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.

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Manuel Reynaud , treasurer of the Confederation of Associations of Customs Agents of the Mexican Republic (CAAAREM) , acknowledged that Mexico lacks port and customs infrastructure, which affects the country’s commercial growth and increases logistics costs.

Within the framework of the 15th Leschaco Logistics and Transportation Seminar , Reynaud pointed out that the Government of Mexico is betting on new projects, such as the Transístmico ports , specifically Coatzacoalcos, in Veracruz, and Salina Cruz, in Oaxaca; however, he added, the main seaports continue to be Manzanillo, Lázaro Cárdenas, Veracruz and Altamira .

According to statistics from the National Port System Administration (Asipona) Manzanillo , the port of Manzanillo alone handled 979,452 20-foot containers (TEU) in the first quarter of this year, which represented an increase of 2.2% compared to the same period in 2024. Meanwhile, in March 2025, the port of Lázaro Cárdenas, in Michoacán, handled 191,224 TEU , which represented an increase of 11% compared to the same month of the previous year.

In the session “Logistics Challenges and Opportunities Amid Rising Operating Costs in Mexico ,” Manuel Reynaud indicated that all four ports need infrastructure, something that was evident with the demonstration and blockade of the Manzanillo port facility last week, which concluded early Friday morning, May 16.

It’s worth remembering that customs employees closed access to the port starting on the afternoon of May 14 due to  alleged poor working conditions . Meanwhile, on May 12, customs workers, mostly civilians, carried out  a nine-hour closure , but it ended after negotiations with authorities.

In a statement from Asipona Manzanillo, it was announced that the protests at the port ended on May 16, although it did not indicate whether the protesters reached an agreement with authorities. However, as of Monday, May 19, the entry and exit of trucking vehicles to the port remained halted due to a lack of personnel at customs .

The specialist said that what happened in Manzanillo “takes a toll on everyone,” so a first step would be to address the challenges posed by the lack of infrastructure and human resources.

For his part, Alejandro Marroquín , general director of Transportes Monterrey en Trayecto , agreed with Reynaud, considering that there is a serious infrastructure problem in Mexico, to which are added geopolitical issues that have complicated entries and exits in land transportation .

“We’re like a sandwich because, on the one hand, we have a very high level of unproductivity, because operators who enter the ports are stranded there for approximately 12, 14, or 24 hours, and when they finally manage to load, they have to leave, but they have to rest because the operator isn’t a machine that can leave after 24 hours of loading and go out to deliver, so that generates very high unproductivity, which raises logistics costs,” he explained.

Regarding Mexico’s road infrastructure, he pointed out that some of these roads “are still the same as when we were children.” He also indicated that another problem they face is insecurity .

“At a certain time, the operator has to stop, because crossing those roads at certain times means the cargo could be lost. For us, the most important thing is the safety of our operators and the security of our assets, so that’s a major issue that also raises costs.”

According to an Overhaul report  , in the first quarter of 2025 Puebla and the State of Mexico led the list of entities where the most cargo thefts occur , each with 11 percent .

The analysis revealed that, during that period,  31%  of robberies occurred  between 6:00 PM and midnight , as night fell. Another  28%  occurred  between 6:00 AM and 12:00 PM , just as the units begin their routes.

For her part, Hoshi Jurado , vice president of Institutional Relations at the Mexican Intermodal Transport Association (AMTI) , noted that, for logistical, cost-efficiency, and environmental reasons , “customers are looking more toward being able to ship their goods via this railroad.”

He emphasized that investment continues in this type of transportation “to expand the routes and increase the capacity to continue removing containers in this manner.”

“The railway companies are working to reduce these transit times so we can offer a more competitive product,” he explained.

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AI is a tool that must be understood, because whoever manages to do so will generate a value that will translate into saving time and resources , and will also allow logistics processes to be more efficient , explained Marcos Salazar , logistics manager for Latin America at Honeywell .

At the 15th Leschaco Logistics and Transportation Seminar , Salazar noted that it is necessary to ground Artificial Intelligence in the specific needs of each client, since only in this way will this technology be able to deliver the expected results.

He said that logistics remains a human activity and integrating AI means an evolutionary process .

In the session Digitalization and application of AI as a competitive advantage in the midst of a logistics revolution , Luis Larrea , senior manager of Field Operations Engineering at Samsara Mexico , stressed that AI is an enabling technology and adopting it is a continuous process, which is why he considered that it is necessary for companies in the sector to start using it as soon as possible.

The specialist emphasized that AI helps streamline logistics operations, although he indicated that there is still resistance to adopting it, especially on the part of operators, a situation they have addressed through convincing.

“We’ve convinced them by showing them the benefits of using AI, such as reduced commute times, and by showing them real-life examples. That’s where they’re convinced, because what we’re looking for is to protect them,” Larrea said.

He said there are also barriers from organizations and operational staff themselves regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence, such as the myth that this technology has come to eliminate jobs .

In this regard, Larrea highlighted the positive aspects of AI, as it can help employees become more productive and creative. He estimated that this tool will grow exponentially in the future, as technology is becoming increasingly crucial in businesses, but without neglecting the work done by humans .

According to the 2024 edition of the Latin American Artificial Intelligence Index study , by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) , Mexico is one of the eight AI-adopting countries with an index of 46.85 points, placing it in seventh place among 19 nations that have incorporated this technology.

