Mota-Engil has locked in over €1bn in new rail contracts in Mexico, cementing its position as one of Latin America’s top infrastructure players and pushing its total Mexican portfolio close to €3.7bn.

The deal, announced October 20, includes an €820m contract to design and build the second section of the Querétaro–Irapuato railway, a 70.7km link between Apaseo el Grande and Irapuato.

Combined with the €290m first stretch awarded in August and several smaller packages worth about €200m, Mota-Engil is now building the entire 101km corridor.

Set to run for 29 months, the project is part of Mexico’s US$58bn National Railway Plan, which aims to modernise the country’s transport network, revive passenger services, and cut emissions.

Once operational, the new line is expected to move 11,000 passengers a day, easing pressure on central Mexico’s highways.

Bajío betting on rail

For the Portuguese construction giant, the contracts mark another milestone in its global expansion.

The Bajío region, Mexico’s industrial heartland and home to plants for Toyota, GM, and Airbus, is betting on faster rail to speed up exports.

Mota-Engil’s track record on high-profile projects, including the Tren Maya in southern Mexico, has made it a go-to name in Spanish-speaking rail markets.

Back at its Maia headquarters in Portugal, Mota-Engil is redeploying resources and sending around 200 Portuguese engineers to Mexico over the next two years. The new workload lifts the company’s order book to record highs, boosting dividends and cash flow.

For Portugal, the impact reaches beyond construction. Mota-Engil’s fortunes ripple through pension funds, the PSI index, and a web of domestic suppliers. With Europe’s market slowing, the company’s Latin American surge is both a growth engine and a hedge.

Mota-Engil is jointly controlled by the Portuguese Mota family and China Communications Construction Company. With Latin America set to generate 40% of group revenue by 2026, up from 33% last year, the company is steering toward €1bn in annual EBITDA.

Management has pledged to keep net leverage below 2.0× EBITDA, while dollar-denominated payments from Mexico’s transport ministry reduce risk for bondholders.