In light of the review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) , the federal government assured that it is working on various actions to expedite foreign trade.

Estefanía Capdeville, Director General of Customs Services and International Affairs at Mexico’s National Customs Agency (ANAM) , said that improving operations through digitalization not only facilitates trade but also increases revenue collection. For this reason, they invested in technology such as arches, intelligence centers, and specialized personnel .

“All this investment, it’s true, has a revenue-raising component, but also an investment in the country. The USMCA is giving us the opportunity; all the geopolitical and foreign trade changes we are experiencing are giving us the opportunity for our customs to become an international benchmark. If we manage to make our customs an example of digitalization and efficiency, and with Mexico’s geographic location and the new investment opportunities we will have, we can change this moment and become a leader in facilitating foreign trade,” he asserted.

During his participation in the panel “Facilitation of Mexican Foreign Trade”, at the 8th Amacarga Congress , he assured that if greater efficiency is achieved in various customs processes, foreign trade volumes will increase , “which brings benefits to all of us, including tax collection.”

“In order to receive all the information, we need the necessary infrastructure to store and analyze it. In the first six months of this year, priority customs offices must be fully equipped with the necessary infrastructure. Currently, only 7% of our vehicles are automated; we need to invest heavily in infrastructure to streamline everything,” he noted.

He noted that the Mexican Single Window for Foreign Trade (VUCEM) is in place, procedures have been simplified in various agencies, and work is underway to digitize them.

Claudia Franco Arias, director of International Transport Affairs at the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport (SICT) , agreed that facilitating and digitizing customs processes increases revenue in a sustainable way .

“Freight forwarders are important players; we will no longer see them as mere logistics facilitators. Now we will see them as more focused and specialized because they consider different elements such as security, economics, and adequate logistical traceability to streamline and manage the costs we are experiencing with tariffs,” he stated.

For his part, José Ignacio Aguado, Director General of Innovation, Services and Domestic Trade at the Ministry of Economy (SE) , indicated that the focus should be on trade facilitation, for which there are the Mexico Plan, development hubs, the relaunch of the “Made in Mexico” brand, among others.

“With the review of the USMCA, we want to accelerate nearshoring , and this is through facilitation, not only with the integration of Mexican government actors such as the SICT, the Treasury, ANAM, and the single window, but also with foreign trade actors such as freight forwarders. Integration is a great step because it gives certainty to the outside world,” he emphasized.

He argued that to make the country more competitive, the public sector needs to be more efficient through technology and innovation.

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El cargo Mexico seeks to streamline foreign trade through digitization and facilitation apareció primero en T21.

Industrial relocation in Mexico is not only transforming the demand for industrial parks and logistics spaces; it is also modifying the operational needs of construction companies, manufacturers, and companies linked to the movement of goods, according to MTM , a company dedicated to the manufacture and marketing of waste compactors, concrete mixers, and mobility solutions.

While nearshoring (relocation of production lines) accelerates investments and new industrial developments in different regions of the country, increasingly visible pressures are beginning to emerge on infrastructure, supply chains and the availability of specialized machinery, the firm explained in a statement.

During 2024, demand related to industrial relocation exceeded two million square meters of industrial space in Mexico. Furthermore, the construction sector maintains a share of approximately 7% of the national Gross Domestic Product and generates around 7.8% of employment in the country, according to data cited by MTM.

However, behind that industrial growth, new challenges for daily operations also began to emerge: supply chain delays, increased logistics costs, energy pressure, and longer waiting times for imported machinery and spare parts.

In this context, domestic manufacturers of heavy machinery are seeking to gain ground in a market historically dominated by imports. The growth of industrial construction has also increased the demands for operational continuity for construction companies and logistics operators , particularly in an environment where delivery times and the availability of technical support are becoming strategic factors.

Under that scenario, MTM explained that it strengthened national manufacturing schemes, local availability of spare parts and specialized technical support.

