While cargo theft in Canada does not show trends as dramatic as those in the United States and Mexico, 93% of cargo thefts in Canada occurred in the province of Ontario. Cargo thefts were particularly common in the Greater Toronto Area, which remains the riskiest area for cargo movement in Canada.

Cargo thefts were also recorded in various provinces such as Alberta and Saskatchewan in the first half of 2024, after no cases had been reported at all in 2023.

In the US, California accounted for 45% of all reported cargo thefts, followed by Texas with 14%. An area that includes Los Angeles and California’s Inland Empire accounted for 36% of all cargo thefts in the US in the first half of 2024, an average of 58.6 per month, or nearly two per day.

Ramon said Southern California will always be a hotspot for cargo theft.

“A big part of it is volume: California has a high intermodal density, where a lot of stuff comes from ships and is moved to rail or road,” Ramon said.

In the US, the most sought-after goods for thieves were electronics (23%), followed by

and garden products (14%), clothing and shoes (11%) and food and beverages (10%).

Food and beverages were the most commonly sought cargo by thieves in Mexico, accounting for 31% of cases, followed by construction and industrial goods (17%). Other goods targeted by thieves included auto parts (9%), clothing and footwear (5%), fuels (5%) and pharmaceuticals (3%).

Chinese manufacturer builds $100 million factory near Houston and creates 100 jobs

Oriental Yuhong Waterproof Technology Co. plans to build a large manufacturing facility and research and development center in Prairie View, Texas, according to a press release.

The Beijing-based company will produce waterproof roofing, thermal insulation, mortar powder and piping for the construction industry. The plant and research and development facility could cost between $100 million and $500 million, according to media reports.

Oriental Yuhong Waterproof Technology Co. did not respond to a request for comment.

The first construction phase is scheduled to be completed in 2025 and will create around 100 jobs.

The factory and research center will be Oriental Yuhong’s first facilities outside China. Prairie View is located about 75 kilometers northwest of Houston.

“We believe we are competitive in the United States and North America,” Lei Liu, CEO of Oriental Yuhong Waterproof Technology Co., told Fox 26 Houston. “To achieve that, we basically want to come here and manufacture here.”

Founded in 1995, Oriental Yuhong is one of the largest manufacturers of waterproofing materials in China, according to its website. The company has 52 production and logistics bases and more than 100 subsidiaries. Oriental Yuhong’s products are exported to more than 100 countries.

22,500 square meter transshipment facility planned in Laredo, Texas

According to a press release, investment firm Realterm has partnered with developer Alliance Industrial to acquire a 19.76-acre property in Laredo, Texas.

The joint venture plans to build a 22,500 square meter transshipment facility for cross-border traffic. The facility will have a clearance height of 9.7 meters, 50 loading gates and 190 trailer parking spaces.

“Laredo’s strategic location continues to generate significant economic growth, largely due to the relocation of manufacturing operations to northern Mexico and Monterrey, Mexico,” said Ed Brickley, managing director and fund manager of Realterm, in a statement.

Realterm and Alliance Industrial did not disclose how much they are investing in the project.

Realterm is an independent global investment manager focused on the transportation industry. Houston-based Alliance Industrial is a privately held company engaged in industrial real estate investment, development and construction.

Continental begins construction of a $90 million plant in Mexico

The German tire and industrial parts manufacturer Continental AG has begun construction of a factory to produce hydraulic hoses in Aguascalientes, Mexico.

Once completed, the 85,000 square meter factory will be the company’s largest plant in Mexico, according to a press release. Continental announced the opening of the factory in January. Aguascalientes is located about 480 kilometers northwest of Mexico City.

The $90 million facility will create up to 500 new jobs in two phases. Continental officials also said the factory will help the company expand its hydraulics business into industries such as agriculture, mining, construction, manufacturing and energy.

Construction of the plant is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2025.

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