Marcelo Ebrard, head of the Ministry of Economy (SE) , reported that after a virtual meeting with Jamieson Greer,  United States Trade Representative (USTR) ; and Dominic LeBlanc, Canada’s Minister of Trade, the United States opted to conduct annual reviews of the USMCA .

With this position from the United States, the extension of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) for another 16 years is ruled out , so the trade agreement will be reviewed annually for the next 10 years (until 2036), which will generate uncertainty for companies that produce goods in the North American region, as well as in the country’s logistics sector.

Ebrard added that another conversation with his North American counterpart will take place on July 20 in Mexico, and will be a formal review of the USMCA, with the aim of making progress on pending issues.

“There we will have the opportunity to move forward so that the review, now foreseen by the treaty that begins today, can practically be carried out and we can conclude it within a reasonable timeframe,” the Mexican official explained in a video on his social media.

Later, in a press conference, he ruled out any intention on the part of the three countries to abandon the treaty , although he said that the United States has around 14 concerns, including the loss of jobs in some manufacturing sectors and the trade deficit it has with other countries.

According to figures from the  US Census Bureau , the northern neighbor recorded a trade deficit with Mexico of 15,348.5 million dollars (USD) in April 2026.

Ebrard Casaubon reiterated that despite the United States’ position, the parties retain the possibility of agreeing to an extension at any time during the next decade, and insisted that this decision will not have immediate effects on regional trade , since “the treaty will continue to function as currently planned. There would be no modifications.”

He emphasized that Mexico has the highest and most complex rules of origin in the world . “No competitor has to have 75% regional integration. None. In fact, it’s one of Mexico’s strongest arguments. How is it possible that South Korea, Japan, the European Union, and several other countries have 15 rules without any? And we have 25 more rules. So, clearly, that’s one of the major issues to resolve.”

He also ruled out any impact on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Mexico. “I don’t think it will suffer such an unexpected change. They’ve already factored it in. I continue to receive information from companies about investments; some I can’t announce now, but based on the indicators I saw today, the market already knew this would happen.”

Despite what Ebrard said, the  Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) indicated that FDI attracted by Mexico in 2025 fell 5% annually, and that announcements of new projects plummeted 43% compared to 2024.

It is worth remembering that Article 34.7 of the USMCA establishes that the first joint review will be carried out on July 1, 2026, for the purpose of evaluating the functioning of this agreement, formulating recommendations and, if necessary, adopting pertinent measures.

Impact on road transport and the logistics sector

The uncertainty generated by the new provisions of the USMCA based on the annual evaluations will impact the country’s trucking and logistics sectors, given that these sectors require investments such as tractor-trailers, trailers, distribution centers, intermodal terminals, and technology.

In this sense, companies in the sector could postpone the acquisition of fleets, delay the construction of logistics parks, and consider expanding cross-border operations.

Other consequences would include increased operating costs, constant process updates, and less long-term planning by logistics-related companies, such as the automotive industry.

Nearshoring could also be at risk , as Mexico has attracted investment due to its proximity to the United States and the preferential access guaranteed by the USMCA. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, Mexico reached US$23.591 billion in FDI , representing a 10.4% increase compared to the same period in 2025, according to data from the Ministry of Economy.

In addition, some relocation projects could target other markets considered more stable in commercial terms.

According to the above, for the logistics sector the main problem would be constant uncertainty, since in a scenario where every year there is the possibility of reviewing relevant aspects of the USMCA it could raise the cost of transport, reduce investment and make it difficult to plan supply chains in North America.

In a context where Mexico seeks to consolidate itself as a nearshoring platform , the stability of the trade framework remains one of the main assets to attract investment, strengthen freight transport and maintain the competitiveness of the region.

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El cargo USMCA, on track for annual reviews: Ebrard; how would it impact the logistics sector? apareció primero en T21.

Revenues from establishments participating in the Manufacturing, Maquiladora and Export Services Industry Program (IMMEX) totaled 678.374 billion pesos (mdp) in April 2026 , representing a slight increase of 0.13% compared to the same month last year, when they reached 677.454 billion pesos. Of the total, 59.4% corresponded to revenues from the foreign market, reflecting the sector’s dependence on international demand.

According to information published by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) , in the fourth month of the year there were 6,523 establishments registered in the IMMEX program : 5,222 carried out manufacturing activities and the rest activities related to agriculture, fishing, commerce and services.

Meanwhile, employment increased by 0.1% on a monthly basis: in manufacturing establishments it rose by 0.2% and in non-manufacturing establishments it increased by 0.1%.

Conversely, in its annual measurement, jobs fell by 1.6% in April 2026.

