The growing geopolitical tension in the Middle East has once again placed international shipping at the center of a high-risk zone. Recent attacks on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, attributed to Iran’s offensive in the context of its conflict with the US-Israeli axis, have raised alarms in the global maritime community and prompted an urgent statement from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) .

Given this scenario, its Secretary General, Arsenio Domínguez, expressed particular concern about the human impact the escalating conflict is having on commercial shipping. “I am deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of the approximately 20,000 seafarers and 15,000 cruise ship passengers affected in the Persian Gulf, following the recent attacks against international shipping in the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz,” he warned.

The official stressed that, beyond the implications for global trade—especially on a strategic oil shipping route—the situation poses a direct threat to those operating at sea. “Beyond the economic impact of these alarming attacks, this is a humanitarian issue . No attack against innocent seafarers is ever justified,” he stated.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most critical energy corridors on the planet. A substantial portion of the crude oil that supplies global markets passes through this maritime zone, located between Iran and Oman, so any disruption or operational risk has immediate effects on logistics chains and international energy flows.

According to information published by the IMO on significant incidents in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz region, the conflict in the Middle East has already had direct consequences for the safety of international shipping. Since the start of the military escalation in late February, eight attacks against merchant ships have been recorded, resulting in casualties among the crews, including at least two sailors killed and several wounded, in addition to other incidents involving damage to vessels and situations that have created hazards to navigation.

Documented cases include attacks on ships such as the SKYLIGHT and the MKD VYOM , with crew members injured or killed, confirming that the violence has directly affected the commercial fleet that travels along one of the world’s most strategic energy routes.

In this context, Domínguez reiterated that the IMO remains ready to collaborate with governments, shipowners, and other stakeholders in the maritime industry to protect crews and ensure the continuity of operations. The organization—responsible for establishing global maritime safety and security regulatory frameworks— seeks to contribute to a coordinated response to the growing uncertainty in the region.

At the same time, the Secretary-General made a direct appeal to the shipping industry to strengthen its operational protocols in the area. “I reiterate my appeal to all shipping companies to exercise the utmost caution when operating in the affected region ,” he stated.

The warning comes at a time when several shipping companies are evaluating route diversions, additional security measures , or have even already implemented temporary suspensions of certain transits through the region, in an attempt to reduce the exposure of their crews and assets.

For the head of the IMO, the immediate priority must be to reduce the tension that threatens one of the main hubs of global maritime trade. “I urge all parties to step up their efforts to de-escalate the situation as soon as possible, so that shipping can return to normal,” he concluded.

The development of the conflict and security in the Strait of Hormuz will be crucial for the stability of international maritime transport in the coming weeks, in a context where geopolitics is once again testing the resilience of global logistics chains.

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In 2025, marked by trade uncertainty stemming from tariffs imposed by the United States, imported light vehicles of Chinese origin consolidated a 20.1% share of the Mexican market , with 306,351 units sold

With these figures, China reaffirmed its position as the main source of light vehicles in Mexico , surpassing its competitors such as the United States, which only reached 8.3% market share in Mexico with 126,204 units sold.

Brazil ranked third with 7.7% , selling 117,806 units; followed by India, with a 7.3% share , totaling 111,174 units, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) .

An analysis by T21 Business Intelligence identified that brands with units imported from China to Mexico had mixed performance in 2025. General Motors (GM) showed its leadership in the sector, despite a slight annual decline of 3.6% , registering 126,946 units sold.

MG Motor positioned itself in second place, although it registered the steepest drop with a negative variation of 18.8% , placing 48,816 units in Mexico in 2025.

Meanwhile, KIA and Geely stood out for their dynamism last year. KIA registered a 9.1% increase , selling 29,541 Chinese-made vehicles in the country; while Geely had the most significant increase, at 237.4% , reaching 22,258 units.

Regarding models imported from China, the best-selling in 2025 was the Chevrolet Aveo, from GM, with 61,066 units . It was followed by the MG5, from MG Motor, with 21,132 units sold, and the Chevrolet Tornado Van, also from GM, with 18,982 units sold.

