2025 Guide: How to Protect Your Logistics Operations Against Cargo Theft in Mexico

In Mexico, cargo theft has become one of the primary threats to supply chains. The figures leave no room for doubt: thousands of incidents affect logistics operators, importers, and distributors annually. Beyond immediate economic losses, these incidents compromise client trust, disrupt operations, and expose companies to litigation and penalties. 

In this scenario, specialized coverage not only provides a financial barrier against crime but also serves as a crucial tool to ensure operational continuity, preserve client trust, and comply with the traceability and compliance standards demanded by global trade. 

Given this landscape, it is crucial for companies operating in logistics, distribution, or foreign trade to understand the primary risks, identify the most vulnerable areas, and accurately assess the type of protection they require.  

In this guide, we present updated data, key insights, and insurance solutions specifically designed to address this challenge within the Mexican context. 

During 2024, over 15,000 cargo thefts were reported in Mexico, although official statistics only recorded 9,299 cases, confirming a high rate of underreporting.  

In the first quarter of 2025, 1,636 thefts were officially reported, but private estimates indicate that monthly incidents exceed 2,000.

According to reports from the National Public Security System (SNSP) for the first quarter of 2025, 81% of thefts targeting transporters involved some form of violence, which highlights the operational risk level to which transporters and their cargo are exposed. 

According to the Overhaul Q1 2025 report, 77% of thefts are concentrated in the central (61%) and western (25%) regions of the country.  

States with Highest Incidence: 

• State of Mexico
• Puebla
• Guanajuato
• Jalisco
• Michoacán
• Hidalgo

Critical Routes:

• Mexico–Veracruz (150D, Amozoc–Esperanza stretch)
• Mexico–Querétaro, Celaya–Salamanca, Circuito Exterior Mexiquense

Data from Q1 2025 indicates that 82% of thefts occur between Monday and Friday, with a peak between Tuesday and Friday (69%).  

The most critical hours are recorded between 18:00 and 00:00 (31%) and between 06:00 and 12:00 (28%). The 06:00 to 10:00 range is particularly noteworthy, as many units are departing from their origin during this time, accounting for 24% of thefts. 

The most affected products in Q1 2025 were food and beverages (34%), construction and industrial materials (10%), and auto parts (9%). Compared to the same period last year, there were increases in the theft of chemicals (plastics, detergents), electrical auto parts, home appliances, and mass consumer goods, reflecting a diversification in the target merchandise of criminal organizations. 

In this context, relying on traditional coverage is clearly insufficient. Hanseatica offers a comprehensive solution comprising three essential policies: 

• Cargo Insurance: includes theft, pilferage, accidents, general average, climatic conditions, loading/unloading damage, vandalism, stock throughput, and strikes. 

• Container Insurance: covers theft, overturns, collisions, weather damage, and extra-contractual civil liability. 

• Logistics Civil Liability: protects against third-party damages, operational errors, warehousing, custody, or issues in multimodal transport. 

To appropriately select logistics coverage, it is recommended to: 

1. Analyze your routes, risk areas, and cargo type. 
2. Accurately declare the insured value of the merchandise. 
3. Demand combined coverages that include: all-risk, containers, and logistics civil liability. 

Hanseatica is the strategic partner for companies requiring genuine support against logistics risks in Mexico. Our differentiator lies in our expertise in risk management, which enables us not only to indemnify but also to anticipate, prevent, and mitigate incidents throughout the entire logistics chain. 

Our offering includes: 

• Door-to-door protection, including warehousing and multimodal transport. 
• 24/7 technical and legal support. 
• Preventive inspections and post-incident support. 
• Network of adjusters across Latin America. 
• Operations in 17 countries and international reinsurance backing. 

Request a quote and receive specialized technical advice tailored to your route, cargo type, and logistics contract. Get a quote for your insurance now! 

www.hanseatica.com |  comunicaciones@hanseatica.com