Borderlands Mexico: Nearshoring fuels 800K-square-foot industrial build in El Paso

The development sits next to one of the busiest inland trade corridors in North America and is aimed at reducing “last-mile” friction for cross-border shipments by placing logistics and manufacturing operations directly at the port of entry.

“At a time when global supply chains are rapidly shifting, the opportunity to develop this site could not have occurred at a better time,” Formation Interests CEO Adam Herrin said in a news release, citing El Paso’s proximity to Ciudad Juárez and its expanding manufacturing base.

The project comes as trade volumes through El Paso continue to surge, reinforcing the city’s role as a critical node in North American supply chains.

According to WorldCity data, total trade at the El Paso Bridge of the Americas reached $3.19 billion in February, an 86.66% increase year over year. Exports totaled $1.67 billion, while imports hit $1.52 billion during the month.

Mexico dominates the port’s trade flows, accounting for the vast majority of cross-border activity. In February alone, trade with Mexico totaled $2.72 billion, representing the top trading partner by a wide margin.

Electronics and advanced manufacturing goods are a major driver of volume through the region. Top exports included computer parts ($463 million) and computer chips ($250 million), while imports were led by computer parts ($441 million), computers ($246 million), and passenger vehicles ($204 million).

Overall, the El Paso port ranked No. 10 among U.S. border crossings and No. 33 across all ports of entry by trade value, accounting for about 0.71% of total U.S. trade.

Formation Interests said the Paso Del Norte site is positioned to capitalize on nearshoring trends, with a 2.5 million-strong binational workforce supporting manufacturing activity on both sides of the border.

The project is being marketed as a “zero-distance” logistics solution, allowing companies to reduce transit times and costs tied to border congestion, where crossing delays can exceed two hours.

The campus will also feature infrastructure designed for high-power users, including semiconductor and AI-related manufacturing, reflecting the shift toward higher-value industrial production along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Hutchison Ports adds electric cranes at Port of Manzanillo

Hutchison Ports TIMSA is investing more than $17.5 million to upgrade operations at Mexico’s Port of Manzanillo, adding two electric mobile harbor cranes as part of a broader modernization push, according to a news release. 

The cranes, which arrived April 15 aboard the vessel BBC Aquamarine, can handle vessels up to 15,500 TEUs with a lifting capacity of 100 tons and reach across 22 container rows.

The additions bring the terminal’s total crane fleet to eight units, boosting berth productivity and capacity as trade volumes grow along Mexico’s Pacific coast. The equipment is also expected to improve energy efficiency and support Hutchison Ports’ net-zero strategy, which targets a 54.6% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2033.

Hong Kong-based Hutchison Ports operates six terminals at four seaports and one inland port in Mexico, serving 20,000 customers. The company operates ports in 26 countries around the world.

Burlington breaks ground on 2M-square-foot distribution center near Phoenix

Burlington Stores (NYSE: BURL) has begun construction on a nearly 2 million-square-foot distribution center in Buckeye, Arizona, marking a major expansion of its logistics network in the Southwest. 

The facility, located in the Westpark 360 Industrial Park, is expected to open in 2028 and will be one of the retailer’s most advanced supply chain hubs, according to a news release.

The automated center will feature advanced sorting systems, custom software and upgraded workstations designed to improve speed, flexibility and efficiency across Burlington’s off-price retail operations.

At full capacity, the project is expected to create thousands of jobs in the Phoenix-area market, while supporting Burlington’s broader growth strategy, which includes adding more than 100 new stores nationwide by the end of 2026.