For his part, Alexander Schöps , head of global LLP & 4PL at Grupo Leschaco, explained that behind the implementation of AI in a company there is a digitalization effort, so companies must question how far they have advanced in this process.

“If the data we provide to AI isn’t of a certain quality, this technology will provide answers that need to be analyzed,” said Schöps, who asserted that Mexico offers significant opportunities in terms of Artificial Intelligence, “since Mexicans can adapt very quickly to new things.”

“In Mexico, in the logistics sector, many processes are still manual, so there’s a significant opportunity to implement this technology in this sector,” he added.

Between 2018 and 2024, the number of companies using AI in Mexico increased by 965% , reaching  362 companies , according to the QS World Future Skills Index 2025 report . This increase was due to the early adoption of artificial intelligence strategies.

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The recognition, which took place within the framework of the 15th Leschaco Logistics and Transportation Seminar , was in three categories: collaboration, participation and outstanding career.

Miguel Benedetto, general director of the National Association of the Chemical Industry (ANIQ) , received the Golden Beetle for “Outstanding Collaboration.”

“For me, for us, it’s truly a source of satisfaction. It’s an honor that Leschaco is our partner for many of our projects,” he emphasized.

In the “Outstanding Participation” category, Laura Calderón, Senior Logistics Manager at Grupo Idesa , was recognized for her work in the sector.

“Logistics has been the most important and most satisfying part of my life,” he said upon receiving the award.

Arnaldo Huitron, Marketing and Sales Manager at Solvay , also received the Golden Beetle for “Outstanding Participation.”

“It’s been many years of hard work, and we have to recognize Leschaco’s professionalism. Thank you,” he emphasized.

In the “Outstanding Career” category, Leschaco recognized Virgilio del Bosque, Logistics Manager at Quimobásicos .

“I want to express my gratitude for this great distinction. Logistics isn’t something that develops day by day; it’s something that is continually evolving, and women are a very important part of logistics. Congratulations to all of you,” she emphasized upon receiving the award.

Also for “Outstanding Career,” Leschaco recognized the commitment and work of Susana Díaz, general manager of Hutchison Ports ICAVE .

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Present in 125 countries with more than 2,400 certified organizations, Top Employers Institute is focused on recognizing companies that focus on generating better work environments, through various innovative and effective practices for their employees.

The Top Employers Institute evaluates companies in key areas such as talent strategies, work environment, professional development, well-being, and diversity and inclusion.

Leschaco Mexicana has once again stood out for its commitment to:

• Foster a positive work culture based on collaboration and mutual respect.
• Taking care of the comprehensive well-being of its employees through programs focused on physical and mental health.
• Promote professional development , providing opportunities for growth and continuous learning.

Aligned with these strategies, Leschaco Mexicana obtained the incursion as a Top Employer in 2023. Since then, its internal policies aimed at presenting better scenarios have allowed it to maintain this certification, and in 2025 it achieved this distinction for the third time.

“This certification reinforces our commitment to being not only a leader in the logistics sector, but also a benchmark in talent management and workplace well-being. This achievement is a reflection of the joint effort of our entire team, and drives us to continue offering excellent services to our clients and suppliers,” said Francisco Gálvez, CEO of Leschaco Mexicana.

Among the dynamics that Leschaco Mexicana has maintained is the InBallance program, aimed at having better physical and eating habits, which is linked to “Blue Belt,” a training program for employees focused on continuous improvement.

The Top Employer program considers six major areas of human resources, made up of 20 topics that include areas such as People Strategy, Work Environment, Talent Acquisition, Learning, Wellbeing and Diversity and Inclusion, among others.

Leschaco Mexicana is part of the Leschaco Group, present in more than 22 countries, and operates in Mexico through six strategically located offices. Its focus on logistics solutions for industries such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals and automotive, among others, positions it as a reliable and specialized partner.

With this certification, Leschaco Mexicana reaffirms its commitment to operational excellence and its vision of being a benchmark employer in the logistics sector.

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The chemical industry is one of the most active in the national economy in integrating production chains, demanding inputs from more than 30 branches and being a supplier to more than 40 branches, involved with sectors such as automotive, textile, aerospace, construction, household appliances and agriculture, among others.

Within the framework of the LVI ANIQ Forum organized by the National Association of the Chemical Industry (ANIQ) , Leschaco , a logistics services provider, is present to help companies in the sector find more dynamic solutions in the supply chain.

In its portfolio of services, Leschaco offers maritime, air, intermodal, tank container, contract logistics and LLP or 4PL transport.

Within the framework of the ANIQ Forum, Leschaco launched its 4PL services , with which it seeks to offer more efficient solutions to its clients and eliminate the complexity of the supply chain, taking advantage of the technological platform.

“The service offering is designed to streamline operations and access data-based information by managing logistics as a single point of contact for customers, linking with all service providers such as carriers or external logistics services,” said Francisco Gálvez, CEO of Leschaco Mexicana.

Through data analysis-based technology, Leschaco can generate suggestions to improve customers’ logistics.

“We identify all the information generated from the moment the order is placed, thus centralizing the information on the platform with end-to-end visibility. In addition, we can manage statistics, extraordinary expenses, visualize warehouses, analyze big data and logistics solutions with cost savings and operational efficiencies,” added Francisco Gálvez.

To offer this data-driven logistics solution, Grupo Leschaco works in strategic collaboration with the technology provider Logward , which operates as an independent provider of “software as a service” (SaaS), a platform that integrates transport, purchasing and supply functionalities in all modes of transport.

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