Overview
Mexico’s USD 1.85 trillion economy makes its infrastructure plans an important consideration for any U.S. engineering or construction supply firm. President Sheinbaum’s Plan México aims to strengthen the local market, increase productivity, attract new investments, and generate employment. It supports several key infrastructure projects that were launched during the tenure of her predecessor. In 2024, there was a significant increase in government expenditure on transportation infrastructure as some flagship projects were nearing completion. While this pace of activity is expected to diminish in early 2025, growth is expected to resume later in the year when the administration launches new strategic infrastructure projects.
Trade Statistics
Table: Mexico Transportation Infrastructure Equipment and Services Market Size (USD Billions)
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| Total Local Production | 5.72 | 6.30 | 6.38 | 12.07 | 8.95 |
| Total Exports | 3.17 | 4.25 | 6.66 | 8.39 | 8.26 |
| Total Imports | 2.14 | 3.06 | 4.27 | 6.08 | 6.45 |
| Imports from the U.S. | 0.46 | 0.51 | 1.14 | 20.9 | 2.19 |
| Total Market Size* | 4.69 | 5.11 | 3.99 | 9.76 | 7.14 |
| Exchange Rates | 20.00 | 20.28 | 20.12 | 17.76 | 18.3 |
*Total market size = (total local production + imports) - exports
Sources: National Institute of Statistics and Geography of Mexico (INEGI), National Survey of Construction Companies (ENEC), Banxico (Cubo Comercio Exterior)
Leading Sub-sectors
Airports
The country’s current network consists of 77 airports, with 65 being international. In July 2025, the Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation (SICT) unveiled a plan to invest over MXN 132 billion (≈USD 7.2 billion) to upgrade airport infrastructure across 62 terminals nationwide between 2025 and 2030. The Mexican Navy (MARINA) and Ministry of Defense (DEFENSA) will reportedly receive MXN 22.7 billion (≈USD 1.2 billion) in public funds to conduct works in the airports under their purview (20), while private airport operators ASUR, GAP, and OMA will collectively invest MXN 102.5 billion (≈USD 5.5 billion) to upgrade the airports that are under their concession agreements (34 total). Public airport operators Aeropuertos y Servicios Auxiliares (ASA) and Grupo Aeroportuario Turístico Mexicano (GATM) will be in charge of a MXN 7.1 billion (≈USD 385 million) mixed investment for additional airports. Major beneficiary airports include Mexico City (AICM), Puerto Escondido, Tepic, Cancún, Guadalajara, Tijuana, and Monterrey. President Claudia Sheinbaum announced plans in early 2025 to conduct remodeling works for Mexico City International Airport (AICM), funded by self-generated airport revenues. Valued at MXN eight billion (≈USD 429 million), the project -overseen by MARINA- includes enhancing runways, upgrades to the control tower, immigration facilities, baggage systems, elevators, sub stations, parking areas, and structural reinforcement, all while maintaining airport operations. These improvements align with preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and are scheduled to be completed by May-June 2026.
Ports
There are 102 ports along Mexico’s 7,145-mile coastline and 16 out-of-port terminals. Of these, there are 16 international commercial cargo and passenger ports in the federal system whose planning, development, and use is managed by National Port System Administrations (ASIPONAS), formerly known as Integral Port Administrations or APIs. In July 2020, then-President López Obrador announced that SEMAR would take over the management of customs facilities at Mexican federal ports. Consequently, ASIPONAS now reports to SEMAR’s General Coordination of Ports and Merchant Marine (CGPMM). On the Gulf Coast, these ports include Altamira, Tampico, Tuxpan, Veracruz, Coatzacoalcos, Dos Bocas, and Progreso. On the Pacific Coast, they are Ensenada, Guaymas, Topolobampo, Mazatlán, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, Lázaro Cárdenas, Salina Cruz, and Puerto Chiapas (also known as Puerto Madero). In 2024, Mexican ports moved 272.6 million tons of cargo, which was 7.7 percent less than the volume moved in 2023. However, in containers alone, Mexico’s ports saw a 12 percent increase in volume compared to the previous year, with 9.37 million TEUs.
In December 2024, President Claudia Sheinbaum and the Secretary of the Navy (SEMAR) announced plans to invest more than USD 1.6 billion to upgrade, maintain, and expand the following six priority ports:
1. Ensenada (USD 284 million), 2025-2028
2. Manzanillo (USD 671 million), 2025-2029
3. Lázaro Cárdenas (USD 303.5 million), 2025-2029
4. Acapulco (USD 19 million), 2025-2029
5. Veracruz (USD 88.9 million), 2025-2027
6. Progreso (USD 256.8 million), 2025-2028
Rail
Mexico has a freight railway system owned by the federal government and operated by various entities under concessions (charters) granted by the federal government. The railway system provides a mostly freight-oriented service throughout the country that connects major industrial centers with ports and rail connections at the U.S. border. It also has a comparatively small but growing passenger service, which is being prioritized by the Sheinbaum administration. Although railroads have played an increasingly larger role in the transportation sector, their participation in Mexican cargo movements remains relatively low. According to SICT, in 2024 the total volume of goods transported across Mexico were by truck (58.3 percent), rail (13.8 percent), boat (27.8 percent), and air (0.1 percent). Based on the figures presented by the Railroad Transport Regulatory Agency, in 2023, 131.48 million tons of cargo were moved by train in Mexico (an increase of 2.35 percent compared to 2022). Of that volume, 93.98 million tons were related to foreign trade. President Sheinbaum’ Plan Mexico envisions construction of more than 3,000 km (approximately 1,864 miles) of new rail lines, which will be built in four different phases.
