Mexico has the opportunity to end the decade as one of the world’s most important logistics platforms , but to achieve this it must solve structural problems that currently hinder its competitiveness: insufficient infrastructure, highway insecurity, port saturation and slow customs processes.

That was one of the main conclusions of the panel ” Plan 2030: A turning point for logistics in Mexico?” , within the framework of the XVI Logistics and Transport Seminar of Leschaco Mexicana .

During the conversation, the panelists agreed that the so-called “Mexico Plan” sets ambitious goals for 2030, such as positioning the country among the most important economies in the world, increasing strategic manufacturing and strengthening national content; however, they warned that growth cannot be sustained without a comprehensive logistics vision.

Shantal Torres, procurement director of Leschaco Mexicana, explained that the goal of the plan is not only to attract companies, but to develop the ecosystem that allows them to operate efficiently: ports, highways, railways, energy, water and regulatory processes.

“Mexico cannot compete solely on proximity to the United States; it needs to become a strong production and logistics platform,” he said.

One of the projects that exemplifies this commitment is the Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (CIIT) , which seeks to connect the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico through railway infrastructure, ports and industrial development hubs.

Alejandra García, director of Trade Development at CIIT, highlighted that the corridor represents “the best opportunity” to position Mexico as an international logistics alternative within global supply chains.

He explained that the project is not new, but that it recently received significant investments in infrastructure and regulatory adjustments to facilitate interoceanic operations . Currently, the corridor is already handling automotive cargo crossings from Asia to the U.S. East Coast.

The official noted that the project offers advantages in terms of time and cost for companies in the south-southeast of the country that currently depend on more congested ports like Manzanillo or Veracruz. She even asserted that some routes could reduce maritime transit time by up to 20 days.

He also indicated that the corridor is focusing on three markets : domestic cargo, interoceanic crossings, and the future industrial movement derived from development hubs.

But while the country builds new projects, existing ports face increasing operational pressures.

José Antonio Contreras, CEO of Contecon Manzanillo , explained that the terminal has made significant investments to increase capacity and efficiency; however, the main bottleneck is no longer within the terminals, but in the access points and customs operations.

“The problem in Manzanillo is not the terminals, it’s the access points and the customs,” he stated.

The executive pointed out that the terminals operate 24/7, while customs maintains limited hours , causing delays in the release of goods and congestion at the country’s most important port.

He also warned about other critical challenges towards 2030, such as the lack of sufficient energy to support the electrification and modernization of port operations.

“We are being asked to move towards more sustainable operations, but we don’t have enough electricity supply,” he commented.

Contreras acknowledged that there are expansion and infrastructure projects relevant to the future of Manzanillo, but insisted that Mexico must first solve its current connectivity and cargo evacuation problems if it wants to remain competitive.

The executive emphasized that Contecon has strengthened its infrastructure in recent years and that the terminal currently has the conditions to continue growing in cargo volume. He even pointed out that the company handles large vessels thanks to the characteristics of its docks and the development of new expansion phases.

In this regard, he highlighted that Contecon Manzanillo has consolidated itself as the most important terminal in the country in terms of cargo movement, noting that this terminal alone moved more imports than the entire port of Lázaro Cárdenas.

“The Contecon terminal alone moved more imports than the entire city of Lázaro Cárdenas,” he stated.

From the perspective of the trucking industry, Noé Paredes, representative of the National Chamber of Freight Transportation (Canacar) , warned that the country faces a historical deficit of road infrastructure and a security crisis that directly impacts logistics costs.

He noted that 80% of trade between Mexico and the United States moves by road and that trucking moves around 60% of the national cargo.

However, he asserted that the infrastructure is insufficient and costly. While in the United States tolls represent between 1% and 2% of a carrier’s costs, in Mexico they can reach between 10% and 15%.

Added to this is the issue of insecurity. Paredes revealed that in the first quarter of 2026 there were already nearly 1,400 cargo truck robberies , so this could become the worst year for the sector since 2019.

“The infrastructure we have cannot even be used efficiently because of the insecurity,” he said.

The executive added that Mexico also faces a shortage of operators , an aging vehicle fleet, and a lack of adequate infrastructure for drivers.

Cinthia Moreno, a transport operator, also participated on this last point , sharing the vision of those who live on Mexican highways every day.

The operator acknowledged progress in female inclusion within the sector, but asserted that basic conditions for female transport workers are still lacking, such as adequate restrooms and spaces in many facilities.

Furthermore, he agreed that safety remains the main concern for those who work on the road.

“You don’t know if you’re going to make it back home when you go out,” he said.

At the close of the panel, the specialists agreed that the real challenge will be to coordinate infrastructure, regulation, security and logistics operations under a comprehensive vision that allows these advantages to be transformed into real competitiveness.

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Amid tariff tensions, pressures on border infrastructure and an upcoming review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) , specialists agreed that Mexico faces a historic opportunity to consolidate itself as a strategic partner in North America, although they warned that the country must resolve shortcomings in infrastructure, regulation and energy to fully capitalize on nearshoring (relocation of production lines).

During the panel “ The trade relationship between the United States and Mexico in light of the USMCA review” , organized within the framework of the XVI Logistics and Transportation Seminar of Leschaco Mexicana , participants pointed out that the productive integration between Mexico, the United States and Canada has already reached a level in which the region “produces together”, especially in industries such as automotive, chemical and manufacturing.

Abel Hernández, Head of Crossborder at Leschaco Mexicana, emphasized that the USMCA has evolved from a mere trade agreement into a highly integrated production system . He noted that North America represents approximately 30% of global GDP and around 14% of world trade, and that Mexico has solidified its position as the United States’ main trading partner.

“Today we are not competing, we are producing together,” he said, noting that thousands of trucks cross the Laredo border daily, reflecting the depth of regional integration.

Deep integration, but with pending issues

Guillermo Miller, Foreign Trade Director of the National Association of the Chemical Industry (ANIQ) , emphasized that one of the greatest achievements of the treaty has been to build deeply integrated value chains , where products cross the border several times before reaching the final consumer.

In the case of the chemical industry, he explained that North America already operates practically as a domestic market. The United States accounts for approximately 68% of the sector’s imports and around 71% of Mexican exports .

However, he warned that there are still important challenges, including greater integration of the south-southeast of the country into the economic development resulting from the trilateral trade agreement, as well as increasing the regional content of Mexican exports.

He also noted that the United States and Canada have concerns about the entry of Asian products into Mexico that are subsequently incorporated into exports to North America.

For his part, Guillermo Malpica, executive director of Alianza In México , considered that the main challenge heading towards the review of the USMCA will be to preserve the trilateral nature of the agreement and avoid setbacks compared to what has already been negotiated.

He recalled that during the original negotiation of the treaty there were three fundamental principles for Mexico: maintaining trilateralism, avoiding a “lesser” agreement than the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and preserving trade preferences.

“The USMCA is not just about trade; it is a set of rules that allow the region’s economic relationship to be managed,” he stated.

He also highlighted that sectors such as automotive, agribusiness, services and cross-border trucking will be among the key topics of the review, along with emerging issues such as digitalization and artificial intelligence.

From a logistical perspective, Víctor Salazar, commercial director of Trayecto , asserted that nearshoring is already a structural trend and not just a market narrative.

He noted that Mexico has managed to consolidate important competitive advantages, such as its geographical proximity to the United States, a large land border, a skilled workforce, and increasing industrial integration.

Furthermore, he highlighted that a large part of the foreign direct investment that Mexico receives corresponds to reinvestments, which reflects the confidence of the companies established in the country.

However, he acknowledged that Mexico needs to strengthen its infrastructure, particularly in highways, border crossings and customs systems , since many of them operate close to its border.

“The growth of international trade has not been accompanied by the same growth in infrastructure,” he warned.

Infrastructure and regulation, the major bottlenecks

The panelists agreed that the main obstacles to fully leveraging nearshoring are infrastructure, regulation, and security.

Guillermo Miller emphasized that, despite the growth of Mexican foreign trade since the entry into force of NAFTA, the country has not developed sufficient infrastructure in ports, airports and railways .

He also criticized the fact that much of the customs and transport regulations continue to be based on schemes created decades ago that no longer respond to the dynamics of international trade.

Along the same lines, Guillermo Malpica emphasized the need to promote energy and digital infrastructure, as well as improve trinational coordination to streamline customs and logistics processes.

Victor Salazar added that many border crossings are already operating at their maximum capacity and that inefficiencies generate additional costs for the entire supply chain.

From Canada, Carlos Brenes, Vice President of Sales at NCC Logistics Mexico , highlighted that nearshoring is not a new phenomenon , but rather an opportunity that Mexico must take advantage of with strategic intelligence.

He emphasized that Canada has sought to diversify its trade relations through new international treaties and considered that Mexico should also look towards other markets, without depending exclusively on the United States.

Participants agreed that the USMCA has been a key driver of Mexico’s economic growth and that the upcoming review presents both risks and opportunities.

Among the recommendations for companies were strengthening regional collaboration , investing in digitalization, improving operational efficiency, and maintaining a long-term vision beyond the political situation.

Comment and follow us on LinkedIn: @Jennifer Galindo / @GrupoT21

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The future has caught up with the world, making sustainability a primary concern in companies’ strategies. Climate change demands that transportation moves towards greener solutions and reduces its carbon emissions, as this is an issue that cannot be further postponed.

In the Sustainable Logistics panel: Navigating between the Green and Grey of the XIV Leschaco Logistics and Transport Seminar, specialists detailed the logistics horizon in the face of the challenges posed by this transition to cleaner transportation.

Torsten Nolting, General Manager of Hapag-Lloyd AG in Mexico, pointed out that the world has changed, and actions need to be taken. Although logistics face challenges every day, sustainability must take priority.

