Mexico’s air cargo volumes drop 3.9% amid tariffs, supply chain

Mexico’s total air cargo volumes have fallen about 3.9% year to date, and decreasing e-commerce demand is a big reason. The decline in volumes has been driven by lower e-commerce traffic due to additional import levies and by structural changes in automotive supply chains, particularly between Mexico and Brazil, Mas Chief Executive Robert Van De Weg told Cargo Facts . [caption id="attachment_57293659" align="alignright" width="1280"] All freighter operations moved to NLU in 2023. (Courtesy/Felipe Angeles International Airport)[/caption] Amid trade tensions with the United States, production at Mexican auto factories declined 1.46% year over year to 3.71 million units from January through November, Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography reported this week. In addition, in October the U.S. Department of Transportation canceled thirteen routes operated by Mexican carriers from Felipe Angeles International Airport (NLU) to the United States after previously ordering the carriers to seek approval for charter flights . Mexico’s cumulative cargo volumes between January and October dropped to 1.01 million tonnes from 1.05 million tonnes year over year, according to the Mexican Federal Civil Aviation Agency. New cargo airport The Mexican Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) also attributed the reduction in air cargo volumes to freighter operations shifting to NLU from Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX), along with revisions to regulatory compliance for air freight. With peak season underway, Mexico’s air cargo volumes showed small signs of recovery in October with 113,642 tonnes, a 1.4% increase year over year, according to AFAC. NLU, Mexico’s largest cargo airport, handled 32.8% of the country’s air cargo volume in October after international cargo declined 11.5% YoY in September, AFAC said. Even with the overall decline at NLU for September, Mas saw its air cargo volumes there increase by approximately 34% year to date, Van De Weg said. The bump in Mas’ traffic could be partly because of the Mexico-based carrier’s growing fleet. After taking delivery of its third A330-300P2F (1789, ex-Cebu Pacific) in the second quarter, Mas could add up to two more A330P2Fs to its fleet in 2026, he said. The Mexican government extended the deadline for freighter operators to transition from MEX to NLU in 2023. The airport opened for commercial service in March 2022 to eliminate congestion in Mexico City. Cargo Facts LATAM 2026, the essential event for stakeholders in Latin America, will take place Feb. 10-12 at the Marquis Reforma in Mexico City. Learn more and register by Dec. 26 to take advantage of early-bird pricing. Cargo Facts Asia 2026, the indispensable event for Asia-Pacific stakeholders, will take place March 23-25 at the W Shanghai. Learn more and register by Feb. 6 to take advantage of early-bird pricing. The inaugural Cargo Facts Routes and Airport Conference will take place April 27-28 at the Marriott Al Forsan Abu Dhabi. Learn more and register by March 13 to take advantage of early-bird pricing. Cargo Facts EMEA 2026, the key industry event for stakeholders in the EMEA region, will take place April 28-30 at the Marriott Al Forsan Abu Dhabi. Learn more and register by March 13 to take advantage of early-bird pricing.

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