Its Footprint in Cotton Distribution Continues to Grow
By Roberto Hugo Gonzalez
As originally published in Texas Border Business newsprint edition April 2019
If you want to know who the leader in cotton distribution in South Texas is; you don’t have to look any further. Commodities Integrated Logistics (CIL) is that company and with its current growth, its impacting communities in South Texas. C.I.L. Logistics leads in the shipping of U.S. cotton into Mexico; it already handles over 60% of the crossings.
On March 22, 2019, Joaquin Spamer, the principal for the company, celebrated the groundbreaking ceremony of an 82,500 sq. ft. warehouse space and an additional 200,000 sq. ft. warehouse space at the Mid Valley Industrial Park in Weslaco. CIL has plans to increase its services in Weslaco through the expansion of the new facilities.
During the ceremony, Spamer said, “I’m just the spokesperson of the joint effort of all the people here. I couldn’t be more grateful for the individual support of all of you for making the group I represent achieve the goals demanded by the market.”
He thanked everyone especially Vantage Bank, the institution that has been open, understanding and professionally supportive of the expansion plans of the company. “We wouldn’t be here without the participation of Oscar Rodríguez.” One day he was asked why he kept growing and his response was, “Because the market demanded so.”
According to Spamer, when the markets demand, it is necessary to react. In the cotton market, they have managed to open routes that have significantly improved the distribution of cotton, the exporting of U.S./Mexico, and to other regions of the world. The company also announced that they are building a second warehouse of 200,000 sq. ft. in Weslaco. He also expressed their thanks for the support of Roberto Rodriguez from BBVA Compass Bank.
The new buildings will increase the CIL Group’s footprint to well beyond its existing 1,100,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space in the Valley, and 390,000 sq. ft. of which is already here in Weslaco. The need for additional warehouse space is attributed to the increase in the volume of exports to Asia.
In 2017, CIL opened a new shipping route for South Texas cotton to reach the Asian markets through Mexico. Just last season, it reportedly moved over 300 containers, with expectations to reach 5,000 containers of cotton within the next 5 years. “It is incredible what we have been able to accomplish; Weslaco is starting to become a shipping point, like Houston and Dallas,” Spamer said.
Weslaco Mayor David Suarez said, “I’ve worked closely with Joaquin over the past years, and I am always fascinated by his sharp sense for business.” He continued, “When he cleared a new route to distribute Valley cotton to Asia through Mexico two years ago, I knew that it would benefit our local economy and the cotton farming industry in the Rio Grande Valley.” It was also said, that the cost for both buildings is expected to reach $8 million and create 10 new jobs in Weslaco.
Texas State Representative Armando “Mando” Martinez said, “So let me tell you what this demonstrates today. When you think of vision, progress, innovation, and growth, most of all when you think of business there’s one name that always comes to mind, and that’s the name of an individual I admire, and I respect, Joaquin Spamer.”
The representative’s comments nailed it because, in the matter of cotton, Weslaco is starting to become a vital point when it comes to distribution and destinations that import American cotton.
Texas Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. was part of the ceremony; he also had kind words for Spamer. “Sometimes we just don’t thank people enough. Those are people that invest in our community like Joaquin.” He continued, “He’s proven himself very worthy to be called one of our outstanding businessmen here in the Rio Grande Valley.”
Joe Olivarez, president of the Weslaco Economic Development Corp. had a few words to say to welcome the projects to Weslaco.
“Thank you for having the confidence to develop two new warehouses in our industrial park.” He added, “The EDC has invested time and money expanding the airport by adding their customs facility and recently a new sub-division. The sole purpose of EDC is to create jobs, and with your help, that’s going to happen.”
The timeline for construction is approximately 5 months to completion for both buildings. Cotton farmers and area gins will benefit significantly from the new 282,500 sq. ft. of warehouse space, since the facilities serve as both a gin-to-warehouse receiving facility, as well as a shipping point.
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