mexico’s competitiveness apareció primero en T21.

The 25th anniversary of Grupo T21 could not have gone unnoticed. And not out of vanity, but rather to not miss the opportunity to show our gratitude to the industry that moves Mexico and the world .

The night of August 21 was decorated with a warm party for this media group and event developer that is celebrating its first quarter of a century, where special guests participated in one of the qualities that highlight Grupo T21: the creation of links between the leaders of the sectors we serve.

During the celebration event, the CEO and founder of Grupo T21, Osiel Cruz , highlighted the transformative impact that the company has had on the transportation and logistics sector in Mexico since its founding in 1999.

He recalled the modest beginnings of the project, driven by a passion for journalism and a clear vision of telling the key stories of the industry , which allowed them to create a “blue ocean” in the specialized publishing market.

With a firm belief in innovation and adaptation , he mentioned how the company has expanded into new sectors, such as energy, and is about to launch an English version of its information platform to reach an international audience.

“We always set out to seek innovation,” said Osiel Cruz, reflecting on the rapid adoption of the web in 2001 to offer daily industry information. “Today, we are convinced that conversations are the most important and powerful tool to make true transformations,” he added, underscoring Grupo T21’s commitment to creating value and consolidating a stronger logistics sector in Mexico.

Making a little history, on August 15, 1999, the first copy of what is now the T21 magazine was received and which, in this August 2024, will celebrate its first 300 editions in which contents that seek to offer a broad, truthful and contextualized overview to its readers, precisely to support them in their daily decision-making.

Of course, we weren’t always T21 . Our most seasoned followers will know that we were born as Transporte Siglo XXI and that in 2005 the decision was made to shorten ourselves to just T21, a brand that has become a benchmark in the vast sector of transportation, logistics and, if we go further, the supply chain.

Oscar Del Cueto, president of Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) of Mexico , offered a few words during the anniversary event, where he stated that T21 has been part of his work history , not only narrating it, but accompanying him since those beginnings in communication at TFM , then in the Operations area at Kansas City Southern de México (KCSM), and now at the head of CPKC de México.

“We are deeply grateful for their work. You have been our traveling companions since the days when the freight railway concession process began, a time of great challenges and opportunities; then in our change of track from being TFM to Kansas City Southern of Mexico, and now in our intercontinental journey after the merger that turned us into the train of North America,” he mentioned.

“It is a pleasure to be able to share many experiences with him throughout my railway career. Osiel has managed to develop very well this part of bringing together all of us who are dedicated to this sector , not only the railway sector, in cargo transportation, passenger transportation, and all logistics. We have a pillar in journalism, we have a pillar in logistics and transportation which is T21,” he indicated.

Adapt or die

Who else but you, kind followers, know better than anyone that in this fast-paced world, if you don’t adapt, you die. Group T21 has followed this maxim. Today we are not only a printed magazine, we are a media group that has transcended into the virtual world, read electronic page, social networks and whatever may arise in the future.

In addition, to our content portfolio, media specialized in energy issues, with Energy21 , and air, with A21 , have been created .

And for some time now we have been organizers of events that seek to develop a community more informed about events , from the own voice of its protagonists, as well as to build forums where long-term business connections are formed.

We talk about the Transportation and Logistics Meeting (ETYL) , 100+Influyentes and Transportation Awards , among others.

“The journey we have traveled together with T21 has been full of many anecdotes and achievements. In 1999, when it began, we did not yet have our first port facility and over the years the environment has witnessed how we have achieved various objectives. We feel part of the development of T21 and it has been a very positive path, it is a quality medium that can be trusted, all of us who operate in the different sectors recognize the professionalism with which they carry out their activities, in addition, within the sector is the only medium that brings together various industry players with its events and activities,” stated Leoncio Pérez, director of Grupo CICE , also present at the event.

Thanks for trusting

As a gesture of gratitude for the trust that various companies have placed in Grupo T21 over these 25 years, during the event recognition was made to Hutchison Ports, Pitic, CPKC, Grupo CICE, Ferrovalle, Kenworth Mexicana, Baja Ferries, Trayecto and Difrenosa.

In addition, Zinergia , Skyangel , Contecon Manzanillo , Samsara , RADAR Customs & Logistics , Transportes Alemán Estrella , Grupo Camili and Schneider were also recognized  for sponsoring the anniversary event and also for being part of the history of Grupo T21.

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El cargo Grupo T21, a Celebration of 25 Years Connecting the Industry that Moves the World apareció primero en T21.