Logistics costs in Mexico have ceased to be an operational issue and have become a structural problem affecting the country’s competitiveness, according to Javier Cendejas Meneses, president of the Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade, Investment and Technology (Comce) Northeast chapter . He explained that while internationally logistics costs range between 5% and 35% of revenue, in Mexico they can reach up to 60% of sales .

“This is not just another expense. It is a factor that defines the very viability of competing in global markets,” he noted while presenting a diagnosis of the challenges facing Mexican foreign trade.

According to the analysis presented by the business organization, the transportation structure in Mexico reflects imbalances. 69% of exports and 46.7% of imports are transported by road , while ports handle 33% of imports.

However, these flows are not symmetrical. “Trucks leave full and return empty. Ships arrive loaded and leave with less volume. There is a clear inefficiency that we must correct,” Cendejas warned.

The diagnosis revealed a sustained deterioration in logistics-related costs. Between 2015 and 2025, transportation and storage costs increased by 72% , according to the National Producer Price Index (INPP) of the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) .

“This is compounded by the 48.8% increase in fuel prices in recent years, as well as the accumulated impact of tolls, transportation services and other indirect costs,” Cendejas Meneses noted.

He explained that shipping a container from Shanghai to Manzanillo costs around $3,312 and takes 16 days . In contrast, transporting it from Manzanillo to Monterrey can cost over $4,500 for a 30-hour journey. With tolls and delays, the total cost rises to approximately $8,585. “The problem isn’t the distance, but how we manage the final logistical leg within the country,” he explained.

“The underlying message is clear: Mexico has a historic opportunity to integrate itself with greater leadership into global value chains, but that opportunity will not materialize if logistics continues to be a bottleneck,” he warned.

For Comce Noreste, this link —which connects the ports with the industrial centers— has become the most vulnerable point in the chain.

According to the study, in 16 years Mexico only increased by 0.1 points and fell back 10 places in the World Bank ‘s logistics performance ranking .

Faced with this situation, Cendejas proposed strengthening investment in infrastructure, advancing the digitization of processes, consolidating logistics corridors, and developing safe rest stops for carriers .

“Logistics is not an add-on. It is the bridge between what we produce and the market. Making its cost more competitive is a strategic decision for Mexico’s economic development,” explained the president of Comce Noreste.

Cendejas called for improved transport planning, optimized packaging , advance customs documentation, and more efficient inventory management.

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Schneider National , a transport and logistics company, appointed Mark Rourke as executive chairman of the Board of Directors, and Jim Filter as president and chief executive officer, effective from July 1, 2026.

These changes, the firm stated, are being made through a planned leadership transition designed to ensure continuity and position the company for its next phase of growth.

Mark Rourke, who has been president and chief executive officer of Schneider National since 2019, will assume his new role, and will continue to contribute to strategic direction  and advise the management team and the Board.

Meanwhile, Jim Filter is currently executive vice president and president of the Transportation and Logistics Group. He is expected to be appointed to the firm’s Board of Directors at a later date in his new role.

“Schneider is well-positioned for significant growth, and I look forward to leading our talented team in advancing our technology solutions, expanding our multimodal network, and driving growth and operational excellence to create lasting value for all stakeholders,” said Filter.

Jim Filter has over 27 years of experience at Schneider Electric and has led key business units and operational and technological advancements. He has held his current position since 2022, overseeing all operational segments and playing a pivotal role in improving service quality and efficiency.

He began his career with the company in 1998, holding multiple divisional general manager positions in areas such as logistics and supply chain management, operations in Mexico, and intermodal. He subsequently rose to senior vice president and general manager of Intermodal and commercial director. He served in the United States Marine Corps. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and an MBA from Wayne State University.

“Jim is absolutely the right person to lead Schneider into the future. He is a proven leader who understands our business and our customers, and I am confident that he will build on our momentum and take the company to an even stronger future,” Rourke emphasized.

According to the company, Mark Rourke has been instrumental in advancing Schneider’s position as a leader in transportation and logistics. Under his leadership, the intermodal network was expanded , Truckload was transformed into a preeminent dedicated carrier through organic and inorganic growth, digital freight solutions were advanced, and its position as a leading multimodal transportation provider in North America was strengthened.