In Mexico , 1,524,722 light vehicles were sold in 2025 , of which 925,736 units were imported , a slight growth of 0.1% compared to 2024.

In this context, China reaffirmed its central role in the sector, despite a 1.3% contraction compared to 2014, when it registered 310,662 units. This performance anticipates a competitive realignment in the Mexican market , where it is estimated that Chinese-made vehicles will continue to expand their presence, despite a complex trade environment.

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The Port of Long Beach , located in California, United States, handled 9.04 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in the period January-November 2025 , which represented an increase of 2.9% compared to the same period in 2024, driven by the movement of goods prior to the application of tariffs, and it is estimated that by the end of 2025 it will exceed the 9.6 million TEUs reached last year

“Cargo moved at a steady pace, without congestion or disruption, at the Port of Long Beach, while consumers, businesses and supply chain partners endured extraordinary uncertainty caused by changes in trade policies throughout 2025,” explained Mario Cordero, executive director of the Port of Long Beach.

The port also reported that 817,561 TEUs were handled in November 2025, a 7.5% decrease compared to the same period last year . During this period, imports totaled 400,505 TEUs and exports 110,122 TEUs, each representing a 7.5% decrease. Empty container traffic fell by 8.6%, totaling 289,812 TEUs.

Frank Colonna, chairman of the Port of Long Beach Commission, acknowledged the work of the port operators and staff in handling cargo during 2025, and noted that the movement of goods will continue “without disruption through the end of the year and we expect a moderate increase in cargo for 2026. ”

The Port of Long Beach handles over $300 billion in annual trade and generates 2.7 million jobs in the United States. In Southern California alone, that figure reaches 691,000 jobs.

Long Beach is one of the 18 strategic ports of the United States, serving as a support hub for contingencies and national defense . An investment of $3.2 billion in infrastructure projects is projected over the next 10 years.

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Since semiconductors are a matter of national security and are at the center of geopolitical tensions, Mexico could have a historic opportunity to become a key player in the supply chain in this area , according to José Luis Jáuregui, professor at the Center for Technical and Higher Education (CETYS University) .

During the webinar Chips at stake: How geopolitics is rewriting the global supply chain , the specialist emphasized that semiconductors are the “soul of any electronic equipment” and have become a matter of national security, so countries are seeking sovereignty in their supply to avoid dependence .

“The importance for any country of having a reliable source of semiconductor supplies is already a truly significant issue, as it is part of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of any country, and undoubtedly, countries or companies are increasingly seeking to protect themselves from any shortages,” he stated.

As an example, he explained the restrictions imposed by countries like China, through companies like Nexperia , which have wreaked havoc on the global semiconductor supply chain, affecting major automotive companies like Volkswagen , BMW , Audi , and Ford .

The Mexican challenge: ecosystem and talent

Mexico could be a viable alternative for semiconductor manufacturing, Jáuregui emphasized; however, the country is “not on the map” globally, despite being the United States’ number one trading partner. The professor pointed out that Mexico faces two major challenges: developing a robust ecosystem and training specialized talent .

“Mexico does not yet have an ecosystem, and for me, one of the priorities that the government should have before venturing to manufacture or build a semiconductor factory is to generate an ecosystem, that is, to generate those companies that contribute commodities or products so that the semiconductor industry in the United States can be strengthened,” he said.

Jáuregui indicated that while there are success stories like that of T-note in Querétaro, Mexico faces challenges such as the lack of natural resources needed for semiconductor manufacturing, such as rare earth elements and water , which only Hermosillo, Sonora and Mexicali, Baja California, have available, but the location of the plants must consider this critical resource.

Furthermore, he warned of the lack of specialized labor in the field, since the United States alone faces a shortage of 27,000 semiconductor engineers for the next four years, which represents a great challenge for the region , but also an opportunity for Mexico, which must expand its educational offerings in this field; however, although institutions such as the Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC) and the Technological University of Tijuana (UTT) already offer programs in semiconductor engineering, the number of graduates remains insufficient.

Electricity generation, the challenge

José Luis Jáuregui emphasized that the demand for semiconductors will skyrocket, driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI), and that sales are expected to reach a record high of one trillion dollars next year .

