- Arizona wants a better T-MEC (and it is worth listening)
- ITM Group wants to join the reconquest of Spain
Although Mexico lags behind cigar-consuming giants such as China, Spain, Switzerland, Germany or the United Kingdom, the size of the Cuban cigar market in the country is not negligible.
That’s because of the data revealed by the Importer and Exporter of Cigars and Tobaccoa company that distributes the aromatic tobacco product globally.
According to the IETP, In 2025 in Mexico, one million units of cigars will be sold. The Cuban origin, the organization continues, is the favorite of consumers of imported cigars: 9 out of 10 choose cigars and 2 out of every 3 premium pieces correspond to cigars.
In this sense, brands such as Cohiba and Trinidad. Despite the cost adjustments seen in recent years (and the associated taxes and inflation), IEPT says, Mexican cigar aficionados accepted the new cigar prices.
Thus, each unit on average was sold in Mexico for 34 dollars, or 740 pesos. With this, the Mexican market reached levels of MXN $740 million… not inconsiderable for Cuba’s largest export product.
Arizona wants a better T-MEC (and it is worth listening)
Although Mexico is the main trading partner of the US In general (and the largest at the individual level of most of its states), it is worth listening to what businessmen and the government of Arizona, one of our neighbors on the border, are saying.
And it is that businessmen and authorities of Arizona have aligned themselves in a clear message towards the review of the T‑MEC in 2026: “fine-tune, not renegotiate.” A study commissioned by the governor Katie Hobbs highlights that the agreement has boosted exports, employment and attracted investments in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, agribusiness, aerospace and semiconductors, closely linked to Mexico.
Chambers of commerce and business leaders warn that a profound reopening, or severe changes, to the treaty would increase uncertainty and put nearshoring decisions and cross-border projects in the Arizona–Sonora region at risk. Instead, they propose a technical review that strengthens supply chains, improves dispute resolution and updates rules on issues such as energy, critical minerals and the digital economy, preserving tariff-free access in North America. For Mexico, the message from Arizona reinforces business pressure for regulatory stability in the USMCA before 2026.
Mexico is, by far, Arizona’s largest trading partner. In 2024, bilateral trade amounted to about $20.5 billion, with about $8.9 billion in exports from Arizona to Mexico and $11.6 billion in imports from Mexico.
It is worth mentioning that, according to the Arizona Business Authoritymore than $3 billion of Mexico’s exports to the state correspond to “Vegetables and melons,” as well as “Mushrooms, nurseries and related products.” That is, more than 26.5% of all imports from Mexico to Arizona.
Another category includes the sales made from here of “Fruits and Nuts” (US$487 million) and “Livestock” (US$397 million). So agroindustrial exports are fundamental for Mexico.
ITM Group wants to join the reconquest of Spain
The developer of tourist infrastructure and real estate projects, ITM Group, is emerging as the builder of a cruise terminal in Melilla, one of the most relevant destinations in Spain that, despite this, lacks cruise infrastructure. This is a project in the port of Castellón, in the province of Valencia.
ITM Group is a private Mexican company based in Cancun, specialized in real estate developments, hospitality and cruise ports, with more than 30 years of experience in tourism infrastructure in Mexico and the Caribbean.
The company, run by Mauricio Hamuihas gone from being a purely family business to a Mexican multinational with a strong presence in the Caribbean and other relevant tourist destinations.
According to local media (Melilla Today and others), ITM Group will develop a project consisting of a cruise terminal and the company also wants to do business in Granada and build another terminal to attract more than 20,000 tourists per day to this andalusian city.
More recently, the company presented its project in Puerto Samana, one of the most attractive points in the Dominican Republic.