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Introducing the tenth generation of #Los21JóvenesDeT21 . This editorial project began in 2009 and has been ongoing since 2017. The goal is to promote the “new blood” of a sector that demands greater specialization and commitment from its participants. They are the future of logistics and transportation , as well as a pillar of its growth in our country.

To assess the profiles, we once again relied on a committee of personalities from the logistics and transportation sector who, using a defined methodology, were responsible for selecting the representatives of the 2025 generation. To select the 21 Youth of 2025, they had to evaluate a large number of profiles belonging to multiple ways of doing logistics and transportation from different trenches.

This special we’re publishing today is part of Grupo T21’s commitment to raising awareness and supporting the transportation and logistics sectors.

We invite you to check out our August issue of T21 magazine for the full T21 Young People special. Click here to view the digital version .

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A visionary of the logistical needs of his time, Frederick Wallace Smith , better known as Fred Smith, founded FedEx Co. , a company where he began to write his legacy for more than 50 years in the express package delivery industry.

Under Smith’s leadership, the company began operations in 1973 with a fleet of 14 Dassault Falcon aircraft, finding an opportunity with the US Postal Service.

Considered the creator of the air cargo hub , he saw Memphis, Tennessee, as the ideal place to launch his revolution: the global transportation and logistics industry.

“Today, it’s a global company that connects people, stories, businesses, and economies through its presence in more than 220 countries and territories, with more than 500,000 employees and a fleet of 700 aircraft operating in 650 airports around the world,” Jorge Torres, vice president of FedEx Express Mexico , stated via social media .

Torres stated that during his 34-year career at the company, “I had the privilege of knowing him, listening to him in forums and meetings, taking his phone calls, visiting him at his office in Memphis, hosting him in Mexico on several occasions, presenting him with information, and having conversations through which I always learned something new.”

Today, FedEx is the world’s largest express transportation company, moving nearly two trillion dollars in goods annually and more than 17 million shipments per day, and generating more than $87 billion in annual sales .

Based on Transport Topics ‘ North American Top 100 For-Hire Carriers ranking , FedEx is ranked number two, the same position in the top 50 largest freight carriers in the world, and number 43 in the top 100 largest logistics companies in North America.

FedEx and its sponsorships

Smith also enjoyed American football, acquiring a minority stake in the Washington team in 2003 , but sold his shares in 2021.

However, the brand sought to sponsor several sports that shared its attributes of speed, reliability, precision, teamwork, and execution, among others.

FedEx has sponsored the NFL since 2000, and is the official trophy delivery company of the NFL, Super Bowl, Pro Bowl, UEFA Champions League, the Memphis-area PGA Tour golf tournament , and the FedEx St. Jude Classic .

It also collaborates with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund to provide select grants to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to provide players with need-based scholarships, to name a few.

Beyond his business achievements, Smith was a dedicated philanthropist and supporter of numerous charitable causes .

Frederick Wallace Smith died of natural causes on June 21 in Memphis, Tennessee, at the age of 80. “ His death marks the end of an era for the global transportation and logistics industry , an industry he founded and revolutionized through his innovative vision and relentless pursuit of excellence,” the company said.

“Today, the world bids farewell and gives thanks for the legacy of one of the most brilliant minds, an innovative leader who revolutionized the way we do business and always conveyed his passion for excellence, putting people first and foremost,” Jorge Torres emphasized.

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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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In 2024, the capture of

Compared to 2023, when the transportation, mail and storage sector registered an FDI of 2,283.5 million dollars , last year this industry showed an increase of 19.6 percent .

Although the influx of foreign investment received by logistics in 2024 was significant, it was not the highest amount.

In 2022, when some restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic were ending , the sector registered an FDI of 3,684.8 million dollars , which has been the largest disbursement so far since 2006. It was followed by 2017 with 3,305.3 million dollars and 2021 with 2,973.9 million dollars .

