Mexico approves ending daylight saving time in most parts of country

Mexico’s Senate ratified a bill Wednesday to permanently end daylight saving time (DST) across the majority of the country by a 56-29 vote.

The bill, which was backed by Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, had already been approved by the country’s Chamber of Deputies earlier this month.

The majority of states across Mexico will turn back their clocks an hour for the last time Sunday. The clocks will not be turned forward next spring.

Mexico adopted DST in 1996 to stay synchronized with the U.S., its largest trading partner. However, some Mexican officials have long pushed to end DST based on the negative effect it reportedly has on mental health. Another reason cited to end DST was the minimal energy savings derived from the measure.

Ending DST will not affect the Mexican states along the U.S. border, including Baja California, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León and Tamaulipas. Those states will keep DST to stay synchronized with the U.S., according to the legislation. The Mexican states of Sonora and Quintana Roo don’t follow DST.

Key parts of Mexico such as B ajío — a region of central Mexico and major industrial center for manufacturing cars, auto parts and heavy-duty trucks — could be affected by the end of DST.

Shippers will have to alter schedules in April 2023, when Mexico does not move its clocks forward, which could affect shipping schedules for half of the year in regions like Bajío, said Jordan Dewart, president of logistics operator Redwood Mexico.

“What will happen is Mexico’s going to have to come in and basically start their day an hour early to adjust to most of the U.S. customers looking for updates on shipments in the logistics world,” he said.

Other cross-border logistics operators predicted minor disruptions caused by the new time differences between Mexico and the U.S.

“I personally don’t think this will cause any major disturbances in supply chains or delivery of raw/finished goods,” Joshua Rubin, vice president of the Javid Group, told FreightWaves.

The Javid Group is a shelter company that facilitates foreign companies setting up manufacturing in Mexico. Javid is based in Nogales, Mexico, in the Mexican state of Sonora, which keeps DST to stay synchronized with neighboring Arizona.

“Maybe there will need to be a few adjustments on the times things can be delivered, as if you are planning a shipment to arrive at a certain time now, you will need to make adjustments to the new time,” Rubin said.