The company stated that its plants operate under ISO 9001:2015 certification and produce solutions adapted to the operating conditions of the Mexican market.

“Today, the industry not only demands machinery; it demands solutions capable of integrating with different operating ecosystems and global platforms,” commented Emmanuel Vargas, the company’s Marketing Manager.

The executive added that competitiveness no longer depends solely on manufacturing equipment and now also requires developing adaptable engineering compatible with different operating platforms.

Under this scenario, the local availability of machinery, spare parts and technical support is beginning to gain importance within industries where imports have historically predominated.

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El cargo Mexican manufacturing gains ground in the face of logistical and industrial pressure apareció primero en T21.

The reconfiguration of global trade has favored Mexico as an investment destination, but the growing dependence on the US market and the advance of Asia as a strategic supplier pose new challenges to the competitiveness and resilience of supply chains .

Given this scenario, companies are modifying their strategies to reduce risks and ensure operational continuity in an environment marked by geopolitical tensions, changes in trade policies, and economic uncertainty stemming from US tariffs.

This was pointed out by Carlos Kuriyama, director of the Policy Support Unit of the APEC Secretariat ( Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum ), who explained that, since the mid-2010s, a process of productive reconfiguration began that has led companies to diversify their operations and seek new locations for manufacturing and investment.

According to the expert, Southeast Asia and Mexico have been the main beneficiaries. Countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand, among others, have captured a significant portion of the investment flows seeking alternatives to China; while Mexico has strengthened its position thanks to its proximity to the United States.

This trend is reflected in investment flows. By the end of 2025, Mexico had received $40.871 billion in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) , representing a 10.8% increase compared to the FDI received in 2024, primarily in manufacturing, thus consolidating its position as one of the leading recipients of productive capital among developing economies.

However, Kuriyama cautioned that the international context is changing again. The uncertainty stemming from new trade policies and tariff measures could pose challenges for economies highly integrated into a single market.

In that regard, he emphasized that one of Mexico’s main challenges will be to diversify its trade relations . Currently, more than 80% of Mexican exports go to the United States, a concentration that exposes the country to risks stemming from regulatory or trade changes in its main economic partner.

In March 2026 alone, the value of trade between Mexico and the United States reached $83,978.6 million, an 8.6% increase compared to March 2025.

According to Kuriyama, while exports continue to depend on North America, imports show a different dynamic. The specialist believes that Mexico has increased its purchases of components, supplies, and technology from Asia, driven by the competitiveness of suppliers in that region in terms of cost, quality, and availability.

This situation poses an additional challenge for companies based in the country: maintaining compliance with the rules of origin established in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to retain preferential access to the U.S. market, without giving up the competitive advantages offered by sourcing from Asia.

In an interview with T21, Kuriyama emphasized that Mexico’s geographic location represents a strategic advantage that can be better leveraged. Connectivity to both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans opens opportunities to expand markets and strengthen trade ties beyond North America .

This evolution is also transforming how supply chains operate. The just-in-time model , which prioritizes minimal inventory and efficient sourcing, is giving way to more flexible, resilience-oriented systems.

According to the APEC executive, more and more companies are incorporating redundancy into their supply chains and maintaining higher inventory levels to reduce the risk of production disruptions due to geopolitical conflicts , trade restrictions, or logistical problems.

“We are evolving from a just-in-time system to a just-in-case system ,” Kuriyama summarized, describing the need for safety margins that allow for responding to unexpected scenarios.

Resilience has become a central factor in corporate decision-making. The rise of nearshoring (relocation of production lines) and the search for more secure supply chains have contributed to Mexico registering record levels of FDI.

Regarding trade policy, Kuriyama maintained that economic openness remains a fundamental condition for strengthening competitiveness . In his opinion, international trade requires a flow where exports and imports complement each other within increasingly integrated value chains.

The specialist warned that the increase in tariffs generates higher costs for companies, by making inputs and components more expensive, and these increases are passed on to final consumers through higher prices.

