The analysis of passenger and cargo transportation during the six-year term of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador revealed results that contrast with some of the initial promises of his administration. The figures presented in the Sixth Government Report show a decrease in six of the seven main categories , including passenger and cargo rail transportation, as well as the growth of federal motor transport.

In this sense, the evolution of cargo transported by air and land during the López Obrador administration reflects challenges and recoveries . In the report, the volume of cargo by these modes of transport experienced constant growth until 2018, but from 2019 it began to register declines , notably in 2020, with an annual decrease of -3.7%, largely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although a recovery was observed in the following years, with annual growth of 3.2% in 2021 and 3.3% in 2022, the increase moderated to 2.3% in 2023. This trend indicates that, although there was a post-covid recovery, freight transport still faces challenges to achieve sustained growth .

This behavior highlights the vulnerability of the cargo transportation sector to global crises and the importance of implementing more resilient policies that strengthen the country’s capacity to face future adversities, something that, according to the data, was left unfinished during the six-year term that is about to end.

The report shows detailed data on air transport cargo, the behaviour of which is irregular compared to the previous six-year period.

Between 2013 and 2018 , relatively stable growth was observed, with positive annual variations ranging from 1.1% to 12.8%, reaching important peaks such as 12.8% in 2018. This positive trend was interrupted in 2019 , when a drop of -5.5% was recorded , followed by an even steeper drop of -11.5% in 2020, coinciding with the impact of the pandemic.

Despite a 28.2% rebound in 2021 , this recovery was not sustained , as in 2022 the figure fell again to -1.2%. For 2024, the graph shows a modest growth of 8.5%, which, although positive, is still below the levels reached in the previous six-year period.

In addition, freight in land rail transport shows a volatile performance, with several points of concern when compared to the previous six-year period. Between 2012 and 2018 , although there were ups and downs, the general trend was one of moderate growth, reaching peaks such as 4.5% in 2014 and 4% in 2017. However, from 2019, the situation changed dramatically.

The year 2019 marked the beginning of a series of significant declines , starting with a decline of -2.2%, which worsened to -3.8% in 2020, coinciding with the impact of the pandemic and disruptions in the global supply chain.

Although 2021 saw a recovery with growth of 7.9% , this rebound was not sustained as in 2022 the figure fell back to -1.1 percent. For 2024, a modest growth of 4 percent is projected.

Finally, the federal auto transport load during AMLO’s six-year term shows significant fluctuations. After a significant drop in 2020, there was a recovery in 2021, but growth stabilized at 2.3% in 2023 and 2024, without reaching the consistency of previous years. However, this reflects the need for more stable policies to ensure sustained growth in the sector.

One of the most visible sectors during this six-year period is passenger air transport , since the average annual growth of 10.85% during 2019-2024 exceeds the 9.4% recorded in the previous six-year period. This growth is largely due to the post-pandemic recovery.

In the case of passenger rail transport , growth was low, with an annual average of only 1.57% compared to 4.8% in the previous six-year period. This shows that large railway projects, such as the Mayan Train and the Trans-Isthmus Train , were and are marked by delays and questionable execution for different sectors of the industry.

The growth in the number of passengers served in land transport by federal motor transport during AMLO’s six-year term shows that after a significant drop of -3.5% in 2020, impacted by the pandemic, the sector experienced a recovery with an increase of 4.4% in 2021 . However, starting in 2022, growth began to slow down, stabilizing at 2.1% by 2024 . These data reflect the recovery of the sector after the crisis, but also the difficulty of maintaining constant growth in a challenging environment.

López Obrador’s six-year term has been marked by an ambitious commitment to large infrastructure projects, such as the Maya Train and the AIFA . However, these projects are plagued by criticism from their planning phases to their execution, and so far, they have not met expectations in terms of significantly improving transportation in Mexico.

(Main photo source: AMLO Instagram)

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Although the government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) placed maritime cabotage in Mexico as one of its priority projects, this activity did not show considerable progress during the six-year term.

Wow, in AMLO’s Sixth Government Report , only a few lines are dedicated to explaining the “actions” undertaken.

“(…) the planning and construction of port projects that stimulate the internal market by taking advantage of cabotage and short-distance maritime transport was promoted, always with a perspective of sustainable development,” the report states.