Meanwhile, hours worked rose 0.4% on a monthly basis, although they registered an annual decline of 2.4 percent.

In April of this year, average real wages grew 0.6% monthly and showed an annual increase of 2.6%, representing an improvement in the income of workers in the sector.

By subsector, the manufacture of transport equipment had the highest income, with 246,978 million pesos.

The results of the IMMEX establishments in April 2026 showed a mixed performance , as while employment and hours worked registered ups and downs, remuneration in the sector had an upward trend, reflecting a slight improvement in the income of workers in this industry.

According to analysts, the export manufacturing sector is one of the most important in Mexico and will be one of the topics that will be put on the table in the review of the Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada (USMCA) .

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El cargo IMMEX company revenues grow in April; employment results are mixed. apareció primero en T21.

July 1st will mark the start of the formal review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) , clarified Marcelo Ebrard, head of the Ministry of Economy (SE) , who is in Washington DC for the second round of bilateral talks between Mexico and the United States, with a view to renegotiating this trade agreement.

In a video posted on his social media, the Mexican official said that on July 1, he and his team will have a virtual meeting with their counterparts from Canada and the United States.

“We will present Mexico’s position, and they will do the same regarding what comes next with the treaty. It can be automatically extended for 16 years, or it can be maintained for 10 years with periodic reviews,” he emphasized.

Ebrard explained that there are different alternatives planned, and that on that day they will see which one “we form among the three countries”.

He added that the next round of bilateral talks on the USMCA will take place in Mexico City on July 20.

“We are going to discuss texts and content in much more detail than what we have been talking about, since we started informal conversations in March and now we are having formal rounds of review,” he explained.

In the second round of bilateral talks in Washington DC, various topics related to the trilateral trade agreement were addressed, including rules of origin, economic security, agriculture, the automotive industry, and other relevant issues .

“Mexico presented its points of view and its proposals, which will have to be analyzed by our counterpart led by Jamieson Greer ( United States Trade Representative ),” Ebrard stated in the video.

It’s worth noting that the automotive sector is one of the key industries in the trilateral trade agreement. In the period from January to May 2016, Mexico exported 1,388,236 light vehicles , a 4% increase compared to the same period last year, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) .

The main destination for vehicles assembled in the country was the United States , a market that accounted for 75.4% of international shipments, reflecting the integration of this industry in the North American region.

Furthermore, according to figures from the  US Census Bureau ,  trade between Mexico and the United States in April totaled $86,035.5 million , representing a 23.6% increase compared to April 2025.

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El cargo Formal review of the USMCA begins July 1: Ebrard apareció primero en T21.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off on June 11, with Mexico as one of the three host countries. The world’s biggest sporting event comes just as our supply chain faces its most demanding test in years: the renegotiation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) . 

Behind every match lies a massive logistical operation across the three host cities in our country, driven by the peak demand, concentrated consumption, and population movement that each game represents. The stadiums and various fan festivals , as well as a large number of restaurants, bars, and hotels, will require constant, simultaneous, and error-free supplies, which, multiplied by the number of events, will have a considerable cumulative effect. 

Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey announced their mobility plans, which include multiple road closures with exclusive corridors, security perimeters, and last-mile zones designed to prioritize mass transportation for soccer fans. This will force dozens of producers and distributors in Mexico to reconfigure their usual routes , adding extra pressure to businesses for several weeks. 

The problem is that the infrastructure was already at its limit.

The World Cup arrives when our supply chain was already operating under maximum pressure . That same infrastructure must now simultaneously absorb the highest export volume in its history (we remained the top U.S. trading partner, with international manufacturing sales at record levels) and the pressure of an event that will bring more than five million international visitors. 

In addition to increased urban mobility, the surge in consumption, distribution, and transportation of goods during the World Cup will likely raise the risks of theft and losses for retailers , carriers, and supply chains. Furthermore, highway congestion, downtime, and unsafe stops could become critical issues just as Mexico seeks to solidify its position as a regional logistics hub.

An additional challenge that few companies are considering 

Exporting companies operating in the three markets must navigate three different customs regulatory systems (CBP in the United States, CBSA in Canada and ANAM in Mexico) with their own documentary requirements, tariff classifications and clearance times. 

This means that a misclassification, an incomplete invoice, or an inconsistency in documentation can not only cause delays but also halt a shipment at the worst possible time. Therefore, companies with real-time visibility of their supply chain, planned alternative routes, and suppliers available to respond to peak demand will have an advantage that extends far beyond the World Cup. Because the ability to operate under extraordinary pressure is precisely what the USMCA will demand of Mexican supply chains going forward. 

