For an economy facing uncertainty due to the review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) , the manufacturing sector is emerging as one of the main drivers to sustain the country’s growth this year, according to experts.

During a discussion organized by Mundi (a fintech company specializing in financing and working capital solutions for exporting and importing companies in Mexico), representatives from the manufacturing , financial, and export industries agreed that manufacturing will continue to play a key role in the Mexican economy, particularly due to its contribution to exports and productive integration with North America.

Paulina Anciola, deputy director of Economic Studies at Banamex , pointed out that exports were the main factor that prevented a deeper economic downturn last year and considered that manufacturing will continue to be a relevant element for the country’s economic performance.

“The manufacturing sector will be key to growth, especially considering that exports are what’s saving us from GDP declines,” he said.

The specialist explained that, despite the contraction observed in some indicators during the first quarter of 2026, Banamex maintains an economic growth expectation of 1.3% for this year, supported by a gradual recovery of productive and export activity.

From the perspective of the automotive industry, Alberto Bustamante, president of the National Agency of Suppliers of the Automotive Sector (ANAPSA) , highlighted that the automotive sector represents the second most important pillar of the Mexican economy, contributing about 5% of the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 24% of the manufacturing GDP.

He added that strengthening regional supply chains and increasing domestic content will be key factors in maintaining Mexico’s competitiveness against other markets.

For his part, Israel Morales, national director of the Mexico-United States Relations and International Affairs Committee of the National Council of the Export Manufacturing Industry (Index) , described export manufacturing as a success story that has demonstrated the ability to adapt to economic crises, changes in global supply chains and periods of trade uncertainty.

He considered that regional integration will continue to be one of Mexico’s main assets , although he warned that it will be necessary to strengthen productivity, talent development and the participation of the private sector in the construction of industrial policies.

Similarly, Flor González, general director of the National Association of Paint and Ink Manufacturers (ANAFAPYT) , maintained that the country’s economic future will depend on strengthening national manufacturing , technological innovation, and the training of specialized talent.

“The future of the Mexican economy will not be built solely with more trade; it will be built with manufacturing and Mexican talent,” he said.

Participants agreed that manufacturing growth will require greater coordination between government and private sector to improve infrastructure, facilitate investment, strengthen domestic supply chains, and enhance the competitiveness of production chains established in Mexico.

The importance of manufacturing is also reflected in employment. According to ANAPSA, the automotive sector generates more than 1.2 million direct jobs and nearly five million indirect jobs , in addition to impacting 252 economic sectors related to the country’s productive activity.

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El cargo Mexico’s economic challenge: growing amid uncertainty apareció primero en T21.

The paint industry maintains a strategic relationship with the Mexican automotive sector , not only for its participation in manufacturing processes, but also for the repainting and repair market that accompanies the growth of the vehicle fleet in the country, as stated by Flor de María González Mariblanca, general director of the National Association of Paint and Ink Manufacturers (Anafapyt) .

The executive emphasized that each automotive plant is also an advanced paint shop, where coating processes are a fundamental part of production. One example is the Volkswagen plant in Puebla, whose technical capacity allows for the coating of up to 90 vehicles per hour , an efficiency standard that underscores the importance of this sector for the national supply chain.

Although the main market for the paints industry continues to be the architectural segment, which represents 64% of the total volume of the sector, original automotive manufacturing maintains a relevant share with around 102 million liters (equivalent to 51%) of coatings destined for new vehicles.

Added to this is the automotive refinishing segment, which registers a consumption of close to 86 million liters and has become one of the most dynamic markets for paint manufacturers.

In an interview with T21, González Mariblanca explained that the growth of the vehicle fleet directly drives the demand for specialized coatings.

According to the consulting firm Integrate Data Facts (IDF) , at the end of 2025, Mexico had a vehicle fleet of 36.1 million units in circulation, reflecting the need for maintenance, repair and repainting in the automotive industry.

Impact on road safety

The general manager of Anafapyt indicated that road safety signage is a relevant factor for this market, as there is a constant demand for specialized repair systems, finishes and coatings, which contributes to safeguarding the lives of pedestrians and drivers .