In a scenario where, according to the executive, Asia is gaining relevance as a global supplier and companies are seeking to reduce operational risks, Mexico faces the opportunity to consolidate itself as a strategic hub between North America and the Asia-Pacific region. To achieve this, trade diversification, logistical integration, and economic openness will be key factors.

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El cargo Mexico faces the challenge of trade diversification and supply chain reconfiguration apareció primero en T21.

Amid growing trade uncertainty between the United States and China, as well as the review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) , Querétaro seeks to position itself as one of the country’s main logistics, industrial and technological hubs.

At the conference “Economic Perspectives for Investment and Strengthening the Supply Chain” at the GOMSA 2026 Event , Genaro Montes Díaz, Undersecretary of Economic Development of Querétaro, stated that Mexico is facing a decisive moment in trade and that the review of the agreement with the United States and Canada will force companies to strengthen traceability, knowledge of their supply chains and communication between operational, logistics and foreign trade areas.

“The United States wants to know where the goods come from, what the DNA of the products is, and how the value chains are integrated,” he said.

During his participation, Montes Díaz explained that the international environment has changed radically since the pandemic and the trade war between the United States and China , which accelerated processes such as nearshoring (relocation of production lines) and the regionalization of production chains.

He recalled that many companies moved their production to China for decades because of the low manufacturing costs; however, factors such as technological restrictions, the pandemic and the semiconductor crisis highlighted the vulnerability of depending on distant supply chains.

“What we are seeing today did not begin with the pandemic. Regionalization already existed, but the pandemic made evident the need to bring production closer to consumer markets,” he commented.

In that context, he warned that the review of the USMCA will be marked by three major issues: the traceability of goods, the rules of origin, especially in steel and aluminum, and the rapid response labor mechanisms.

Querétaro is betting on technology, logistics and talent

The undersecretary highlighted that Querétaro has built an industrial strategy based on diversification and specialization over decades , evolving from the food industry to sectors such as automotive, aerospace, medical devices, data centers and advanced technologies.

Currently, he said, the state concentrates about 75% of the data centers installed in Mexico , in addition to having a strategic geographical position in the center of the country, logistical infrastructure and a network of more than 130 public and private universities.

“Querétaro does not represent even 1% of the national territory, but it has become one of the most competitive and safe states in the country,” he stated.

Montes Díaz highlighted the growth of the Querétaro International Airport as a logistics hub, driven by both passenger traffic and the increase in air cargo, as well as the presence of operations by companies such as UPS and Mercado Libre .

He also emphasized the importance of the aerospace sector in the state, stating that Querétaro is one of only three places in the world where aircraft engines are manufactured , along with France and the United States.

One of the central messages of the conference was the need for Mexican companies to strengthen the integration between production, logistics, purchasing and foreign trade to respond to new international requirements.

The official warned that many companies still operate with fragmented information, making it difficult to prove the true origin of products and comply with the standards that the United States will require.

“If production areas do not share information with logistics and foreign trade, companies will be at a competitive disadvantage,” he warned.

Therefore, he insisted that talent development, digitalization, collaboration between academia, government and industry, and the strengthening of local suppliers will be fundamental to facing the new stage of international trade.

A complex scenario for Mexico

Montes Díaz also addressed the macroeconomic challenges facing the country, including the uncertainty generated by U.S. trade policies, tariff volatility, and the recent reduction in Mexico’s credit rating.

Even so, he considered that the country maintains important advantages thanks to its integration with the US market, which represents the destination of more than 80% of Mexican exports .

“Mexico has a huge opportunity, but we have to prepare. We can’t stop it from raining, but we can put on our umbrellas before the storm,” he stressed.

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El cargo Querétaro: traceability, logistics and technology in the face of current challenges apareció primero en T21.