Undoubtedly, these next couple of months will be a real demonstration of how prepared companies in Mexico and their supply chains are to manage modern complexity.

On the field and in the supply chain, the difference is made by whoever arrives best prepared . 

We invite you to read Paulina’s latest contribution:  Mexico produces for North America; it needs to move at the pace it demands .

*Paulina Aguilar is currently co-founder and CRO of  Mundi .

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El cargo The supply chain also plays a role in the World Cup apareció primero en T21.

The review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) represents an opportunity to consolidate the competitiveness of the country’s industrial infrastructure, stated the Mexican Association of Private Industrial Parks (AMPIP) , highlighting that Mexico faces a new stage marked by more selective trade, more strategic investments, and a growing demand for ready-to-operate infrastructure.

The association echoed the reflections shared by Ildefonso Guajardo, former Secretary of Economy and Mexico’s chief negotiator for the USMCA, during a conference with AMPIP members. He noted that the world has moved beyond an era in which production chains were designed solely based on costs . Now, he explained, investment decisions incorporate elements such as resilience, national security, and the ability to operate in reliable regions.

“The pandemic taught us a lesson: we are not only going to look for models of maximum efficiency in operating costs, but also resilience in value chains,” Guajardo stated.

The former official emphasized that regional integration will continue to be a determining factor for the country’s competitiveness. “The future lies in strengthening integration ,” he stated.

For AMPIP, this view aligns with the recent evolution of the industrial real estate market. In a presentation published in its digital Think Tank library, the association points out that demand for industrial space remains strong, but now requires conditions such as availability of energy, water, security, connectivity, and operational certainty.

Currently, AMPIP members comprise a network of more than 477 industrial parks operating in 28 states of the country, with more than 85 million square meters of industrial surface, more than four thousand companies installed and around 3.7 million jobs linked to their operations.

The association has also identified 103 industrial parks under construction , reflecting Mexico’s continued expansion of its capacity to receive new investments, production expansions, and higher value-added logistics operations.

The productive relationship between Mexico and the United States is also reflected in the composition of the tenants of these complexes, since 44% of the companies installed in industrial parks affiliated with AMPIP are of US origin , an indicator of the depth of integration between both countries.

Guajardo warned that Mexico must avoid short-term decisions that affect its competitiveness, noting that industrial projects are built with a long-term vision.

“This is a medium- and long-term game,” he noted.

In anticipation of the upcoming review of the USMCA, AMPIP believes it is necessary to strengthen factors such as the availability of reliable energy, water security, connectivity, logistics infrastructure, security, talent, administrative simplification, and regulatory certainty.

The association reiterated that industrial parks represent a key destination for productive investments and constitute a crucial platform for transforming trade integration into employment, exports, regional development, and greater competitiveness for Mexico. In this context, it emphasized that the challenge lies in ensuring the country has the necessary infrastructure to fully capitalize on the new industrial phase in North America.

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El cargo USMCA review demands strengthening of Mexico’s industrial infrastructure: AMPIP apareció primero en T21.

The reform to the Customs Law, which came into effect in 2026, has become one of the main challenges for logistics in Mexico, since it has not provided advantages for foreign trade, but rather obstacles to its operation, considered the Mexican Association of Intermodal Transport (AMTI) .

“The reform of the Customs Law, far from creating advantages, has created more obstacles to operations, as it places greater responsibilities on customs brokers and more penalties on transporters and customs brokers, which is beginning to cause some friction in foreign trade. The nature of customs is to facilitate foreign trade, and this reform is generating a series of complaints,” explained Luis Hernández, president of AMTI.

During the webinar “Supply Chain Readiness in North America” , Hernández pointed out that this scenario is currently occurring, despite having a greater investment in logistics in the country.

According to the Ministry of Economy (SE) , the transport, postal and storage sector attracted 913 million dollars (USD) of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the first quarter of 2026, a growth of 123.3% compared to the same period in 2025, when it was 409 million USD.

Luis Hernández indicated that there are currently bottlenecks in customs operations, such as duplicate inspections , staff availability, binational coordination, and crossing times.

“In order to resolve the capacity issue and be more in line with the growth we are logistically promoting and what the United States, Canada, and Mexico are seeking to supply that market, the country still has to resolve many problems related to customs to be at the same level,” he commented.

Therefore, he asserted that the challenge is to cross borders, move goods, and expedite the flow of logistics. “We have to resolve the customs issue as a logistics industry and work hand in hand with associations. Connectivity is not the problem.”