In that regard, he noted that the paints used on road infrastructure serve specific safety functions supported by technical regulations . “Colors like yellow are for prevention, while white and black contain anti-reflective coatings and are based on visibility and accident prevention studies.”

In addition to its connection with the automotive industry, Anafapyt seeks to strengthen its relationship with transport organizations to promote projects related to road safety .

The association works with representatives from the National Chamber of Passenger and Tourism Transportation (Canapat) and the National Association of Bus, Truck and Tractor-Trailer Producers (ANPACT) to analyze the impact of modifications to urban colors and signage on the visibility of operators and pedestrians.

Challenges in the paint industry

González Mariblanca explained that the paints and inks sector faces new challenges stemming from the international environment. The conflict in the Middle East has led to an approximately 20% increase in the costs of various raw materials used in the manufacture of paints and coatings.

Given this scenario, several companies have begun to pass on some of these increases to final prices, after absorbing the impact on their production costs for months.

To address supply chain pressures, the industry is focusing on strengthening supply chains through greater diversification of international suppliers. This will be one of the main objectives of the Latin American Coatings Show (LACS), an event organized by Anafapyt that will bring together representatives from 34 countries this July.

Flor de María explained that Mexico has become an attractive market for global manufacturers and suppliers due to its strategic position in the North American region and the importance of the country’s skilled workforce in sectors such as automotive, construction, and infrastructure.

Another factor transforming this industry is the incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI). He explained that new technologies already allow for optimizing formulations, managing color databases, and developing simulations to accelerate innovation processes.

Far from replacing jobs, he stated, AI is becoming a tool to improve the productivity of technicians and engineers specializing in coating development.

For the second half of 2026, the industry anticipates a scenario of higher costs, pressure on raw materials, and challenges associated with the renegotiation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) . However, Anafapyt believes that Mexico maintains significant competitive advantages thanks to its manufacturing capacity, skilled workforce, and growing attractiveness to new international investment.

For the paints and inks sector, the priority will be to ensure the supply of inputs and strengthen its integration with strategic industries such as the automotive industry, which continues to be one of the main drivers of demand in the country.

The size of the paint market in Mexico was approximately 3.438 billion dollars (USD) in 2025, and is expected to exceed 5 billion USD by 2034, at an annual growth rate of 4.65% during the period 2026-2034, according to figures from the consulting firm Imarc Group .

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El cargo Paints and inks industry, a key ally for the automotive sector and road safety apareció primero en T21.

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.

Mexican logistics is at a crucial juncture. As supply chains evolve toward increasingly digital, automated, and regulatoryly demanding models, the sector faces a challenge that threatens to become one of its major bottlenecks: a shortage of specialized talent .

That was one of the central themes of the panel “Efficiency and compliance: The key role of training in the freight forwarder”, held during the 8th Congress of the Mexican Association of Freight Forwarders (Amacarga) , where representatives of the government, business associations and specialists agreed that the professionalization of human capital will be decisive to sustain the logistical and commercial growth of Mexico.

During her presentation, Claudia Alexandra Patrón, Director of Logistics and Supply Chain at the Ministry of Economy (SE) , affirmed that there is a growing interest among younger generations in pursuing professional careers in logistics and foreign trade. As an example, she highlighted that 90% of the 45,000 users of the Ruta Logística platform are under 44 years old.

“The need for training exists, and new generations are looking for places to do it,” he said.

The official explained that the success of these platforms has also been reflected in the demand for recorded content, as some training modules have exceeded 12,000 views on YouTube.

However, he warned that the growth of the logistics sector is putting significant pressure on the availability of skilled talent . According to data shared during the panel, Mexico currently faces a shortage of nearly 30% of trained personnel to meet the sector’s operational needs.

“We can have the best ports, the best warehouses, and the best infrastructure, but someone has to operate all of that. Artificial intelligence cannot make decisions on its own,” he argued.

The logistics director emphasized that this challenge will be even more relevant considering that the logistics sector maintains growth expectations of close to 7% annually.

One of the concepts that took center stage during the panel was micro-credentialization , a training model focused on certifying specific skills through short, flexible courses supported by technologies such as blockchain .

Victor Cruz, vice president of Amacarga, pointed out that this type of tool responds to a global context where constant updating is no longer optional.