However, the immediate challenge will be generating electricity. The data centers that power AI demand gigawatts of electrical capacity, a limited resource in the United States. It is estimated that building 30 such complexes would require at least one gigawatt each, a figure that exceeds the current infrastructure .

The expert pointed out the risk of a bubble due to insufficient energy. However, manufacturers like Nvidia are sticking to their strategy, convinced that AI will become increasingly essential. Chip production will not stop, even with the energy constraints .

Jauregui concluded that Mexico is at a privileged historical moment and must take advantage of geopolitical tensions, and to achieve this it is essential that the government, academia and industry agree to facilitate investments , develop talent and establish that ecosystem that allows Mexico to put itself on the semiconductor map

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Recently, the Port of Brownsville entered the ranking of the 50 most important seaports in the United States. Its performance during 2023 represented an increase, as the total cargo tonnage at the port rose to 17.8 million tons, 17% more than the 15.2 million tons in 2022.

It is the most important port for international trade between the United States and Mexico, as more than 90% of the logistics handled is dedicated to exports and imports to and from Mexico. “Thanks to its infrastructure, systems, and cargo handling policies, there are no congestions or delays. This gives great competitiveness to the Mexican industry and adds value to the logistics chains,” explained Guillermo Rico Leal, sales manager of the Port of Brownsville, in an interview with T21.

Today, the Port of Brownsville is a key player in the relocation of production chains (nearshoring) as it facilitates the logistics and movement of supplies, such as steel. “But in addition to port logistics, we have significant industrial development with more than 6,000 hectares. We have a project from a company in Monterrey that is setting up a plant to manufacture steel pipes. We also have a lubricant plant project, a flour plant, and we provide services to Ternium’s slab plant, among other projects,” detailed Rico Leal.

The expansion projects also include the construction of an industrial park of more than 48 hectares to accommodate new plants and investment in infrastructure, such as deepening the channel to allow larger ships to enter.

The sales manager of the Port of Brownsville detailed that they are working to leverage the nearshoring phenomenon and bring industry closer to the Texas region and northeastern Mexico, as well as to generate job opportunities. “The projects we have will create more than 10,000 new jobs next year.”

Although the Port of Brownsville is located in U.S. territory, its proximity to Mexico and its dynamic trade exchange requires facilitating Mexican industry and international projects that want to set up in Mexico, as well as reviving some that have been paused, such as wind projects.

“There is a lot we can do for Mexico, but it is not in our hands. We play by the rules set by the Mexican government, but unfortunately, many projects cannot be realized today. We hope conditions improve and Mexican companies are incentivized,” stated the port spokesperson.

To date, the port moves approximately 18 million tons annually, and it is projected that in the next two years this will increase to 20 million tons. However, it is forecasted that in the next 10 years, between 70 and 80 million tons of goods will be moved, distributed among the markets of Mexico, Europe, and Asia.

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The e-commerce platform, Mercado Libre, has taken a significant step in its global expansion by opening its first distribution center (CEDIS) in the United States, as reported by Ariel Szarfsztejn, the company’s commerce president, through his LinkedIn account.

Strategically located in Texas, the CEDIS will allow Mercado Libre to connect US sellers and brands with buyers in Latin America, starting with Mexico.

With the ability to identify products with the “Ships from USA” label on its marketplace, “Mexican users can find products from the United States. They will receive them at their home within two business days after purchase,” explained Ariel Szarfsztejn.

The executive detailed that the company continues to advance in its expansion within the framework of its 25th anniversary. Likewise, he announced that this new step opens opportunities for brands and sellers from the neighboring northern country, inviting them to be part of the growth and reach of the marketplace in Latin America.

Additionally, within the goals of this e-commerce platform is the creation of 18,000 new jobs in Latin America, and by the end of 2024, they estimate having 76,000 direct and indirect jobs throughout the region, from independent sellers and small businesses to employees in areas such as logistics, technology, and customer service, so their expansion in the United States represents additional job opportunities in various sectors.

Likewise, aware of the potential of the Mexican market, the second most important in the region for Mercado Libre, in 2024 the company will invest $2.45 billion, a 48% growth compared to last year’s investment.

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