Reconfiguration in the automotive industry

For his part, Daniel Hernández, president of the National Network of Automotive Industry Clusters of Mexico (Redcam) , stressed that the automotive sector has registered changes, including the speed at which it moves, driven by the role of China and artificial intelligence (AI), as well as by the adjustments in the Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada (USMCA) .

“The automotive industry is experiencing its most profound transformation in a century, driven by technology and now by the reconfiguration of value chains and a major new player: China. The global map has changed; today, the center of gravity of the industry, which was primarily in Detroit or Tokyo, is now in China,” he said.

He recalled that last year 96.4 million vehicles were manufactured , of which 36% were produced in that country, while 10 years ago it manufactured 24 million units and sold 700,000 to the world; in 2025 it manufactured 34 million and placed more than seven million cars worldwide.

Daniel Hernandez described China’s development in the automotive industry as “impressive,” even stating that its current production is more than double that of North America.

“All the mobility and growth of the automotive industry is driven by China. Last year, we had negative growth of just under 1% in our assembly industry, while they are growing by over three million units produced each year. Their production capacity is greater than any other country, and they are also absorbing a large number of electric vehicles. I think that’s where some of the frustration in the automotive industry comes from, because the progress of electrification hasn’t been as we expected,” he noted.

He stated that this change is related to the development of their supply chains , mainly in the critical supply for electric vehicles, batteries and basic raw materials.

Furthermore, he indicated that China is already one of the world’s largest vehicle exporters, with Brazil, Russia, and Mexico being its main markets. In Mexico alone, there are 30 Chinese brands, and 11 of them have a distribution and maintenance network.

In that regard, he asserted that the supply chain must make strategic investments , while suppliers need to appeal to a closer proximity with their customers’ engineering cycles, use of AI, process automation, among other actions.

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El cargo New Customs Law Impacts Mexican Foreign Trade: AMTI apareció primero en T21.

The reform to the Customs Law, which came into effect in 2026, has become one of the main challenges for logistics in Mexico, since it has not provided advantages for foreign trade, but rather obstacles to its operation, considered the Mexican Association of Intermodal Transport (AMTI) .

“The reform of the Customs Law, far from creating advantages, has created more obstacles to operations, as it places greater responsibilities on customs brokers and more penalties on transporters and customs brokers, which is beginning to cause some friction in foreign trade. The nature of customs is to facilitate foreign trade, and this reform is generating a series of complaints,” explained Luis Hernández, president of AMTI.

During the webinar “Supply Chain Readiness in North America” , Hernández pointed out that this scenario is currently occurring, despite having a greater investment in logistics in the country.

According to the Ministry of Economy (SE) , the transport, postal and storage sector attracted 913 million dollars (USD) of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the first quarter of 2026, a growth of 123.3% compared to the same period in 2025, when it was 409 million USD.

Luis Hernández indicated that there are currently bottlenecks in customs operations, such as duplicate inspections , staff availability, binational coordination, and crossing times.

“In order to resolve the capacity issue and be more in line with the growth we are logistically promoting and what the United States, Canada, and Mexico are seeking to supply that market, the country still has to resolve many problems related to customs to be at the same level,” he commented.

Therefore, he asserted that the challenge is to cross borders, move goods, and expedite the flow of logistics. “We have to resolve the customs issue as a logistics industry and work hand in hand with associations. Connectivity is not the problem.”

Reconfiguration in the automotive industry

For his part, Daniel Hernández, president of the National Network of Automotive Industry Clusters of Mexico (Redcam) , stressed that the automotive sector has registered changes, including the speed at which it moves, driven by the role of China and artificial intelligence (AI), as well as by the adjustments in the Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada (USMCA) .

“The automotive industry is experiencing its most profound transformation in a century, driven by technology and now by the reconfiguration of value chains and a major new player: China. The global map has changed; today, the center of gravity of the industry, which was primarily in Detroit or Tokyo, is now in China,” he said.

He recalled that last year 96.4 million vehicles were manufactured , of which 36% were produced in that country, while 10 years ago it manufactured 24 million units and sold 700,000 to the world; in 2025 it manufactured 34 million and placed more than seven million cars worldwide.

Daniel Hernandez described China’s development in the automotive industry as “impressive,” even stating that its current production is more than double that of North America.

“All the mobility and growth of the automotive industry is driven by China. Last year, we had negative growth of just under 1% in our assembly industry, while they are growing by over three million units produced each year. Their production capacity is greater than any other country, and they are also absorbing a large number of electric vehicles. I think that’s where some of the frustration in the automotive industry comes from, because the progress of electrification hasn’t been as we expected,” he noted.

