Belize Wants Mayan Train Connectivity
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Belize Wants Mayan Train Connectivity

Photo by:   Ambassador Martha Zamarripa @Twitter
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Thu, 09/30/2021 - 18:08

Belize Prime Minister Johnny Briceño met with FONATUR head Rogelio Jiménez Pons to discuss the possibility of extending the Mayan Train into Belize or connecting the flagship infrastructure project across Mexico’s border with Belize in some other way. The meeting was documented by Mexico's ambassador to Belize Martha Zamarripa in her Twitter account. Briceño also met with SRE leader Marcelo Ebrard to further discuss the feasibility of this extension. 

Ready for More? Here’s the Week in Infrastructure!

Sonora Aqueduct Cancellation Unlikely: AMLO

After a petition to cancel the Independencia aqueduct in Sonora, President López Obrador said that it would be costly to do so. “An aqueduct to Hermosillo was built by the previous government, which generated opposition from the town residents. We believe that with this decision we are taking, delivering enough water to the towns, this situation can be resolved because canceling the aqueduct now would be problematic for us. There is already an investment,” said López Obrador. The president added that the cancellation of the aqueduct would be analyzed thoroughly. 

Air Cargo Skyrockets in 2021

A recent report from SCT reports  the important growth of Mexican air cargo: “Air cargo movement grew 99.1 percent in the 19 terminals of the ASA Network, during the first eight months of 2021.” The Airport and Auxiliary Services (ASA) Network “operates and manages 19 airports that belong to the national airport system. ASA supplies aircraft fuel throughout the national territory through 60 stations located in the country’s airports and two supply points,” according to SEGOB. SCT also highlighted the massive change from 2020 to 2021. “In these eight months of 2021, 81,218 operations were carried out at ASA Network terminals, which means a total growth of 27.5 percent, compared to the 63,711 in the same period of 2020.” The drop in operations throughout 2020 severely affected many industries but SCT also highlighted growth from 2021.

Transisthmic Corridor To Renovate Existing Port Equipment

In an effort to make container handling more efficient in the Salina Cruz & Coatzacoalcos ports, the Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (CIIT) plans to invest approximately US$50 million for the renovation of existing equipment. Rafael Marín Mollinedo, manager of the Program for the Development of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec stated that in its current version, crossings between the Atlantic and the Pacific coasts take between 13 and 44 percent more time through the isthmus, versus the Panama Canal, due to the abandonment of routes. In terms of costs, crossing through Mexico is between 7 and 34 percent more expensive as well. "This is why it is necessary to modernize the infrastructure," stated Marín. “Even with an expansion to the Panama Canal, an additional inter-oceanic crossing is required. The Tehuantepec Corridor can be competitive with the necessary infrastructure.”

Shipping Costs To Impact Mexican Black Friday

Mexico’s Black Friday and the retail Christmas season could face shortage of products due to the lack of production in electronic devices. This is due to a decrease in containers, as well as reduced activity at key international trade ports as well as an increase in international freight costs. According to Drip Capital Mexico, a company specialized in financing exporters and importers, the global container shortage that has been occurring since the mid-2020s, has continued its negative effect in logistics and deliveries for multiple sectors. While the shortages are expected to taper off by mid-2022, the current landscape remains challenging and, in some cases, freight costs in Asia have increased around 900 and 1000 percent, remaining unprecedented and completely disruptive to some industries.

Photo by:   Ambassador Martha Zamarripa @Twitter

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