Given the relocation of companies (nearshoring) and the renegotiation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), supply chains in the country face challenges in infrastructure, customs, security, technology, among others, industry specialists agreed.

Antonio Arranz, president of DHL Express Mexico , said regarding the USMCA that work must be done on the correct rules of origin, as well as having the necessary infrastructure for information management and security.

“Infrastructure is the most delicate issue we have; there is a delay of 10 or 20 years, and the United States is getting very serious about cybersecurity and not letting them get away with dumping. So one of the issues that Mexico most urgently needs to work on in the customs area is how to ensure the correct rules of origin and the correct infrastructure,” he commented.

He explained that there is also an opportunity in the management of customs areas, mainly in ports and some airports, a situation that is contrary to what exists at the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA).

“When the 12 bonded warehouses opened at AIFA, it freed up 200,000 square meters of capacity that Mexico City didn’t have. Mexico needed those 200,000 square meters to be able to operate; the implementation was painful, but it advanced us 20 years. Monterrey Airport is behind, as is Guadalajara’s, and the only modern one is AIFA. Bonded warehouses are needed at the borders to do this; the only risk is that it will become a monopoly,” he commented.

During the 3PL Ally panel, third in name, first in excellence organized by Conalog , Iliana Gámiz, CEO of E2E Supply Chain Services, mentioned that there is a great opportunity to offer a complete solution for the supply chain , that is, supplier, transport, visibility, among others.

Regarding the labor reform, he considered the initiative positive because “it brought order, since before we competed with companies that had their payroll off the books, and our costs were higher than the market, especially in the maquiladora sector, and clients said they had three cheaper suppliers. And that helped us a lot in bringing order.”

Jorge López, VP Sales at NetLogistik, explained that in the technological field, the digitization of processes must be applied , “one of the challenges that we continue to face in the Latin American market is the incredible fact that many processes are still carried out on paper; we lack that value proposition.”

Furthermore, he said that the implementation of these processes leads to economic benefits, an increased level of service, and benefits for the end customer.

Regarding the use of artificial intelligence, he commented that there is currently the concept of artificial intelligence agents for the supply chain, a tool that helps to automate processes and analysis.

Comment and follow us on LinkedIn:  @Evangelina del Toro  /  @GrupoT21

El cargo Supply chains face challenges in the face of nearshoring and the USMCA apareció primero en T21.

The industrial market in Mexico began 2026 with mixed signals, but with the northeast consistently leading the way in inventory absorption and growth. According to Pablo Quezada , CEO of Datoz , this region has not only grown above the national average in recent years, but has done so with solid demand fundamentals, not solely due to speculation .

During the first quarter of the year, the country’s industrial inventory approached 1.2 billion square feet . However, understanding its evolution requires going beyond the aggregate figure.

“In real estate, location is everything,” the executive explained in an interview.

In that sense, the northeast, with key markets such as Monterrey, Saltillo and Reynosa, has registered an average growth of close to 7% in the last five years, above the 5% observed in other regions such as the Bajío, the central or the northwest.

One of the most relevant findings is that this growth is supported by demand. Through a comparative analysis of cumulative absorption and inventory, Datoz found that the Northeast has a ratio close to 30% , compared to 20% for other industrial regions.

This indicates that real estate development in this area responds, to a greater extent, to real market needs.

“This is not mere speculation. In relative terms, there has been more demand than in other regions,” Quezada stated.

This stability is also reflected in the composition of new developments. Unlike other areas of the country, where speculative construction can exceed 80%, in the northeast it represents around 70%. The remainder consists of build-to-suit projects , meaning developments tailored to a specific tenant, suggesting a more cautious approach on the part of developers.

Currently, the Northeast is in a favorable phase of the real estate cycle for renters, with higher levels of availability. However, this trend is beginning to change.

“The availability rate is already showing signs of adjustment and could begin to decline in the coming quarters,” Quezada explained.

This behavior contrasts with other regions such as the northwest, where the cycle has not yet reached its peak.

