Highways Constitute 5 Percent of Mexico’s GDP: SICT

Mexico’s Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport (SICT) reported that federal highways will receive investments surpassing MX$9.5 billion (US$477 million) and a further MX$7 billion (US$351 million) will be financed through contracts by 2023. 

Throughout 2022, MX$15.9 billion (US$803 million) have been invested to conserve Mexican highways. Jorge Nuño Lara, Dispatch Manager, SICT, deemed vital to preserve Mexico’s highway network, referring to the importance of its contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The Head of the SICT highlighted that the conservation budget for roads will not fall in comparison to 2022’s budget. 

“In order to improve toll-free federal highways, the Deputy Ministry of Infrastructure has decided to move from reactive to preventive and predictive conservation,” said Nuño via a press release at the opening of the VII International Seminar on Asphalt/ Conservation of Road Infrastructure, in León, Guanajuato, on the 25th anniversary of the Mexican Asphalt Association, A. C. (AMAAC).

Road assets are worth MX$1.4 trillion (US$69.6 billion) according to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). SICT also highlighted that during 2021, Mexico’s GDP reached MX$26.2 trillion (US$1.3 trillion), of which 5.22 percent can be linked to the total value of transportation in the country’s highways.

Nuño Lara explained that Mexican highways transported over 2.2 billion passengers and more than 513 million tons of goods and merchandise. In Mexico, most passengers are transported via the country’s highways, with a 96.4 percent flow on its roads. The country’s highway network also moves 68.5 percent of the national cargo. 

The Management System for the Conservation of Highways-Icaro (SGCC-Icaro) will complete its migration at the end of this year, loading the "auscultation" data carried out by the Directorate General of Technical Services. Nuño Lara said that in the second week of October 2022, SICT’s Center personnel will begin to work with the system to properly handle the platform’s proposals.

“SICT analyzes the possibility of carrying out road maintenance through construction charges to Concession Titles, in addition to establishing Road Funds as an alternative to gather resources for highway maintenance,” reads the press release.