According to the Ministry of Economy, the subsector that received the most FDI from 2006 to 2024 was pipeline transportation , which accumulated to US$18,439.7 billion . In 2021 alone, it received US$2,258.9 billion in foreign investment , the highest in the period.

In 2024, which marked the end of Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s (AMLO)six-year term and the beginning of that of Mexico’s current president, Claudia Sheinbaum , Foreign Direct Investment in pipeline transportation was 2,251.1 million dollars , which represented a 6.1% share of total FDI last year.

Compared to 2023, when foreign companies invested 1,924.8 million dollars, FDI in 2024 in the aforementioned subsector increased by 16.9 percent .

This subsector showed declines in FDI capture from 2018 to 2020, when AMLO governed, who limited the participation of foreign investment in hydrocarbon exploration, as well as in storage and transportation, however, starting in 2021 it began to improve due to the start of some projects or the continuation of others, such as the Dos Bocas refinery in Tabasco .

Transportation-related services are another subsector with the highest share of FDI. In 2024, it received investments totaling US$277.1 million , a 15.5%drop compared to 2023, when it reached US$328.2 million .

Last year’s figure represented 0.8% of Mexico’s total foreign direct investment. 2014 was the best year for this subsector, attracting $368.9 million .

Courier and parcel services recorded FDI of $111.6 million last year, representing a 148% increase compared to 2023, when it totaled $45 million.

The 2024 figure represented a 0.3% share of last year’s total FDI; while in 2019, this subsector recorded its best year of Foreign Direct Investment, totaling $318.1 million .

According to information from the DataMéxico portal of the SE, from January 1999 to December 2024, the countries that have contributed the most to FDI in this subsector were the Netherlands and Germany with 295 million dollarseach, as well as the United States with 292 million dollars .

FDI in air transport accounted for 0.2% of its total in 2024 , reaching US$64.3 million . However, in 2023, there was no foreign capital investment.

The best year for this subsector in terms of FDI was in 2022, reaching US$2,131.3 million , driven mainly by air cargo transport.

According to the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) , the volume of cargo transported increased 4.8% during the first half of 2022 compared to the previous year, reaching 374,470 tons in international operations.

The states with the greatest opportunity for development in air transportation are Coahuila, Querétaro, and Colima, according to the DataMéxico portal.

Rail transport reported FDI of $7.2 million in 2024; its best years in terms of foreign direct investment were 2015 with $826.5 million and 2022 with $614.3 million . This subsector did not register FDI in 2023.

According to DataMéxico, Canada was the leading country investing in this subsector in Mexico last year. Meanwhile, Nuevo León, Aguascalientes, and Mexico City were the states that received the most FDI during the period.

In 2024 , water transport saw FDI of $1.5 million (distributed across reinvestment of profits, new investments, and intercompany accounts), marking a rebound after negative figures in this subsector of -$174 million in 2022 and – $25.9 million in 2023, according to the SE.

According to the federal agency, 2007 was the year in which this subsector captured the most FDI, totaling US$619.7 million .

Other subsectors, such as  freight transport, registered zero FDI inflow in 2024, while storage services had a 0% share , with its best year being 2018 with 20.5 million dollars .

The surge in FDI last year indicates that the logistics industry is one of the driving forces of the Mexican economy, boosting growth, creating jobs, and improving competitiveness and local and foreign trade.

This sector facilitates the movement of goods, both within and outside the country, and helps companies optimize processes, reduce costs, and increase efficiency.

The logistics market in Mexico is estimated to have reached a value of $1,270.27 billion in 2024, and is expected to grow at an annual rate of 10.2% between 2025 and 2034, reaching $3,044.59 billion by the end of this period, according to the consulting firm Expert Market Research .

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Transport and logistics are key players in the country’s economic development and global trade links. Participants in this edition have made significant progress in their operations and increased market share, laying the foundations and consolidating their organizations to face the geopolitical challenges that will be incorporated in 2025, and where these leaders will be key in maintaining the progress of their companies and therefore the economic pace.

Check out the full list of the 100+ Influentials in transportation and logistics in Mexico by clicking here, in the March edition of T21 magazine.

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