Consolidating cargo makes the difference between surviving and dominating the Mexican logistics market. With 400 new foreign companies projected to establish operations in Mexico by the end of 2025, the ability to efficiently group shipments from multiple suppliers determines which logistics operators will capture the most value from the nearshoring phenomenon.
Demand for industrial space linked to nearshoring exceeded 2 million square meters at the end of 2024, representing a 5% increase in commercialization compared to the previous year. This explosion requires a complete reengineering of traditional cargo consolidation models. The Mexican Association of Private Industrial Parks (AMPIP) estimates that 47 new industrial parks will come into operation to respond to this growing need.
Traxión, the only publicly traded institutional logistics company in Mexico with more than 70 years of experience and 24,600 employees, currently processes more than 1.4 million tons annually through its consolidation centers. The company has identified three critical factors that transform consolidation from simple cargo grouping to a sustainable competitive advantage:
Coordination between dedicated, multi-client, and bonded warehouses allows for the optimization of flows of up to 162 million boxes per year, as demonstrated by the operation with Colgate-Palmolive in its 100,000 m² of specialized facilities.
Transportation Management System (TMS) and Warehouse Management System (WMS) generate real-time visibility of the location and status of consolidated products. This capability reduces picking times by up to 40% and minimizes errors by 85% according to current operational metrics.
The ability to switch between FTL (Full Truck Load) and LTL (Less Than Truckload) transport depending on consolidated volumes optimizes costs per kilometer on critical routes such as Bajío-Laredo, where Traxión operates more dynamically for exports to the United States.
The implementation of WMS systems represents the first critical step toward effective consolidation. These systems provide technological tools that offer a solution for inventory management and warehouse operations. Having a WMS is a critical step in optimizing logistics operations.
Specific benefits include:
Traxión's Productivity Center operates 24/7, monitoring more than 1.2 million square meters of storage space, using predictive analytics to anticipate peaks in demand and proactively adjust consolidation strategies.
States such as Aguascalientes are expected to see 100% industrial absorption from the automotive sector by 2024. The consolidation of auto parts from multiple Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers into assembly plants requires pinpoint synchronization and just-in-time responsiveness.
It includes everything from machinery to medical devices. The priority is on facilities with high technical standards and logistical connectivity. Traxión's MARS/Amway operation exemplifies this capability with specialized co-packing that integrates products from different production lines.
They require spaces designed with technical specifications, environmental controls, and certified logistics. Consolidation in this sector requires a continuous cold chain and integrated regulatory documentation for international consolidations.
Companies seek to regionalize distribution with strategic hubs that reduce delivery times through efficient consolidation of multiple orders.
The implementation of a logistics operator is a challenge that requires change management structured in three fundamental stages:
North Border
Monterrey, Saltillo, Ciudad Juárez, and Tijuana account for more than 50% of new industrial demand. These hubs require consolidation centers capable of handling bidirectional Mexico-United States flows with integrated customs agility.
Bajío Region
Querétaro, Guanajuato, and San Luis Potosí are establishing themselves as key regions due to their infrastructure, skilled labor force, and intermodal connectivity, enabling rail consolidation for massive volumes.
Emerging Areas
Ciudad Obregón and Reynosa are beginning to stand out for their absorption and availability, developing specialized consolidation capabilities.
Strategic consolidation in the last mile represents one of the greatest logistical challenges. This final phase of delivery is critical for customer satisfaction and operational efficiency. Traxion has implemented innovative strategies:
Cross-docking centers: Consolidating orders at strategic centers reduces the need for individual trips to multiple destinations.
Zone consolidation: Strategic zoning involves the deliberate subdivision of storage space into different specialized sections, optimizing the arrival, storage, and dispatch of products.
Urban electric bicycles: Electric bicycles have been introduced for deliveries in urban areas, improving agility and reducing the carbon footprint.
The implementation of the advanced consolidation model at FEMSA Ecuador represents a paradigm of operational excellence:
Diana Margarita David, Warehouse Manager, explains: "We always strive for excellence, maintaining our key performance indicators at the highest level, constantly innovating, with success using the JDA system, which is a technology that provides real-time visibility of warehouse activities to enable continuous control and monitoring of costs, productivity, and service."
Decarbonization of the transportation sector is now a priority for global companies looking to invest in Mexico. Enrique Llaca, Corporate Commercial Director at Traxión, points out that the technological transformation of the sector has been key to improving operational and environmental indicators, as well as optimizing costs and returning them to customers via rates and service.
Sustainability initiatives include:
Projections indicate that during 2024 and 2025, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) could exceed the 2023 figure, which totaled $36.058 billion. By 2027, demand for industrial space is estimated to grow by an additional 3 million square meters.
Companies are no longer just looking for industrial space. They are focusing on:
Alejandra Méndez, Director of Communications at Traxión, confirms: Over the last two years, we have benefited from nearshoring because we have seen the arrival of new companies not only from China, but also from the US and Europe.
Logistics managers must monitor specific indicators:
Strategic consolidation is the backbone of Mexican logistics competitiveness in the era of nearshoring. Companies that master this capability will disproportionately capture the value of the explosive growth the sector is experiencing.
Contact our specialists and discover how to transform your supply chain into an engine of sustainable growth and superior profitability.
Sources: