Mexico antitrust body finds lack of competition throughout freight rail sector

MEXICO CITY, Feb 5 - Mexico's antitrust commission has found insufficient competition conditions in nearly all of the country's freight rail system, it said in a preliminary ruling on Thursday.

THE FINDINGS

• The commission's investigation, spanning January 2024 to October 2025, found a lack of effective competition conditions in almost all of Mexico's 1,772 relevant freight rail markets.

• New competitors are barred from entering the market due to high costs, legal obstacles and lack of available tracks, it said.

• The commission identified Kansas City Southern de Mexico along with Grupo Mexico's Ferromex and Ferrosur as the operators holding most sway over the market.

• The companies were given 90 days to submit details on their operations throughout the country. Ferromex was instructed to transfer its Nogales-Guaymas line to an operator outside Grupo Mexico.

• The commission recommended that Congress and rail regulator ATTRAPI take a stronger role to allow for freer competition.