Import Yeti Launches Innovative Tool to Help Brands Source Mexico-Made Goods

ImportYeti has unveiled a new dataset aimed at enhancing the visibility of Mexico's supply chain. This tool is designed to assist brands in finding suppliers south of the border and fostering new business relationships. Acting as a search engine, the tool allows users to examine companies' suppliers by analyzing bills of lading to determine what cargo is being imported and its origin, thereby revealing where retailers source their goods.

David Applegate, who founded ImportYeti in 2021, noted that customer demand prompted the addition of Mexico suppliers to the platform. ImportYeti had previously focused on suppliers in Asia and Europe. “Customers were consistently requesting Mexican data,” Applegate explained in an interview with FreightWaves. “Managing such a large dataset is challenging. It took us about four months to prepare the Mexico data to meet our standards.”

With Mexico being the US's top trading partner, totaling nearly $800 billion in 2023, the timing of this tool is significant. In April alone, two-way trade between the US and Mexico reached $72.47 billion, as reported by the Census Bureau. ImportYeti sifts through over 90 million public shipping records to offer global supply chain transparency.

Applegate's inspiration for ImportYeti came from his previous venture, WrestlingMart, an e-commerce store for wrestling gear. He struggled with supply chain decisions and sought a tool to find the right manufacturers. “Running WrestlingMart made me realize the difficulties in making informed supply chain decisions,” Applegate shared.

The pandemic severely impacted the wrestling market, prompting Applegate to launch ImportYeti. “We’ve stayed close to our customers, constantly seeking feedback on their experience and needs,” he added. The tool quickly gained traction among logistics professionals seeking to identify suppliers and potential clients.

Pharr Bridge Expansion Project to Begin in August

The city of Pharr, Texas, has awarded a $47 million contract for expanding the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge. The project will add four southbound lanes to reduce wait times at the border, currently served by three southbound lanes and one northbound lane. Construction is set to commence in August and is expected to be completed by 2026. In 2023, trade at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge amounted to $45.8 billion. The bridge connects Pharr to Reynosa, a significant manufacturing hub in Mexico.

Hammond Power Solutions Opens Fourth Plant in Mexico

Hammond Power Solutions (HPS) has announced the opening of its fourth plant in Guadalupe, Mexico, enhancing the company’s production capacity and creating 400 jobs. "Our new plant in Guadalupe significantly boosts our capacity and flexibility for North American customers," said David Kinsella, HPS COO. Guadalupe is situated about 57 miles from the Eagle Pass, Texas border crossing. HPS, based in Ontario, Canada, manufactures dry-type transformers, power products, and related magnetics.

UK-Based Logistics Firm Establishes Dallas Office

UK-based third-party logistics provider Speedy Freight has opened its first US office in Dallas. The Dallas office will offer a range of services, including full truckload, less-than-truckload, drayage, expedited shipping, and cross-border operations. Speedy Freight also provides inventory and supply chain management, warehousing, and cross-dock capabilities. Established in 2006, Speedy Freight operates over 60 branches across the UK and Europe, serving more than 10,000 customers in various industries.