He stated that this change is related to the development of their supply chains , mainly in the critical supply for electric vehicles, batteries and basic raw materials.

Furthermore, he indicated that China is already one of the world’s largest vehicle exporters, with Brazil, Russia, and Mexico being its main markets. In Mexico alone, there are 30 Chinese brands, and 11 of them have a distribution and maintenance network.

In that regard, he asserted that the supply chain must make strategic investments , while suppliers need to appeal to a closer proximity with their customers’ engineering cycles, use of AI, process automation, among other actions.

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El cargo New Customs Law Impacts Mexican Foreign Trade: AMTI apareció primero en T21.

The review of the United States – Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) could extend for at least two more years and result in annual evaluations until 2028 before reaching a final agreement, estimated Paulina Anciola, deputy director of Economic Studies at Banamex .

During a discussion organized by Mundi , the specialist explained that the agreement includes a review in July 2026, at which time the three countries will have to decide whether to extend its validity for another 16 years. However, there is also the possibility of maintaining annual reviews while negotiations continue.

“There are about three possible scenarios regarding this review. The first would be that on July 1st, all three parties say, ‘we agree,’ and the treaty is extended for another 16 years. That’s what we think is unlikely to happen,” he noted.

Anciola explained that the second scenario would be that one of the countries decides to abandon the agreement , while the third contemplates successive annual reviews in case the parties do not reach a consensus on the future of the treaty.

“What we see right now as the most likely scenario from Banamex is annual reviews, at least until 2028,” he stated.

The economist explained that this mechanism could remain in place for up to 10 years as long as the three trading partners remain within the agreement. If there is no consensus at the end of that period, the treaty would expire .

According to Banamex, the uncertainty associated with the review process will remain present in the coming years, although investors have begun to adapt to a more complex decision-making environment.

Anciola believes that an automatic renewal in 2026 looks complicated due to the pressure exerted by the United States, since the discussion of the agreement is no longer limited to trade issues.

“Everyone was already expecting that it would be very difficult to have a clean review on July 1st and that it would be automatically renewed because of all the pressure we have seen from the United States, not only on trade issues, but it is now mixed with security issues, with migration issues, with trade issues,” he commented.

The specialist added that the administration of Donald Trump, President of the United States, could use the review process as a tool for political and commercial pressure on various fronts, so the uncertainty surrounding the agreement could extend beyond 2026.

“We believe that the review of the USMCA will be a process, not an event,” he concluded.

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El cargo Banamex anticipates annual reviews of the USMCA until 2028 apareció primero en T21.

In light of the review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) , the National Agency of Automotive Sector Suppliers (Anapsa) raised the need for Mexico to promote the signing of “parallel letters” that would protect heavy and light vehicles and auto parts from possible tariff measures by the United States.

Alberto Bustamante, president of Anapsa, explained that the automotive industry is once again at the center of North American trade discussions due to its importance in the trade between Mexico and the United States.

The executive noted that the sector represents approximately 5% of the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 24% of the manufacturing GDP, so any modification to trade rules would have significant repercussions for the Mexican economy.

“Difficult times are coming, the issue is that a good negotiation has to be done,” he stated during a discussion organized by Mundi .

Although Anapsa has already presented the proposal to the Ministry of Economy (SE) , Bustamante indicated that so far they have not received a response regarding the possibility of incorporating parallel letters or a similar scheme that would help protect the industry from potential tariff measures by the United States.

He also warned that one of the proposals currently under discussion includes raising the “regional content value of vehicles ,” as well as incorporating a requirement that 50% of said content must come from the United States.

Bustamante explained that the regional content value corresponds to the percentage of components, materials and manufacturing processes that a vehicle incorporates from North America to access the tariff benefits of the USMCA.

Currently the requirement is 75%, but the proposal would raise that percentage to 85% and add a specific minimum share of content produced in the United States.

“There is an increase in the value of regional content, which now includes US content that is not currently available,” he commented.

The representative of Anapsa indicated that the organization stated that it is a priority to avoid establishing mandatory percentages of national content for any of the three member countries of the trade agreement, considering that this could alter the productive integration that currently exists in the region.

He argued that the review of the USMCA is taking place in a different context than originally planned and that, in practice, it has evolved into a renegotiation driven by the trade policies of the administration of Donald Trump, President of the United States.

According to the business leader, the outcome of the negotiations will be decisive for an industry that currently produces around 4.2 million light vehicles per year in Mexico and whose auto parts chain exceeds 120 billion dollars in annual production.

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El cargo Anapsa calls for protecting the automotive sector with parallel letters ahead of the USMCA review 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.