Mexico is investing $2.7B for a new trade route — but Matamoros isn’t on it

Matamoros business leaders are pushing for inclusion in a $2.7 billion federal highway plan, warning that the city — already facing economic pressure — risks being further sidelined from Mexico’s northern trade routes.

Tamaulipas Secretary of Public Works Pedro Cepeda Anaya said the Gulf North Corridor is designed to connect Tampico, Ciudad Victoria, and Reynosa as a strategic axis linking the Gulf of Mexico, central Mexico, and the northern border.

But current plans exclude Matamoros.

At least 17 local business groups say that omission comes at a critical moment, as the city works to capitalize on new port activity, cross-border trade, and industrial investment along the Rio Grande.

Read more: Mexico moves forward with $2.7B highway investment in Tamaulipas

Business leaders warn of logistics gaps

In a coordinated response, business organizations sent a formal letter to Mexico’s presidency requesting the city’s inclusion, arguing the current design undermines regional connectivity.

“The city was not part of the project’s early planning. Matamoros is a strategic node in the Gulf of Mexico; its exclusion would increase logistics costs and limit investment potential,” Engineer David García, president of the Matamoros Business Coordinating Council (CCE) said.

“Although it is difficult to believe, we were not considered,” he said. “Matamoros is fundamental to the economic dynamics of northeastern Mexico.”

García pointed to ongoing development — including the opening of Puerto del Norte, a seaport, and the new Flor de Mayo international crossing  — as evidence Matamoros should be integrated into the corridor.

“Infrastructure cannot be planned without considering the growth already underway in Matamoros,” he said.

Pressure builds as growth shifts across the border

The corridor is expected to reduce transportation costs and improve trade flows by strengthening connections between central Mexico and the northern border.

However, its current alignment concentrates activity in Reynosa, reinforcing that city’s role as a primary gateway for cross-border freight.

For Matamoros, business leaders say the risk is not theoretical.

“We cannot believe it. Given the level of investment taking place, it is inconsistent that Matamoros is not being considered,” said René Xavier González, president of the Matamoros Economic Development Council (CODEM).

“It seems priority is being given to connectivity toward Reynosa and Monterrey, but we want to see an updated version of the project that includes Matamoros,” he said.

González said the issue has already surfaced in binational discussions with Texas transportation officials.

“We were told the project is still preliminary, but we are not satisfied with that. We want certainty,” he said of discussions with Mexican officials. 

Economic stakes rise amid local strain

The push comes as Matamoros faces mounting economic pressure.

García said more than 8,000 jobs have been lost since the pandemic, alongside recent manufacturing closures and restructuring that have created ongoing uncertainty around new investment.

“The need for projects like this is more urgent than ever,” García said.

At a press conference on Tuesday, representatives from Coparmex and Canacintra — the Employers’ Confederation of the Mexican Republic and the National Chamber of Manufacturing Industries — said state officials indicated that adding Matamoros would require a technically supported proposal.

Despite that, the private sector said it will continue pressing for changes.

“We will not stop. This effort must move forward,” García said.

Macario Farías, president of Canacintra Matamoros, warned the current design could deepen regional imbalances.

“Excluding this connectivity places us at a disadvantage compared to other border cities and the Texas market,” he said.

Binational impact

The stakes extend beyond Matamoros.

The Gulf North Corridor is intended to shape freight movement across northeastern Mexico — directly influencing how goods reach U.S. markets through South Texas crossings.

If Matamoros remains outside the primary route, business leaders warn it could shift trade flows toward competing corridors, influence where manufacturers and logistics firms choose to locate, and reshape cross-border supply chains tied to the Rio Grande Valley.

Seventeen business organizations across commerce, manufacturing, transportation, and construction have aligned behind the effort, signaling a unified push to alter the project’s trajectory.

“We are speaking with one voice to ensure Matamoros is included,” García said.

What comes next

Business leaders said their next steps include continued engagement with federal and state lawmakers, the development of technical studies to support inclusion, and a coordinated advocacy effort at the binational level.

The outcome, they say, will determine whether Matamoros remains integrated into the region’s evolving trade network — or falls further behind as investment and infrastructure concentrate elsewhere.