Shares in Walmart, the American retailing behemoth, have dropped by a third so far this year. But those of Walmex, its separately listed Mexican arm, are up 30 percent. This shaft of sunlight is surprising, for the mood south of the border has generally been glum.
Mexico is competing with the U.S. for manufacturing work coming back to the western hemisphere from China and other parts of Asia. Will it pose the same challenge for U.S. ports?
Carlos Godinez, Mexico intermodal director with Celtic International, a Transplace company, provides an overview of the rail industry in Mexico, and how far it has come in terms of investment and improvements in service to support a surge of activity.
The return of some manufacturing capacity from China has fueled economic growth in Mexico and Canada. John Kelly, president of the Canadian Division of Transplace, outlines some of the opportunities and challenges that have resulted from that development.
Upon mention of the Caribbean, most people think of idyllic white-sand beaches, Hollywood pirates, the magical sound of steel drums, a handsomely crafted rum cocktail. But the region ringed by Central America, the northern coast of South America and an arc of island nations stretching toward the tip of South Florida – is more than a picturesque vacation spot. It is becoming a key jumping-off point for cargo flights between the Americas and the rest of the world, including Europe, Africa and now the Middle East.
The Nicaragua Canal project has been dealt another setback amid reports that construction will not begin until the first quarter of 2016 due to environmental mitigation measures.
Companies shifting manufacturing from China back to the U.S.? That's old news. Given the recent economic setbacks in the Chinese economy, however, you have to wonder whether the trend will continue.
