Between two worlds

Despite its name and it being celebrated around a similar time to festivals in other countries, for example All Souls’ Day and Halloween, the Día de Muertos is not simply a Mexican variation, but rather a completely unique celebration. Definitely not a Day of Fear or Grief – quite the opposite! Even today this festival is based on ideas, some of which are several thousand years old, taken from the Aztecs and other ethnic cultures, who understood death as being a natural part of life. Mourning the dead was then considered disrespectful, as they were still thought of as members of the community. This is why for a few days every year they are allowed to celebrate with the living.

Magnificent and splendorous commemoration of the dead

Splendidly decorated ofrendas, or altars, form the centerpiece of the festival and are displayed either in people’s homes or directly at the cemeteries. They are embellished with papier-mâché skeletons, skulls, candles, incense sticks, photos, and memorabilia of the deceased. Thousands upon thousands of flowers are scattered from the altars and onto the streets and are meant to help the deceased find their way home. There are bizarre stories and anecdotes, exuberant music and dancing, feasting and drinking until the early hours of the morning – all in remembrance of the dead.

Día de Muertos is also a real highlight internationally. In pre-corona times, the festivities attracted hundreds of thousands of national and international visitors – they danced in houses and at the cemeteries, bought souvenirs at street markets, and admired the flamboyant parades. This meant Mexico’s hotels were usually bursting and booked up months in advance.

The second biggest national economy in Latin America

Aside from its exuberance, Mexico also liked to present itself on such occasions as a rising economic power – it is, after all, the second largest national economy in Latin America.

By being a member of important international forums, such as the G20 and the OECD, the country was able to cultivate privileged relations with the EU as its business partner. Due to its geographically-favorable location between North and South America, an increasing number of manufacturing companies, especially from the automotive and electronics industries, have settled here in recent years.

It is no coincidence that Mexico’s transport and freight industry has also grown steadily in recent years, resulting in an increasing demand for investments to improve local transport networks. In fact, in recent years, the existing infrastructure has proven to be insufficient in the face of increasing demands, for example the import of raw materials or the export of oil, gas and above all agricultural products. The Mexican government’s injection of capital into the transport infrastructure between 2014 and 2018 was therefore crucial, despite being considered by experts as merely the beginning of a necessary, continuing journey.

A dominant neighbour in the north

The volume of maritime cargo to Mexico continues to grow, driven by demand from both North and Latin America. Nearshoring is reshaping supply chains, particularly in the automotive, electronics and consumer goods sectors. As a result, Mexico has become a critical transit point, linking east-west and north-south flows in global trade. Nevertheless, the strain on existing infrastructure is intensifying – increasing the need for resilient logistics solutions, At the same time, structural challenges such as limited port capacity, slow customs procedures, and gaps in inland transport infrastructure continue to hinder logistics performance. Unfortunately the general cicumstances are not favorable: Global supply chains have recently been challenged by disruptive US tariff policies, nearshoring pressures, accelerated digitalization, and geopolitical instability. Nonetheless, with its proximity to the USA and Canada, along with favorable trade agreements like USMCA, Mexico offers clear advantages for cross-border supply chains. It remains exciting to see how this dynamic country will cope with this challenge.

Handled TEU Volumes at Mexican Main Ports in 2024:

With 9,375,570 TEUs handled in the past year (a plus of 12%), 2024 was a record year for Mexican ports.

• Manzanillo: 3,382,732 TEUs (+6%) – Mexico’s leading port on the Pacific coast
• Lázaro Cárdenas: 711,148 TEUs (+35%) – Strategic hub for Asian imports
• Veracruz: 424,949 TEUs (+21%) – Key Gulf port with modern infrastructure
• Altamira: 288,187 TEUs (+7.5%) – Supports growing industrial base in northeast Mexico

These figures reflect Mexico’s growing significance in international maritime trade.