# Argentina railway privatization bidding process > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/argentina-railway-privatization-bidding-process > Updated: 2026-10-23T21:14:01.000Z. Sources: 10. Developments: 2. Grupo México has officially withdrawn from the bidding process to privatize Argentina’s Belgrano Cargas, San Martín Cargas, and Urquiza Cargas railway lines. The company had previously pledged approximately US$3 billion in investments but cited disagreements with the Ministry of Economy regarding the tender terms. A central point of contention is the government’s ‘open access’ system, which requires concessionaires to allow other operators to use the tracks in exchange for a toll. Grupo México argued this model is ‘inefficient, reduces competitiveness, increases costs for customers, and requires public subsidies to remain viable.’ Instead, the company advocated for a ‘vertical integration’ model, similar to practices in the United States and Canada, to better incentivize investment. Despite this withdrawal, the Argentine government reports continued interest in the 50-year concession, with over 11 participants remaining in the running. These include mining firms, logistics operators, and a consortium of major grain exporters such as Bunge, Cargill, and Louis Dreyfus. The privatization is considered critical for reducing export costs for the lithium and copper mining sectors. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-23: Grupo México withdraws from Belgrano Cargas privatization bid Grupo México has withdrawn from Argentina's Belgrano Cargas privatization bid, criticizing the government's 'Open Access' model as inefficient and advocating for vertical integration instead. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/grupo-mxico-withdraws-from-belgrano-cargas-privatization-bid-1 ### 2026-10-21: Grupo México withdraws from Belgrano Cargas privatization bid Grupo México has withdrawn from the privatization bid for Argentina's Belgrano Cargas railway lines due to disagreements over tender terms regarding open access and infrastructure management. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/grupo-mxico-withdraws-from-belgrano-cargas-privatization-bid --- Cite as: Argentina railway privatization bidding process. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/argentina-railway-privatization-bidding-process