“The World Economic Forum determines that 50% of workers will require an update in the next five years to remain relevant,” he commented.

He added that micro-credentials allow for traceability of acquired knowledge and make it easier for people to demonstrate their skills on digital platforms and professional networks.

Francisco Javier Lagunes, president of the National Association of Importers and Exporters of the Mexican Republic (ANIERM) , explained that micro-credentialing does not replace traditional training models, but rather complements the educational and labor ecosystem.

“Micro-credentialing seeks to address the need to train people in the short term and as quickly as possible,” he emphasized.

He explained that the goal is to generate certifications focused on specific skills within broader job functions, allowing workers to be trained in a specific and practical way.

However, both Lagunes and Claudia Patrón agreed that Mexico must take advantage of all available tools to professionalize the sector: diplomas, job skills, certifications, standards and academic training .

“We shouldn’t leave everything aside. We have to use the full range of tools,” Patrón stated.

Another topic that emerged during the conversation was the lack of accurate information on logistics human capital in Mexico.

Claudia Patrón acknowledged that the country still lacks reliable statistics on how many specialized professionals actually exist in logistics and foreign trade, as well as on the specific training needs within the industry.

“We need a lot more statistics in Mexico. There’s a whole universe of real data traceability that’s been lost,” he commented.

He added that this situation also reflects a cultural problem related to the monitoring of studies, censuses and the collection of sectoral information.

Nevertheless, he insisted that the demand for training is already evident and that institutions have a responsibility to respond with useful and accessible tools .

In that regard, he shared a piece of data that he considered especially worrying: only two out of every 10 micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) have at least one person specialized in logistics.

“Everyone handles logistics, but not everyone has specialized personnel. And that ends up complicating operations,” he explained.

According to him, a large part of the errors, delays or fraud in international operations stem from a lack of knowledge about processes, documentation and regulatory compliance.

Training and labor compliance under the USMCA

The panel also addressed the growing relationship between training, labor compliance, and international trade.

Raúl Martínez Flores, director of Regulations, Support for Social Dialogue and the New Labor Culture of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (STPS) , recalled that, after the entry into force of the Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada (USMCA) , Mexico assumed labor commitments linked to rights of freedom of association and collective bargaining, which may lead to trade disputes through the Rapid Response Labor Mechanism.

Currently, he explained, there are 47 cases related to this mechanism, most of them driven from the United States.

“The United States could even tell a company: since you don’t respect those rights, your goods will no longer be allowed in,” he noted.

The official emphasized that many companies may commit violations due to a lack of knowledge, which is why labor training becomes strategic to avoid commercial disputes.

In addition, he highlighted that the STPS maintains free training programs such as PROCADIST and internal instructor training schemes for companies.

Martínez Flores also invited business organizations to become external training agents and develop specialized programs for their industries.

Digitization, collaboration and dignification of the sector

The participants agreed that the future of Mexican logistics will depend on three main factors: digitalization, collaboration, and dignifying the sector.

Claudia Patrón argued that for many years each actor in the chain worked in isolation: customs agents, freight forwarders, importers, exporters, and authorities.

Now, he said, it will be essential to build a joint vision between the private sector, government and academia to develop training solutions aligned with the real needs of the country.

“We need to work together. It’s the only way to generate solutions and provide adequate training,” he stated.

He also highlighted the importance of recognizing the strategic value of logistics within the Mexican economy.

“Logistics doesn’t just move goods, it moves economies and connects nations,” he emphasized.

For his part, Javier Lagunes asserted that Mexico has a historic opportunity to consolidate itself as a logistics hub in North America and as a strategic link with Asia, Europe, and Africa.

However, he cautioned that achieving that goal will depend on the country’s ability to train specialized talent more quickly and efficiently.

“We need competent people to do things better and have greater productivity,” he stressed.

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El cargo Training, technology and talent: challenges that will define the future of logistics in Mexico apareció primero en T21.

As part of the first round of formal negotiations between the Ministry of Economy (SE) and a delegation from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) regarding the review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) , Marcelo Ebrard, head of the SE, reported that between May 27 and 29, issues related to the automotive, steel and aluminum, and medical device sectors will be addressed , although both delegations are preparing two more rounds, so the review of the trade agreement would extend beyond the official dates.