According to the specialist, this adjustment is a natural market reaction, where developers begin to moderate the pace of construction in response to signs of oversupply, which helps to maintain the balance of the sector.

The major obstacle: energy and infrastructure

Despite its dynamism, growth in the Northeast faces structural limitations, particularly in the energy sector. The lack of sufficient infrastructure to support industrial projects , especially manufacturing, has become a factor that could hinder new investment.

“There are projects that simply don’t get off the ground because there’s no energy available,” Quezada warned.

This problem not only involves the construction of new plants, but also the development of transmission networks, which requires time and large investments.

Within the northeast, states like Nuevo León and Coahuila concentrate much of the activity. In contrast, Tamaulipas maintains more moderate growth, partly due to strong competition from Monterrey as an industrial hub.

“Monterrey is a formidable competitor. Many companies that could set up shop in border cities end up choosing this city because of its scale and productivity,” he explained.

However, markets such as Reynosa, Matamoros, or Nuevo Laredo remain attractive to companies that prioritize strategic location and proximity to the United States.

Contrary to the perception of a slowdown, Datoz believes that nearshoring still has room to grow in Mexico. The relocation of supply chains responds to structural changes in global trade and to an increasingly demanding consumer in terms of delivery times.

“The trend isn’t going to stop. Beyond geopolitics, it’s the consumer who is driving closer supply chains,” Quezada noted.

In this context, the review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) could also play a key role. While it generates uncertainty in the short term, its conclusion could trigger new investments by offering greater certainty to the markets.

Outlook 2026

Although the beginning of the year showed lower absorption levels than in previous periods, the outlook is positive. Datoz anticipates a gradual recovery as the year progresses, supported by a historically upward trend in demand for industrial space.

“The behavior is not linear, but the trend is clear. We expect the market to recover gradually in the coming quarters,” he emphasized.

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El cargo Northeast leads the industrial real estate market: Datoz apareció primero en T21.

Amid global uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and internal pressures, analyst Mauricio Candiani warned that 2026 will be a year of “crosswinds” for companies in Mexico, where the key will not be waiting for certainty, but making strategic decisions with pragmatism.

During his presentation at the ANERPV Forum , Candiani used a metaphor comparing the current economy to a turbulent flight. While some react nervously to any jolt, more experienced organizations understand that these episodes are inevitable and operate with clear protocols.

“This is how things are this year; there are slight movements and stronger ones that directly impact the dynamics of businesses, regardless of the sector,” he explained.

One of the main challenges, he pointed out, is the low economic growth . Mexico is advancing at a  “baby step” pace, insufficient in the face of key variables such as population growth or the level of public debt.

According to Candiani, the country should grow above both indicators to guarantee long-term stability, something that is not currently happening. This is compounded by a still-high fiscal deficit and a growing debt, which, while not critical, does show a worrying trend.

“The problem is not the size of the debt, it is the trajectory,” he warned.

On the monetary front, he highlighted that the reduction in interest rates represents an opportunity for investment, although he stressed that its impact goes beyond credit: it also directly affects the viability of new projects.

Regarding inflation , the specialist pointed out that it does not represent a serious macroeconomic risk at the moment, as it remains within manageable ranges for the economy.

One of the most critical points of his analysis was the global energy environment, which he described as a “shock” driven more by expectations than by physical scarcity.

In this context, he warned about Mexico’s high dependence on natural gas imported from the United States, which could become a structural risk in the event of supply disruptions.

However, it also identified opportunities, particularly in the development of unconventional gas in the north of the country, driven by changes in energy policy.

“The restriction is not the price, it is the capacity,” he emphasized.

Nearshoring and unequal opportunities

Candiani acknowledged that regionalization and trade with the United States remain key drivers for Mexico, especially within the context of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) . However, he cautioned that the benefits are not distributed evenly.

While some regions and industries are growing rapidly due to the relocation of production chains, others are facing lags or even contractions.

