Logistics Giants Expand Mexico Ops as Cross-Border Trade Volumes Climb

As Mexico’s status as the top trade partner of the U.S. holds firm amid 2025’s shifts in American trade policy, more global logistics firms are lining up to expand their presence to capitalize on the growing movement of goods between the countries.

Cainiao, the e-commerce logistics wing of Alibaba, has launched a dedicated cross-border parcel network covering the U.S. and Mexico enabling shipments between countries across the region.

Calling it the initial phase of a wider Americas rollout, Cainiao says the service covers the most active e-commerce regions in the U.S. West and reaches 99 percent of Mexico.

According to the Chinese logistics company, the offering is aimed at lowering the high-cost barrier of U.S.-Mexico cross-border logistics and providing fulfillment services for local e-commerce platforms and cross-border merchants.

As part of the service, Cainiao is expected to control various areas of the supply chain, including sorting, line-haul transportation and last-mile delivery.

Cainiao claims its offering would be priced at roughly 60 percent of current market averages.

The company entered the Mexican market in March 2024, opening a national sorting center near Mexico City in September that year. One year later, the Alibaba subsidiary opened its first self-operated warehouse in Mexico in September, enabling two-day delivery across the State of Mexico.

Cainiao currently operates a local delivery network covering more than 20 Mexican states, offering three-day delivery nationwide.

Echo Global Logistics is rolling out customs brokerage services for cross-border freight swapped between the North American countries.

EchoXBorder is designed to offer supply chain stakeholders services including consolidation, deconsolidation and inventory control at the border, as well as integrated customs and freight management.

The solution offers customs clearance at U.S. and Mexico airports, ocean port clearance, and brokerage through all major land ports. The platform is completed by real-time visibility, reporting and analytics capabilities to keep shipments on track.

Echo has bilingual experts on tap to help communicate throughout the compliance process.

“This approach to cross-border logistics enables operational gains through integrated logistics management between the U.S. and Mexico,” said Troy Ryley, president of Echo Mexico in a statement. “Our team has extensive experience with customs brokerage and is equipped to help our clients navigate trade regulations and adapt to market changes.”

Echo established operations in Mexico City, Monterrey and border-based trade hub Laredo, Texas in 2024, further planting the company flag in both the country and its border with the U.S.

Echo’s move follows recent announcements made in November by two global logistics giants about their escalating presence at the border.

C.H. Robinson added more than 450,000 square feet of warehousing and cross-docking space in El Paso, Texas, increasing its total logistics footprint along the U.S.-Mexico border to over 2 million square feet.

“We continue to see El Paso emerge as a vital gateway for not just high-tech freight, but also automotive, medical devices and healthcare products,” said Jay Cornmesser, vice president for Mexico cross-border services at C.H. Robinson, in a statement. “Juárez, located just across the border, has a substantial maquiladora manufacturing base. Our expansion in El Paso is a direct response to the evolving needs of our customers in today’s dynamic trade landscape.”

The additions complement its 400,000-square-foot cross-border facility established in Laredo in late 2023. That complex can host 700 trailers and has 154 double-sided deck doors.

Freight forwarding giant Kuehne+Nagel completed a big expansion at its complex in El Paso, opening a new site located adjacent to the company’s existing facility.

The new warehouse added nearly 220,000 square feet of space to its Texas facility, increasing its overall capacity by 60 percent.

“Our existing El Paso facility reached full capacity within a year, demonstrating strong demand for cross-border solutions,” said Joachim Goller, senior vice president, road logistics North America at Kuehne+Nagel. “This success underscores the need for scalable expansion to support our customers and new business while maintaining the high standards they expect. This investment further strengthens our market position at the U.S.-Mexico border and confirms that regardless of current geopolitical shifts, the nearshoring trend is alive.”

The site is designed to accommodate the growing demands of customers for northbound and southbound movement of goods between Mexico and the U.S., the company said in a statement.

The new, bonded warehouse features 53 dock doors, 65 trailer spaces, front and rear cross-dock capabilities, as well as vertically racked storage locations. 

As of October, Mexico accounts for 16.4 percent of total trade with the U.S. at $78.1 billion in goods shipped, according to data from the Census Bureau. This percentage expands when it comes to Mexican freight transported to the U.S., with 17.7 percent of imports ($48.5 billion) coming from Mexico during the month.