Mexico Auto Logistics Grow on Nearshoring Demand

Mexico’s automotive industry is expanding its logistics capabilities as manufacturers, suppliers and logistics operators prepare for rising trade volumes, nearshoring activity and increasingly complex supply chain requirements across North America.

According to the Automotive Logistics Mapping in Mexico 2026 report published by Cluster Industrial B2B, the country is supported by a network of 1,159 specialized automotive logistics and supply chain providers backed by expanding maritime, air and land transportation infrastructure. The study identifies logistics as a critical factor that will increasingly determine the competitiveness of Mexico’s automotive sector amid the USMCA review, growing demands for supply chain traceability and mounting pressure to improve operational resilience.

In 1Q26, Mexico produced 969,294 light vehicles and exported 795,631 units. The United States accounted for 75.8% of exports, while Canada represented 12.3%.

“Logistics has become one of the factors that will define the competitiveness of the Mexican automotive industry in the coming years,” Cluster Industrial said in the report. “The ability to move vehicles, auto parts and production inputs efficiently will be just as important as manufacturing itself.”

Mexico’s ports remain central to automotive logistics operations. By the end of 2025, the country’s ports had handled 2.26 million light vehicles in overseas traffic. Lázaro Cárdenas led port activity in 2025 with 804,221 vehicles handled, followed by Veracruz with 770,151 units, Altamira with 475,437 and Mazatlan with 172,359 vehicles.

In 1Q26, Veracruz regained the top position nationwide, processing 171,598 vehicles, a 22.3% increase compared with the same period a year earlier. Lázaro Cárdenas handled 133,427 units, Altamira processed 89,461 and Mazatlanrecorded 40,642 vehicles. 

Investment in port infrastructure is also accelerating. For 2026, public and private investments exceeding MX$296 billion have been announced to modernize key ports, including Manzanillo, Lázaro Cárdenas, Veracruz, Altamira, Ensenada, Guaymas, Topolobampo and Progreso. 

Air cargo is also becoming increasingly important for automotive supply chains, particularly for high-value components, critical parts and advanced manufacturing operations. In 1Q26, Mexico’s international air cargo volume rose 9.8% year over year to 212,377 metric tons.

Queretaro International Airport remained the country’s leading domestic cargo airport, handling 13,948 metric tons, while Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) consolidated its position as Mexico’s primary international cargo hub, processing 97,962 metric tons during the period.

The study found that logistics capacity is concentrated in the country’s main industrial corridors. Guanajuato leads with 312 logistics providers, representing 26.9% of the national total, followed by Mexico City with 179 companies, Queretaro with 162, Nuevo Leon with 155 and Jalisco with 63 providers.

The report attributes this concentration to the presence of assembly plants, auto parts manufacturers and industrial parks in the Bajio region, as well as the strategic location of northern border states that facilitate foreign trade.

Transportation companies represent the largest provider segment, with 436 firms offering freight, forwarding, rail, maritime and air transportation services. General logistics services account for 219 providers specializing in warehousing, distribution and bonded facilities, while 195 companies provide professional and specialized services, including customs operations, foreign trade consulting and satellite monitoring.

Another 191 companies operate in logistics and supply chain services, offering automotive logistics, supplier development, third-party (3PL) and fourth-party (4PL) logistics, sourcing and intermodal solutions. The Industry 4.0 segment comprises 118 providers specializing in artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, cybersecurity, cloud computing and collaborative robotics.

“The combination of port infrastructure, air connectivity and an increasingly specialized network of logistics providers positions Mexico as one of the most important freight mobility hubs in North America,” the report states.