“The world is in constant arbitrage of inputs, and Mexico is well positioned to take advantage of it,” he noted.

Another area of ​​concern is the judicial system . Candiani warned about a transition process that could generate greater uncertainty in dispute resolution, forcing companies to rethink their legal and compliance strategies.

He even warned about the strengthening of regulatory powers that allow accounts to be frozen based on presumptions, which increases operational risks .

Beyond the diagnosis, Candiani’s central message was that companies must adjust their decision-making to a reality where government support is limited.

“We have to ask the government as if it could do everything, but in the boardrooms we have to make decisions as if it weren’t doing anything,” he said.

In this regard, he called for maintaining financial discipline, avoiding overleverage, and strengthening the capacity to adapt to changing scenarios.

Despite the challenges, the specialist concluded with a moderately optimistic outlook. He asserted that Mexico maintains significant competitive advantages , especially in sectors related to exports, logistics, and technology.

“The country is in the right postal code ,” he said, noting that opportunities exist, but depend on companies’ ability to read the environment, adjust their strategies, and execute with discipline.

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El cargo Mexico grows in “baby steps” in an environment of global risks apareció primero en T21.

The transformation of supply chains in North America, driven by nearshoring (relocation of production lines) and the growing need to reduce dependence on Asia, positions local and regional suppliers as a strategic component for industrial competitiveness. In this context, Baja California seeks to strengthen its supply capabilities for the export-oriented manufacturing industry .

According to Alfredo Vega, director of the Supply Committee of the National Council of the Maquiladora and Export Manufacturing Industry (Index) Mexicali , the region is going through a historic moment in this matter.

“There is now an explicit demand from purchasing companies to map which inputs and services can be acquired locally or regionally and not depend on Asia,” Vega stressed, referring to the impacts of tariffs on Asian inputs, mainly from China, and the reconfiguration of global supply chains.

Supply chain: the cornerstone of export competitiveness

Baja California is a state with a strong export and manufacturing focus. The maquiladora sector reached record exports in 2025, with 390,972.9 million pesos (MXN) , representing a 14.7% increase compared to 2024, according to figures from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) .

This figure reflects an environment in which the demand for local suppliers has become more relevant in the face of challenges such as volatility in international logistics and changes in trade policies , which have become increasingly frequent since Donald Trump’s arrival to the presidency of the United States for a second term.

Vega indicated that Baja California has one of the largest volumes of companies that are within the Manufacturing, Maquiladora and Export Services Industry Program (IMMEX) , which is made up of approximately 1,128 operating units, concentrating 17.3% of the national total, according to figures from Inegi in January 2026.

“We are in a strategic area that has always been so and now we must take greater advantage of it, which is the so-called Cali-Baja region, in addition to Arizona and Sonora, which is a region that is not only working in a coordinated manner in terms of product innovation and alliances, but also for the development of talent, the skilled workforce that the entity has,” the specialist emphasized.

In that sense, the area seeks to leverage the talent that has been developed to boost the IMMEX industry with local and regional suppliers, which is a strategic priority.

“Currently, there are agreements with universities in Arizona and California, along with universities in Baja California and Sonora, to address this specialized demand for talent, such as software engineering , specialized semiconductor engineering, and the aerospace industry,” Vega explained.

Supply Match Platform

To address this structural opportunity, Index Mexicali has developed a platform called Supply Match that centralizes key information on the capabilities of regional suppliers.

In an interview with T21, Alfredo Vega explained that the project, built over two years with support from the state government and a business trust, allows for the registration of suppliers and buyers; the display of certifications, production capacities and contacts, as well as facilitating the link between companies and decision-makers.

“We’ve already reached 100% registration of companies and suppliers, and we’ll begin working with success stories to monitor and support business connections. The platform is practically ready and already operational,” Vega stated.

