The alliance between CPKC and Americold marks a milestone for logistics in Mexico by incorporating rail into the transport of refrigerated products.
In an interview with El Financiero, Oscar del Cueto, president of CPKC Mexico, stated that the alliance between Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and Americold represents a watershed moment for refrigerated product logistics in Mexico and North America. He added that this agreement allows rail to decisively enter a segment that, for decades, was dominated by trucking: the transport of frozen and refrigerated foods, particularly animal protein, for both import and export.
For years, he explained, the cold chain in the country depended almost entirely on road transport. However, the integration of CPKC—resulting from the merger between Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern—created an unprecedented rail network that seamlessly connects Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Building on this platform, he added, the collaboration with Americold, one of the world’s leading cold storage operators, is driving a more efficient and competitive intermodal system aligned with sustainability goals.
Del Cueto explained that the cornerstone of this strategy is the Mexico Midwest Express (MMX) service, an intermodal corridor linking the country’s main production and consumption centers with the U.S. Midwest via the Nuevo Laredo border crossing. Through this model, he noted, CPKC expects to move approximately 2,000 refrigerated containers, transporting everything from U.S.-origin beef to Mexico to processed and manufactured foods destined for the North American market.
One of the most significant challenges in bringing this project to fruition, the executive explained, was the regulatory framework, since health and inspection standards were designed exclusively for road transport. To overcome this obstacle, he noted, the company worked closely with Mexican authorities such as the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Service for Agrifood Health, Safety and Quality (SENASICA), achieving a binational agreement that allows for inspections at origin and destination without stopping cargo at the border or compromising the cold chain.
He also highlighted that a key element of this new system is the refrigerated products terminal in Kansas City, inaugurated in 2025, where Mexican inspectors can verify, seal, and track shipments until their arrival in Mexico. This process, he explained, reduces transit times, eliminates duplicate inspections, and strengthens operational reliability. In addition, the new double-track rail bridge in Nuevo Laredo—the only one of its kind in the country—facilitates faster border crossings with joint inspections by authorities from both sides of the border.
Looking ahead, Del Cueto commented that CPKC de México plans to maintain a steady pace of investment in rail infrastructure in Mexico, particularly in the central and northern regions, where industrial activity continues to expand. He added that, in parallel, the alliance with Americold includes the development of new cold storage facilities in North America with rail connections, strengthening the region’s logistical integration.
Finally, Oscar del Cueto, president of CPKC Mexico, emphasized that, in an environment marked by the relocation of production chains, the growth of regional trade, and rail projects promoted by the federal government, CPKC de México’s commitment to the refrigerated segment not only expands its service offerings but also consolidates rail as a strategic pillar for the country’s logistical competitiveness.
Source: El Financiero
