Mexico Advances Pilot for Corporate Customs Agency Model

ANAM is advancing a pilot program for Mexico’s corporate customs agency model, aimed at strengthening customs compliance, operational continuity, and foreign trade efficiency as trade volumes and supply chain demands continue to grow.

Mexico’s customs sector is entering a new phase with the implementation of a pilot program for the Corporate Customs Agency model, a structure that allows authorized legal entities to operate in customs clearance. The scheme, promoted under the framework of Mexico’s Customs Law and implemented by the National Customs Agency of Mexico (ANAM), seeks to strengthen compliance, operational continuity, and institutional oversight in a sector that is central to Mexico’s foreign trade operations.

Through Informative Bulletin 02/2026, ANAM announced that the Customs Agency figure is defined under Article 167-D of the Customs Law as a legal entity authorized by customs authority to promote clearance on behalf of importers and exporters. The agency said the model is intended to provide greater legal certainty for customs operations and to align the sector with the country’s trade and logistics needs.

The implementation comes as Mexico’s customs system handles a high volume of international trade operations linked to manufacturing, logistics, and nearshoring-related activity. According to sector reports, Mexico’s foreign trade represents around 75% of national GDP, while customs operations generate more than MX$1.4 trillion in annual revenue. The same reports state that the system processes more than 25 million operations per year, making customs efficiency a key factor for supply chain competitiveness.

The pilot phase is expected to support the transition from a model centered mainly on individual customs brokers to a structure in which authorized companies can assume customs agency functions. Under this model, customs operations would be managed through corporate entities subject to specific requirements, internal controls, and accountability standards. The measure does not eliminate the role of customs brokers but creates a broader institutional framework for customs clearance.

SAT’s General Rules for Foreign Trade for 2026 include procedures related to authorization to operate as a Customs Agency, the incorporation of customs brokers into these agencies, the appointment of representatives, operations in additional customs offices, and other administrative requirements. These provisions establish the regulatory basis for how agencies may operate and interact with Mexico’s customs systems.

Under the traditional system, operations have depended largely on individual licenses. The corporate model could allow companies to build more structured compliance systems, distribute operational responsibilities, and maintain service continuity under an institutional framework.

Sector participants have described the change as a relevant step for foreign trade modernization. Brian Villanueva, Director General, Azafra International, tells Debate that the new figure could help reinforce traceability, compliance, and operational controls in customs processes. Azafra International was cited among the companies participating in the pilot scheme.

The pilot program may also have implications for customs competitiveness. Mexico’s logistics and foreign trade sectors have expanded alongside the relocation of supply chains, particularly in manufacturing industries such as automotive, electronics, aerospace, medical devices, and consumer goods. A more institutionalized customs agency model could support companies seeking greater certainty in cross-border operations, especially those moving goods through high-volume corridors and ports of entry.

However, the implementation of the model will depend on how agencies adapt to the regulatory requirements established by ANAM and SAT. Companies participating in the scheme will need to comply with authorization procedures, corporate governance obligations, operational controls, and customs-system requirements. The pilot phase will likely be used to test the model’s technical and administrative viability before broader adoption.