INDUSTRIAL NEWS IN LAREDO, TEXAS — INLAND PORT

Laredo, Tx

The Industrial Pulse of Laredo: A Market in Overdrive

Laredo isn’t simply “growing.” It’s booming into a global gateway economy. Handling over $320 billion in annual trade between the U.S. and Mexico, Laredo now surpasses even major coastal ports in trade volume. The city has become the #1 U.S. inland port and the #1 trucking gateway to Mexico, with 15,000+ commercial trucks crossing its bridges daily.

Who’s Already Here:

• FedEx, UPS, and XPO Logistics anchoring the city’s cross-border network
• Nike, Amazon, and Walmart utilizing large-scale distribution hubs
• Kuehne + Nagel, DHL, and C.H. Robinson expanding 3PL and customs operations
• SKG Holdings, Trammell Crow, and Majestic Realty investing in hundreds of acres of next-generation industrial space

And on the horizon: new nearshoring facilities, advanced packaging, cold chain, and light manufacturing expansions following U.S. companies’ migration from Asia to Mexico — all funneling through Laredo’s trade arteries.

Laredo’s Workforce & Economic Engine

Laredo’s workforce is young, bilingual, and logistics-savvy, with an economy powered by:

• Freight forwarding and customs brokerage
• E-commerce and retail distribution
• Automotive and parts manufacturing
• Cold chain logistics for food and pharmaceuticals
• Warehousing, packaging, and reassembly for nearshored supply lines

The city’s infrastructure is backed by federal trade investment, Foreign Trade Zone designations, and major institutional developers scaling millions of new square feet across the I-35 corridor.

Strategic angle

Laredo isn’t just a trade hub — it’s the beating heart of North American logistics. Over $250 billion in annual U.S.–Mexico trade passes through this corridor, and Northpoint 35 sits squarely on its spine. Interstate 35 runs straight from the border to the Midwest, making this one of the most efficient freight routes on the continent.

The city’s industrial surge is powered by a bilingual workforce, modern infrastructure, and cross-border synergy — the kind that keeps product moving and supply chains humming. The area’s manufacturing, automotive, and e-commerce sectors are booming, and developers are racing to meet demand.

In the language of commerce, this is where speed meets certainty.

Institutional Buyer & Tenant Landscape — Who’s Here

Laredo’s industrial boom is being driven by the largest names in logistics, institutional capital, and development:

• Buyers & Capital: Prologis, Hines, GLP Capital Partners, Clarion Partners, and Blackstone-affiliate Link Logistics have all been active in the Laredo market.
• Developers: Majestic Realty, Stream Realty Partners, Trammell Crow, and Ridge Development are spearheading much of the new Class A supply.
• Big Tenants: FedEx, UPS, DHL, Amazon, Whirlpool, LG, and top 3PLs (like Kuehne+Nagel, XPO, and Ryder) all operate large footprints here, taking advantage of the Port Laredo trade corridor.

This institutional ecosystem signals confidence in Laredo’s long-term role as a North American logistics hub, ensuring strong buyer/tenant demand for Class A space.

Laredo Market Momentum — An Inland Port at Full Throttle

• Trade Leader: Port Laredo is the #1 inland port in the U.S. and has surpassed Los Angeles/Long Beach as the largest port by total trade value at times in the past two years.
• Spec Boom: Nearly 10M+ SF of new Class A warehouses are under construction or recently delivered, much of it pre-leased to institutional-grade tenants.
• Vacancy Pressure: Despite new supply, vacancy hovers near 4–5%, with rents climbing ~6% annually.
• Cross-Border Magnet: The surge in nearshoring and maquiladora operations in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, drives record demand for U.S.-side staging, warehousing, and distribution.

Laredo — Town, Workforce & Economic Backbone

• Population: ~260,000 in Laredo proper; ~700,000 including Nuevo Laredo binational metro.
• Workforce: Skilled labor pool focused on logistics, customs brokerage, cross-border transport, and light manufacturing.
• Staple Industries: Trade & logistics dominate, but trucking, automotive supply chains, energy services, and food distribution are critical growth engines.
• Advantage: With over 14,000 truck crossings per day, Laredo is uniquely positioned for employers seeking bilingual talent, affordable labor, and direct access to Mexico’s manufacturing base.

Links

Argossy International Properties
Laredo Economic Development Dept.
Port Laredo Traffic Real-Time

Transportation Snapshot

• Airport: Laredo International – 15 minutes
• Rail: Union Pacific Port Yard – 10 minutes
• Port: Port of Houston – 5 hours (via I-35 / I-69 network)
• Border Crossings: World Trade Bridge (8.2 mi) | Colombia Solidarity Bridge (25.8 mi)

Listing Courtesy of Marie Cappello, Argossy.com International – Light the Fire of Industry.