The 2025 federal budget includes approximately USD 7.8 billion for rail infrastructure. For passenger rail, the three key projects announced by the Sheinbaum administration are the following:
- México City-Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA)-Pachuca passenger train
Status: The Mexican Army’s Corps of Engineers started construction of the 65 km rail line in March 2025; when completed in August 2026, it will serve 80,000 passengers daily. - México–San Luis Potosí–Monterrey–Nuevo Laredo passenger train
Status: The tender to build the Saltillo-Nuevo Laredo rail line section (306km) was launched in July 2025. - México–Querétaro–Guadalajara–Tepic–Mazatlán–Nogales passenger train
Status: The Mexican Army’s Corps of Engineers started construction in the Mexico-Querétaro portion of the line (225 km) in April 2025. The tender to build the Querétaro-Irapuato section (113km) was launched in July 2025. When completed, it aims to serve six million passengers per year.
For freight rail, the government aims to duplicate the amount of cargo that moves by rail for distances over 400 km. Key projects include:
- Incorporating freight operations into Tren Maya by 2026 (works started in April 2025)
- Completing the rail line connecting Dos Bocas Refinery with Roberto Ayala station (and CIIT network)
- Completing Line K (part of the CIIT network) from Ixtepec to the City of Hidalgo, Chiapas
Roads
Mexico’s road network spans over 800,000 km, of which approximately 400,000 km are federal and state roads comprising both toll (cuota) and free (libre) roads. Poor road conditions have translated into delays, logistical inefficiencies, and an increase in accidents. To address the problem, in January 2025 President Claudia Sheinbaum unveiled the Mexican National Road Infrastructure Program, with plans to invest MXN 35 billion (USD 1.8 billion) in 2025 to upgrade 263 km of roads, including highways, bridges, and interchanges, across several states: Guerrero, Morelos, Puebla, Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí, Sonora, Chihuahua, Estado de México, Oaxaca, Tabasco, Campeche, and Veracruz. The program is part of a longer-term initiative to invest MXN 150 billion (USD 7.9 billion) in road infrastructure throughout the 2025-2030 administration.
Opportunities
Logistics
Specialized supply chain services, such as cold chain; technologies that increase customer satisfaction, assure cargo security, and promote an efficient transportation system that supports Mexico’s competitiveness in a global economy.
Ports
Dredging equipment; breakwater construction equipment; piling systems; terminal construction; terminal operations and ICT; cargo‑handling equipment; security and scanning systems; energy‑efficiency and shore‑power solutions.
Rail
High-capacity cranes, railroad, and lifting equipment; frame, mobile, and rotary cranes; self-propelled cranes on tires; front loaders with a capacity of over seven tons; mobile platforms; diesel electric locomotives; railway maintenance service vehicles; rail and tramway freight cars; automatic unloading wagons; covered and closed cars; steel rails; and assemblies for railway vehicles, containers, chassis, and trailers; rail laying and maintenance equipment, aluminothermic and electric welding solutions, turnouts and fasteners, and train control and signaling systems.
Roads
Mobile and rotary cranes, self-propelled cranes on tires, front loaders with a capacity of over seven tons, mobile platforms, traffic control equipment, paving and compaction equipment; road safety (barriers, signage, markings); ITS and tolling systems; bridges and geotechnical; slope and ground stabilization; materials and admixtures; design and supervision.
Airports
Airfield lighting, Performance-Based Navigation (PBN/Air Traffic Control (ATC) systems, baggage handling and screening equipment, Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) equipment, ground support equipment, Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) tooling, and sustainability retrofits (solar, energy efficiency).
Resources
- Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT)
- Secretariat of Economy (SE)
- Association of Mexican Railways (AMF)
- Rail Transportation Regulatory Agency (ARTF)
- Mexican National Association of Shipping Agents (AMANAC)
- Mexican Chamber of the Construction Industry (CMIC)
Events
ExpoRail: Next show TBD.
Annual Congress of the Mexican National Association of Shipping Agents (AMANAC)
Commercial Specialist
For further information and assistance in exploring opportunities in Mexico’s transportation infrastructure equipment and services sector, contact: Diana Leon (Diana.Leon@trade.gov), Juan Carlos Ruíz (JuanCarlos.Ruiz@trade.gov)