In a press conference, Ebrard also indicated that the dialogues taking place in Mexico will cover progress on labor issues, critical minerals, and economic security to guarantee supply chains.

He noted that there will be a meeting of US congressmen and advisors, who will meet with their Mexican counterparts in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.

He recalled that one of the advances that has been reached with the USTR, headed on this visit to Mexico by Jeffrey Goettman, is that after the talks, the next step is that on June 16 and 17 the Mexican delegation will go to Washington DC .

“It’s our turn now to go there to continue the conversation. There are several topics we’ll discuss on that occasion. Some of them have to do with agriculture, and there are other issues that Mexico wants to address,” he emphasized.

He specified that there will be a third round of talks in Mexico City during the week of July 20 , indicating that the USMCA review will be extended, as it was originally scheduled to begin on July 1. “This third round is also extremely important because it relates to the next steps in the review of the trade agreement,” he emphasized.

Ebrard pointed out that in the current round they will argue that, in the case of steel and aluminum, “the 50% tariff seems unsustainable to us; it has no justification, as we have already stated, it is nothing new. In the case of the automotive industry, we maintain that there must be a systemic approach; that is, it is not just about Mexico’s tariffs, but how the entire tariff system being organized works, as well as rules of origin.”

Mexico has solidified its position as the United States’ main trading partner. In March 2026 alone, the value of bilateral trade reached $83.9786 billion , representing an 8.6% increase compared to March 2025, according to data from the  U.S. Census Bureau .

The above reflects a fairly integrated trade relationship and one of the most dynamic in North America, so the review of the USMCA is an important part of continuing to strengthen this economic bloc.

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El cargo Mexico and the US make progress in talks on the USMCA; review could be extended 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.

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 the review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) , trade uncertainty has become a determining factor for companies operating in the region; however, beyond the political and tariff debate, there is one element that is making a difference: the adoption of technology in supply chains.

According to James Barroso , director of Strategy and Artificial Intelligence at Infor , this new environment is pushing companies to accelerate their logistics maturity , particularly in Mexico, where nearshoring has increased the pressure on operations.

“Volatility is the biggest challenge. Changes in the USMCA, tariffs, and the global context force companies to constantly rethink their logistics strategy,” he explained in an interview.

In this scenario, supply chain planning is no longer limited to moving products, but involves anticipating complex scenarios: from changes in tariffs to decisions such as bringing forward imports or modifying production.

The logistical dilemma

One of the main challenges companies face is deciding whether to bring forward imports to avoid tariffs or accept higher costs. The answer, Barroso warns, is not so simple.

“The problem is that many companies lack visibility into the total logistics cost. Bringing inventory forward means more storage, more transportation, and more management. In many cases, it ends up being more expensive than paying the fee,” he noted.

This dilemma is especially critical in the north of the country, where the availability of storage space is practically saturated, which raises logistics costs.

In response to this, artificial intelligence has become a key tool for simulating scenarios, calculating impacts, and making more informed decisions in real time.

Although Mexico has historically faced a technological gap, the landscape has changed significantly.

“If we compare it to five years ago, Mexico is a different country. Supply chains, processes, and industry have evolved very rapidly,” he stated.

This transformation has been driven by three main factors : migration to the cloud, adoption of specialized supply chain solutions, and the increasing use of artificial intelligence.

For Barroso, the first step is that ” companies that are not in the cloud are already behind .”

The second level involves incorporating solutions that allow for more precise management of the supply chain, while the third is the use of AI to anticipate disruptions and optimize operations.

The end of the “late adopter”

In this new environment, waiting is no longer a viable option.

Unlike in the past, where companies could afford to adopt technology late, today so-called early adopters are capturing clear competitive advantages.

“Companies that adopt technology first are the ones securing their market share. Those that wait end up reacting late and at a higher cost,” he warned.

Another structural change being driven by the review of the USMCA and regulations in Mexico is the requirement for greater traceability.

Sectors such as food and beverages have had to completely transform their processes to ensure the traceability of products from their origin to the final consumer.

“Traceability is no longer just about barcodes. It involves having all the data connected throughout the chain, with batch control, processes, and regulatory compliance,” he explained.

At this point, technology plays a dual role: it not only allows compliance with regulations, but also improves operational efficiency.

In this sense, beyond being a manufacturing destination, Mexico is also consolidating itself as a strategic technology center for the region.

Barroso highlighted that the country has become a hub for talent and technological services that even serves markets such as the United States and Europe.

“Growth has been very strong. Mexico is not only receiving investment, it is also exporting knowledge and technological capabilities,” he noted.

Regarding the direction of the USMCA, Barroso believes the process is moving forward, albeit with uncertainty. However, he emphasizes that companies cannot depend solely on government decisions.

“Waiting for everything to be defined is not a strategy. Companies must focus on where they can grow, on their capabilities, and on building resilience,” he stated.

In that sense, the combination of investment, technological adoption and business vision will be key for Mexico to capitalize on the nearshoring opportunity .

“The country’s growth potential is enormous. But taking advantage of it will depend on how quickly companies can adapt to this new environment,” he said.

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

El cargo AI and cloud computing are key for Mexico to face the uncertainty of the USMCA. apareció primero en T21.

The heavy vehicle industry in Mexico maintains expectations of a gradual recovery during the second half of 2026, although the sector acknowledged that it still faces an environment marked by economic slowdown , trade uncertainty with the United States and pressure from imports of used units.

During the monthly industry results press conference, Guillermo Rosales, executive president of the Mexican Association of Automotive Distributors (AMDA) , explained that the decline in the domestic market is due to a combination of internal and external factors.

Among them, he pointed to the slower economic growth, the uncertainty surrounding the review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) , and the saturation of the secondary market resulting from the influx of used vehicles from the United States.

“To this we must add the uncertainty surrounding the trade relationship with the United States, the renegotiation process, and the review process that the USMCA is currently undergoing,” Rosales commented.

The executive added that the importation of used trucks continues to affect the profitability of the sector and distort the national market due to tax evasion and avoidance practices.

According to Rosales, domestic sales of heavy vehicles closed 2025 with a drop of 32% and, at the end of the first four months of 2026, maintain a decrease of close to 29% (with nine thousand 845 units placed).

Despite this, he maintained that the sector expects a gradual recovery during the coming months , driven by measures implemented together with the federal government to encourage vehicle renewal.

Among the actions mentioned were support programs to facilitate the acquisition of new units, including schemes that allow amortizing up to 85% of the cost of a truck in a single fiscal year, in addition to credit guarantees backed by Nacional Financiera (Nafin) .

“We expect that in the following months from now until December we will recover ground,” said Rosales, who indicated that the sector’s expectation is to close 2026 with a slight growth of 1% compared to 2025.

However, he acknowledged that even reaching that favorable scenario, the industry would still be far from the record levels recorded in 2024.

For his part, Alejandro Osorio, director of Public Affairs and Communication of the National Association of Bus, Truck and Tractor-Trailer Producers (ANPACT) , highlighted that the immediate attention program announced by the federal government seeks to revitalize the domestic market and accelerate fleet renewal, particularly among owner-operators and micro and small transport companies.

The executive stressed that modernizing the fleet is key to increasing the competitiveness of the trucking industry and the national economy, noting that approximately 86% of goods in Mexico are transported by road.

Furthermore, he warned that the sector faces accelerated growth in imports of vehicles and components from China , a situation which, he said, presents challenges for national suppliers and for value creation in Mexico.

Osorio pointed out that, in addition to curbing the importation of used vehicles from the United States, it is also necessary to strengthen customs supervision and compliance with official Mexican standards regarding safety, emissions, and technical performance.

At the same time, he acknowledged that the market downturn has impacted employment in the industry. He explained that approximately 20% of the production workforce lost jobs following the slowdown in the sector.

“It is essential that, in addition to productivity and maintaining investment conditions, employment is also maintained,” he said.

Comment and follow us on LinkedIn:  @Karina Quintero  /  @GrupoT21

El cargo ANPACT and AMDA predict a slow recovery of the heavy goods vehicle market towards the end of 2026 apareció primero en T21.