In this way, the platform becomes a key tool for multinational companies with operations in Baja California —from the aerospace, semiconductor, metalworking, plastic injection, and other industries— to identify and connect with local suppliers capable of meeting quality requirements, delivery times, and certifications.

Compliance programs are also being developed to raise supplier standards ; financial tools are being implemented to enable small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to scale their production capacity; and virtual and in-person events are being organized to connect buyers and suppliers. The goal is to increase the proportion of locally sourced inputs.

Currently, between 3% and 5% of the inputs for exporting industries are acquired within the country, a figure that the business sector considers insufficient given the regional potential, Vega noted, indicating that greater integration of national suppliers could improve resilience, reduce logistics costs and delivery times , especially in strategic industries facing global disruptions, such as the conflict in the Middle East.

Strengthening local suppliers is also linked to public policy objectives such as the Mexico Plan , which aims to ensure that 50% of the supply in strategic sectors – steel and aluminum; heavy and light vehicles; auto parts and others – is made in Mexico.

With these actions, Baja California is committed to a strategy to consolidate a more competitive local and regional production ecosystem , aligned with the needs of global supply chains. The Supply Match platform, along with training initiatives and buyer connections, represents a firm step toward regional integration to leverage the advantages of nearshoring , border logistics, and the export industry.

On May 14, these topics will be addressed at the second edition of ETYL Cali-Baja (Transportation and Logistics Meeting) , a forum organized by  Grupo T21  that will bring together industry leaders and nearly 200 attendees at the Real Inn Hotel in Tijuana.  For more information, visit https://baja.etylmx.com/ .

Comment and follow us on LinkedIn:  @Humberto Cruz Moya  /  @GrupoT21

El cargo Baja California: A regional supply hub for the export manufacturing industry? apareció primero en T21.

Nearshoring , industrial growth, and the need for more efficient and sustainable logistics solutions in the Cali-Baja region are among the opportunities for freight rail to drive its growth. Baja California Railroad (BJRR) , operator of the short-gauge rail line in northwest Mexico, knows the path forward and has a defined plan for 2026 to ensure that this mode of transport is not just an alternative, but becomes the primary logistics option for industry.

“The development of customs infrastructure, binational integration, and market diversification can position rail as the ideal means for transporting large volumes of cargo, particularly in sectors such as energy, agribusiness, and advanced manufacturing. The Cali-Baja mega-region has enormous potential due to its productive integration between Mexico and the United States,” says Roberto Romandía, the company’s CEO, in an interview with T21.

He asserts that strengthening cross-border trade, optimizing rail crossing times, and promoting integrated logistics schemes will attract more companies seeking to reduce costs and improve their international competitiveness . “The trend of industrial relocation also represents a great opportunity to consolidate rail as the backbone of logistics.”

Romandía argues that the railroad is vital for Baja California , since the region has more than a thousand maquiladoras that depend on efficient and competitive supply chains, and this mode of transport offers capacity, safety, cost reduction, less environmental impact and operational stability.

“Many companies are facing complex situations related to union issues, work stoppages, and internal cost pressures. The rail model allows maquiladoras to reduce their internal operating burden—less need for their own operators, less exposure to labor disputes in ground logistics, and less dependence on union schemes in transportation—which has become a strategic asset. Furthermore, they will soon be able to optimize returns to the United States with finished products, further reducing their costs,” he mentions.

The second edition of ETYL Cali-Baja (Transportation and Logistics Meeting) will take place on May 14th.  This forum, organized by  Grupo T21  , will bring together industry leaders and nearly 200 attendees at the Real Inn Hotel in Tijuana. Through four panels, specialists will analyze the  challenges and opportunities in the binational logistics context and their impact on supply chains . For more information about ETYL Cali-Baja, please visit  https://baja.etylmx.com/ .

If you wish to continue reading this text published in the April 2026 edition of T21 magazine, we invite you to consult the digital version by clicking here .

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El cargo Cali-Baja, the route for the growth of the freight railway apareció primero en T21.

