Puerto Verde Holdings: redefining the future of U.S.–Mexico trade infrastructure

As Mexico solidifies its position as the United States’ largest and most important trading partner, the need for resilient, secure, and sustainable border infrastructure has never been greater. Today, 42% of all U.S.–Mexico trade flows through the Laredo–Eagle Pass–Del Rio corridor in Texas — a region whose crossings already operate at twice their designed capacity.

Without decisive investment, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) projects that by 2050, crossing times could exceed eight hours, causing an estimated $43 billion loss in GDP and the elimination of more than 1.2 million jobs on both sides of the border. Puerto Verde Holdings offers the solution.

Puerto Verde: a next-generation commercial gateway

Puerto Verde is a proposed next-generation port of entry that will redefine cross-border trade between the United States and Mexico. Located between Eagle Pass, Texas, and Piedras Negras, Coahuila, the project is designed to make the border more resilient, secure, efficient, and sustainable.

Led by transportation executive Rubén Garibay in partnership with Maverick County, Puerto Verde will create a modern trade corridor capable of handling future demand driven by nearshoring, industrial expansion, and global supply chain realignment.

The project includes two core components:

• The Puerto Verde Global Trade Bridge (PVGTB) – a dual-use crossing for commercial vehicles and freight rail, expanding the region’s cross-border capacity.
• The Puerto Verde Trade Corridor, served by the Puerto Verde Green Eagle Railroad, designed to divert truck and rail traffic away from urban centers, improving safety, mobility, and efficiency.

A strategic response to growing demand

According to TxDOT’s Texas–Mexico Border Transportation Master Plan, rapid population and trade growth have far outpaced multimodal infrastructure investments, leading to congestion, safety concerns, and reduced economic competitiveness. Puerto Verde directly addresses these challenges by creating new capacity, modernizing rail and highway connectivity, and facilitating faster, safer, and greener trade.

The Eagle Pass/Piedras Negras crossing — already the #5 U.S.–Mexico port of entry by trade value ($34 billion in 2022) — is among the most strategic and secure gateways on the border:

• #1 in commercial vehicle exports (44% of total U.S. exports to Mexico)
• #2 in rail freight volume
• #1 in beer imports (69%) and #2 in vehicle exports (25%)
• #1 safest border crossing between the United States and Mexico

Yet, its infrastructure is nearing saturation. The existing single-track rail bridge built in 1922 and the commercial vehicle bridge operating at double capacity can no longer meet future demand. By 2050, freight volume is expected to reach 714% of current capacity, with potential wait times of up to nine hours per vehicle.

Investing in the future of North American trade

Puerto Verde is not just a logistics project — it is a strategic investment in North America’s economic resilience. By integrating state-of-the-art infrastructure with sustainable design, it will:

• Expand commercial and rail capacity to meet nearshoring demand.
• Reduce congestion and improve environmental performance.
• Enhance regional safety by diverting heavy traffic from urban areas.
• Strengthen the economic competitiveness of the U.S.–Mexico trade corridor.

Failure to invest in this critical region could shift trade flows elsewhere, weakening both economies. Puerto Verde fills that gap — ensuring that trade between Mexico and the United States continues to thrive, efficiently and securely, for generations to come.