Meanwhile, the volume of goods transported in cabotage activities in Mexico shows an inconsistent evolution.

National Cargo Movement – ​​Cabotage (tons)

The Executive then combines in the President’s latest report the various investments that both the public and private sectors have made in the last year around the port sector.

In general, it mentions that, from September 2023 to June 2024, port investment amounted to 11 thousand 413 million pesos (mdp) , made up of 10 thousand 091.9 mdp of public resources (own and fiscal) and 1 thousand 321.1 mdp of private investment.

In addition, it lists the works carried out in the different Administrations of the National Port System (Asiponas)

The following investment projects were carried out with public resources:

− Ensenada. Progress was made in the construction of the Transport Regulatory Centre (29% complete).

• The Maritime Traffic Control Center is being built (50% complete).
• Access to the tourist boardwalk and the fiscalized area of ​​Ensenada and El Sauzal were modernized (31.6% progress).
• Progress was made in maintenance programs for the port infrastructure and electrical system of Ensenada (19.4% progress) and El Sauzal (46.4% progress).

− Topolobampo. Progress was made on the port infrastructure maintenance program for 2021-2024 (76.5% complete).

• As part of the Maritime Traffic Control Center, the construction of the 30-meter-high tower, which is the base structure for the port radar, was completed.
• The construction of the platform and hydraulic concrete slab covering 2.3 hectares of the storage yard surface has been completed.

− Manzanillo. The Armería Manzanillo aqueduct was completed, modernizing 42 kilometers of hydraulic infrastructure to benefit 170,000 residents.

− Lázaro Cárdenas. The marginal dock, 350 metres long, 29 metres wide and four metres high above sea level, was cemented and will accommodate vessels with a length of 285 metres, a width of 42 metres and a draft of 12 metres (96% complete).

• The 207.9-meter-long dock for smaller vessels and tugboats was completed. * Work continued on the expansion of the access and exit road to the port area for coastal cargo (95% complete).
• The Isla de la Palma project is being developed on 608 hectares adjacent to the port area, where perimeter roads, communication bridges, perimeter walls and fencing, electricity, raw water and voice and data services are being built to incorporate it into the support area for port activities (10% progress).
• The infrastructure of buildings that comprise the logistics services area for motor transport was completed.

− Salina Cruz. At the oil port, the breakwater was completed, which will reduce the delay in loading fuel onto vessels, which will generate savings in the operating costs of the Maritime Terminal.

• At the commercial port, the docks were reinforced and the Multipurpose Dock was completed.

− Altamira. The walls were reinforced on the overpass at kilometer 30+880. Construction of access ramps and foundations of piles, placement of beams and abutments and drainage works (98% complete).

− Tampico. Progress was made on the port and services infrastructure maintenance program (75% complete).

− Veracruz. Natural expansion works were carried out on the port and progress was made on the construction of the new port customs office.

− Coatzacoalcos. The development of port infrastructure in Laguna de Pajaritos continued, stage 2 (99% complete).

− Dos Bocas. Work is underway on the sanitary island for the treatment and disposal of wastewater and rainwater at the Multipurpose Terminal and on the construction of the administrative building.

− Progress. The maintenance programme for the communication viaduct breakwaters was carried out.

The following projects were carried out with private investment :

− Ensenada. The container terminal is currently being expanded: 300 meters of dock and 4.37 hectares for maneuvering yards.

− Topolobampo. Work is underway on the executive project for the construction of a multi-purpose facility for handling general cargo.

− Manzanillo. The automation of the Specialized Container Terminal (TEC II) continued; two gantry cranes and five hybrid gantry cranes were acquired. The equipment of the Specialized Container Terminal (TEC I) continued; seven latest-generation electric E-RTG cranes were acquired.

− Lázaro Cárdenas. Works were carried out to restore paving levels, improving the traffic and operation of forklifts and the stability of the arrangement of containers at height.

• At the Port Container Terminal, adjustments were made to the yard area with new traffic lanes for electric yard cranes and photovoltaic panels were installed.

− Altamira. Infrastructure works were carried out for the storage of hydrocarbons.

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