“The terminal is not working, the ship is late, there are no trucks, there are blockades, customs is not working as it should. These problems are minor; sustainability is an issue to save humanity, and we have not yet grasped it,” he emphasized.

In line with this, Daniel Wasserteil, Chief Sustainability Officer of Traxión, stated that awareness of global warming must be created within each person, each worker, to involve them in this fight.

“Every time we start a truck, we are warming the planet, every time we turn on a switch, we turn on the light, we are doing it, and that is the main message we must convey,” said Wasserteil.

On his part, Enrique Schleske, Head of Supply Chain for Latin America at Henkel, added that it is a matter of habits and awareness of practices in the workplace, in production plants, with business partners, and clients.

In this regard, he mentioned that Henkel aims to reduce over 100 million CO2 emissions from 2017 to 2032 through transportation and factories; for example, all their packaging will be recyclable and reusable within two years.

Regarding Hapag-Lloyd, Nolting assured that they are considering this issue as one of the main parts of their strategy, so they are investing $700 million to take some actions.

For instance, the shipping company is conducting tests with non-fossil fuels, such as ammonia, hydrogen, as well as exploring how to harness the wind, and in 2023, they consumed 200,000 tons of renewable fuels.

Hapag-Lloyd aims to reduce 30% of the emissions emitted in 2022 by 2030, and by 2045, they are committed to emitting zero CO2 for their fleet of 260 ships.

“We all have to contribute; we all have to go together. We have to save the planet; each one of us can contribute something. We are still far from emitting zero emissions as an industry, but we have made progress in recent years,” Nolting assured.

Daniel Wasserteil mentioned that Traxión is electrifying last-mile transportation; however, for heavy transportation, it is not yet possible due to the challenges this industry still faces, such as infrastructure, so they are also conducting tests to include green fuels.

“Beyond tests, it’s a matter of capabilities, understanding, and removing fear; the team needs to know that there are other fuels in electric vehicles that there must be infrastructure to generate internal confidence,” he said.

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The pace of the economy is being driven by the dynamics of domestic consumption, while nearshoring (relocation) is prompting the establishment of new production plants and demanding greater logistics services.

In this context, the 14th Leschaco Seminar will address, in various panels, the nearshoring phenomenon, sustainable logistics, and the challenges of land and sea transportation. On this occasion, the guest country will be Colombia.

“The 14th Leschaco Seminar addresses a series of critical challenges in the context of a rapidly transforming global and regional market, especially with the rise of nearshoring,” commented Francisco Gálvez, General Director of Leschaco Mexicana.

In the realm of nearshoring, the seminar will explore how organizations can optimize their supply chains and logistics to handle the increase in operations and demands for more agile and adaptive services.

To address the topic of sustainable logistics, the importance of integrating sustainable practices into logistics will be discussed, highlighting how innovation and technology, as well as artificial intelligence, can increase efficiency and minimize environmental impact. Success stories will be examined, and new ideas will be debated to advance towards greener and more efficient logistics.

Maritime transportation faces complex and dynamic challenges such as the blockage in the Red Sea, the Baltimore accident, and geographical challenges like the drought in the Panama Canal. These events underscore the vulnerability of maritime transportation to external factors. The seminar will provide a forum to discuss these issues and explore strategic solutions to improve the resilience and efficiency of maritime transportation.

The land transportation market is growing rapidly, posing significant challenges related to infrastructure capacity, technology, and regulation. The seminar will address emerging trends and how companies can adapt to a competitive and ever-evolving environment.

In 2024, Leschaco faces significant challenges in Mexico, primarily focused on logistics infrastructure, capacity, and market development across different continents. Nationally, insecurity in cargo movement along major highways poses a challenge in implementing security schemes.

In this field, Leschaco is adapting by exploring logistical alternatives, which includes increasing the use of railways, as they present a viable option to alleviate the burden on roads while also being a sustainable mode of transportation. Leschaco continues to invest in improving its own operational and internal logistical capabilities to handle operations more effectively through the proper utilization of Mexico’s infrastructure, noted Gálvez.

Leschaco has been actively expanding its operations, not only in key ports but also inland in Mexico. The expansion into Central America underscores the company’s strategic focus on creating an integrated logistics network that can effectively respond to the changing dynamics of the Latin American market.

At the corporate level, Leschaco is not only diversifying its range of services and products but also its opportunities in vertical markets. Its strong foundation in maritime solutions is facilitating the expansion of logistical capabilities for the aerospace and land sectors.

Additionally, Leschaco has implemented advanced digital tools such as the Lighthouse platform to optimize the order management process and operational efficiency. This platform is being deployed in Mexico and includes automatable functions that help customers improve their logistical execution and, consequently, save costs.

Expansion into the pharmaceutical and medical equipment industry is also crucial for Leschaco, with the diversification of services, bringing along a comprehensive offering from its experience in the chemical industry.

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