BlueGrace Establishes Mexico Office

Mexico, the seventh largest automotive producer in the world, has seen recent growth in its manufacturing sector. In response to growing nearshoring demand, Riverview-basedBlueGrace Logistics plans to expand its operations into Mexico later this year.

Henry Queen, Tampa Bay Business Journal
April 18, 2023

The third-party logistics provider will establish an office in Mexico in late 2023, according to a release. The location is meant to satisfy the demand from BlueGrace’s existing portfolio of shippers moving freight within and out of Mexico.

BlueGrace specifically wants to take advantage of expected growth in electronics, appliances and automotive manufacturing in Mexico as more and more semiconductors are made nearby.

President Joe Biden has sought to reroute supply chains away from countries like China, touting wins like a planned $40 billion semiconductor plant in Phoenix. Manufacturers in the U.S. have announced over $200 billion in expected investments following the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act and the Chips and Science Act, according to the Financial Times.

“Our customers are becoming less reliant on overseas suppliers, and this next phase in BlueGrace’s growth will help clear the path of least resistance getting their products to market.”

“As more companies look for nearshoring opportunities, BlueGrace is aligning itself with shippers’ needs,” Bobby Harris, founder and CEO of BlueGrace Logistics, said in a statement. “Our customers are becoming less reliant on overseas suppliers, and this next phase in BlueGrace’s growth will help clear the path of least resistance getting their products to market.”

BlueGrace recently hired Jose Fernandez Chavira as VP and manager of the company’s Mexican operations, according to the release. He served in a similar role for Coyote Logistics from 2014 to 2017, opening and managing a Mexican affiliate while based in Chicago.

Mexico is the world’s No. 7 automotive producer, specializing in the production of commercial vehicles. The U.S. is by far the country’s largest client for tractor-trailers, according to Freight Waves.

In March, business at all Mexican factories continued to accelerate with a seasonally adjusted purchasing index above 50. The growth has occurred even as Vietnam, an Asian manufacturing giant, is experiencing a decline in exports.

BlueGrace, founded in 2009, is one of the largest 3PLs in the United States and has 10 offices across North America.

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