Logistics has gone from being a poorly understood concept within companies to becoming one of the strategic pillars of global competitiveness, according to Arturo Frías, a consultant and specialist in the sector, who considered that the evolution of the discipline has been “infinite”, driven by technological changes, global disruptions and a growing understanding of its financial impact on businesses.

Frías recalled that when he started his career in logistics, this word wasn’t even a common term within companies.

“More than 40 years ago, the word logistics was practically not used. Some even confused it with logic. Today we know that it is the management of the physical flow of products or services to comply with the principle of the ‘five rights’: the right product, in the right place, in the right quantity, at the right time and at the right cost,” he explained.

Over the decades, various sectors have set the pace of logistics innovation , although the automotive industry has been one of the main catalysts.  According to Frías, this industry pioneered the integration of external logistics operators and schemes such as direct supply to production lines, or line feeding . It also promoted more complex supplier management models.

“Automakers began integrating logistics into third-party operations more than 30 years ago. Specialized companies started handling warehousing, transportation, and supplier management,” he noted.

This model later spread to other industries such as consumer goods, electronics, and pharmaceuticals.  While the evolution of logistics has been constant, Frías identified the COVID-19 pandemic as the moment that accelerated the sector’s transformation.

Disruptions in global supply chains, port closures, and increased transportation costs forced companies to rethink their sourcing strategy.

“The model of manufacturing in the cheapest location ceased to be sufficient when shipping containers began to cost up to $60,000 and delivery times multiplied,” he explained.

In this context, nearshoring (relocation of production lines) , the growth of e-commerce, and the greater strategic value placed on logistics within companies became key factors for its recent evolution.

Artificial intelligence and automation

Another decisive change has been the adoption of advanced technology in logistics operations . Warehouse management systems, robotics, and predictive models based on artificial intelligence (AI) have transformed the planning and execution of supply chains.

“Today you can integrate factors such as weather, mobility, or customer behavior into a planning model. This allows you to move from forecasts with 70% accuracy to levels close to 95%,” he explained.

Automation is also changing operations in distribution centers, where robotization and process digitization are becoming increasingly common.  However, he cautioned that technology alone is not enough.

“Before implementing artificial intelligence or logistics software , companies need to review and improve their processes. If you automate inefficient processes, you’ll only get more errors,” he pointed out.

Launch of their marketplace

In this context, Frías recently launched a marketplace specializing in logistics , arturofrias.shop , a platform that seeks to concentrate content, training and services related to the sector.

The specialist explained that the initiative arose after identifying a gap in logistics training, especially among young professionals and small businesses seeking practical tools to improve their operations. Although corporate training has grown significantly in Mexico over the past few decades, he believes there is still a need for accessible materials focused on practical application.

“Logistics doesn’t have to be elitist; it has to be accessible to everyone. The more people who are starting out in the sector are reached, the faster they can learn and apply concepts that will help them improve their operations,” he said.

The platform integrates various resources developed throughout his professional career, including specialized books, video tips on logistics strategies, and digital training programs with animations aimed at operational and administrative staff.

In addition, the marketplace also seeks to connect other services related to the sector, such as consulting, specialized recruitment, and artificial intelligence-based solutions for logistics management.

According to Frías, the goal is to broaden access to logistics knowledge and at the same time create a meeting point for companies seeking to improve their processes in an increasingly digital environment.

A future with two possible scenarios

Looking ahead to the next decade, Frías envisions two possible scenarios for Mexican logistics.  The first would involve greater coordination between companies, associations, and the government to develop infrastructure and take advantage of nearshoring .

The second, less optimistic, scenario would be that the country continues to lose positions in international logistics rankings .

“We have the location, the market, and the talent. The question is whether we can work together to turn those advantages into a true logistics platform,” he emphasized.

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

El cargo From physical distribution to artificial intelligence: the evolution of logistics apareció primero en T21.