Continental bets big on the Mexican hydraulics market
German manufacturing giant Continental AG has announced plans to construct its largest factory in Mexico – a $90 million hydraulic hose production facility in Aguascalientes. The 915,000 square foot plant will create 200 local jobs and aims to tap into growing demand from agriculture, mining, construction and other industries when completed in late 2025.
“This investment answers the call for more hydraulic hoses in the Americas region,” said Philip Nelles, Continental board member. “With double the capacity, we can now fully supply current and potential customers across multiple sectors.”
The company already operates 22 plants and employs over 23,000 people in Mexico, where it manufactures tires, rubber products and automotive components for export worldwide. Last year, Continental invested $200 million to expand its tire factory and production capacity in Guanajuato.
Analysts said the new Aguascalientes facility signals Continental’s ambition to dominate the lucrative hydraulics market – the largest segment for hoses and fittings in the region. “Strengthening their industrial business in the Americas is clearly a priority,” said Marc Sellier, an industry expert.
Fulfillment startup expands to meet e-commerce boom
New Jersey-based logistics startup Outer Space has opened its first West Coast fulfillment center – a 389,000 square foot facility in Phoenix, AZ. The warehouse gives Outerspace a strategic foothold to serve booming e-commerce demand across the US.
“From starting in a 1,500 square foot room to now offering clients over 1 million square feet, this expansion is a major milestone,” said CEO Ricky Choi. Founded in 2019, Outer Space now runs facilities in 4 states.
The company focuses on providing flexible solutions for direct-to-consumer brands, which saw online sales spike over 60% during the pandemic.
“Many smaller brands struggle with volatile demand and seasonal peaks,” said Outer Space President Laura Pyles. “Our technology and warehouse network allows them to scale up almost overnight.”
With e-commerce sales projected to grow at 12% per year, analysts expect warehouses specializing in omnichannel fulfillment will continue expanding across secondary markets like Phoenix. Outer Space aims to stay ahead of demand, with several new facilities already in the pipeline.
Texas border park breaks ground on new warehouse space
Developers have broken ground on a 160,000 square foot facility at the Capote International Business Park near the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge. With 36-foot ceilings and dock access, the warehouse will provide sorely needed capacity for cross-border trade when completed this June.
“We recognize that cross-border trade drives growth in the Rio Grande Valley,” said Nick Dyer of Ocotillo Capital Partners. “We feel privileged to contribute to that growth.”
The new building offers flexible storage and distribution solutions right next to a major land port. It includes a secured parking area for trucks cleared by CBP as well as a trailer yard for temporary storage.
Cross-border flows have exploded since the USMCA came into effect in 2020, fueling a warehouse boom along the Texas-Mexico border. Industrial vacancy rates in areas like Pharr and McAllen now hover at less than 1% – among the lowest nationwide.
“This warehouse space is absolutely essential, but there’s a serious shortage of suitable facilities,” said economist Anne Yellen, who studies regional supply chains. She predicts strong demand will continue to drive new construction over the next decade.
Record opioid haul seized at Texas cargo bridge
CBP officers discovered 159 pounds of the potent painkiller tramadol hidden in a tractor-trailer arriving from Mexico last week. It was the largest-ever seizure of the addictive opioid at the Laredo World Trade Bridge.
“This bust shows our targeting strategies are disrupting the illicit flow of dangerous drugs,” said Port Director Alberto Flores. The shipment has been handed over to Homeland Security for further investigation.
CBP deploys extensive monitoring operations along the southern border, combining intelligence analysis, X-ray scanners and drug sniffing dogs to interdict illegal narcotics. Just last year, enforcement actions led to over 190,000 pounds of drugs being seized at ports of entry nationwide.
Tramadol remains a controlled substance in the US, with widespread recreational abuse leading to mounting overdose deaths in recent years. The opioid crisis has hit border regions especially hard.
“We’ll continue leveraging all available tools to keep these harmful substances from reaching our communities,” vowed Flores. CBP also works closely with Mexican authorities to combat smuggling networks at the source.
By leveraging their expertise and resources, Lading Logistics aims to provide efficient and reliable international shipping and logistics solutions for their clients.
