MEXICAN PORTS KICK OFF 2024 WITH GREAT RESULTS

For decades, Mexican Pacific ports have been a key point in the country's economy thanks to the amount of full and empty containers they move every hour; however, data provided by the General Coordination of Ports and Merchant Marine of the Ministry of the Navy have revealed that the port with the highest TEU activity this beginning of 2024 was the port of Veracruz, with just over 2.55 million tons.

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Port of Veracruz

Considered the most important commercial port in the Gulf of Mexico, the Port of Veracruz celebrated 122 years of history on March 5th. What distinguishes this customs office from the rest is that it was the first customs office created in Mexico and in the American continent.

Its dynamism in the automotive industry has led it to manage a leading position in Mexican port activity.

In 2023, the port recorded a total movement of 993,603 units in export and import of the automotive industry, which led it to almost reach the million recorded prior to the pandemic.

This port moves 14.72% of the country's deep-sea cargo and is considered the second customs office with the highest revenue in Mexico, only behind the Manzanillo customs office.

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Port of Manzanillo

Located on the Pacific coast, it is the port that generates the most revenue for the Mexican territory. Its strategic location allows countries such as Europe, Oceania, and Asia greater facilities in trade between different nations.

It registers a growth of approximately 6%. In the period from January to November 2023, the port handled a total of 3,382,732 TEUs; and began the year mobilizing a total of 309,251 containers in January 2024.

Together with the port of Lazaro Cardenas, they have a strong connection with the Asian market; however, the transportation infrastructure is one of the port's main advantages that have led it to grow year after year, including highways, railroads and nearby airports.

Among the more than one million containers moved by the port, the bulk cargo of grains, minerals, crude oil, and chemical products stand out. These are some of the sectors that use the port:

• Trade and distribution
• Logistics and transportation
• Electronic commerce
• Automotive
• Food and agriculture
• Energy

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Port of Lázaro Cárdenas

The second most important port with exit to the Pacific, mobilized 185 thousand 406 TEUs in the first month of 2024, representing 2,539,509 tons and a 3% increase over the same period of the previous year.

Together with the Port of Manzanillo, they have positioned themselves in the top 10 of the main ports in Latin America and the Caribbean, according to the Port Report 2021 of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.

It stands out for its activity in the automotive sector; however, other goods such as textiles, food, electronic equipment, steel, iron, and its derivatives are also common.

To avoid delays and high costs in the Panama Canal due to droughts, railroad companies such as Kansas City Southern (KCS) have presented as an alternative for the transportation of goods from Asia to the United States, to use the port of Lazaro Cardenas as an entry and exit point for containers and transfer the goods by rail to the United States.

This new proposal will attract users to move goods with the Asia-US route and will increase the total cargo and revenue for the port.

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Port of Altamira

Mobilizing a total of 20,828,395 tons at the end of December 2023, the port of Altamira is considered one of the 5 most important ports in Mexico.

Petrochemical fluids, bulk mineral cargo and bulk agricultural cargo are the three types of cargo that are most abundant in the port. Among its main operations is the export of gas to Europe.

One of the most important maritime sector plans for the authorities, Mexico's most modern hydrocarbon terminal at the port of Altamira, is expected to be launched this year. The company Operadora de Terminales Marítimas (OTM) will invest 300 million dollars in this project that will help in the import and export of oil products through the Gulf of Mexico.

News reports that there is an intention on the part of the authorities of the port of Altamira and the port of Miami, to strengthen ties of friendship and business and create a direct maritime highway between both ports, since they are only 1,200 miles apart, which makes it the closest Mexican port to Miami, United States.

This port is characterized by its modernization and constant improvement in its infrastructure, which allows for an increase in cargo moved and efficiency in the loading and unloading of containers.

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Port of Ensenada

Distinguished for being the only port in Mexico that is open all year round. Thanks to its strategic location, this port has become the gateway to Asia and North America.

Its green and sustainable strategy has led it to win the Maritime Award of the Americas 2023, in the category of Green Port Operations and Sustainable Management, awarded by the Inter-American Committee on Ports of the Organization of American States.

In terms of 2023, this port mobilized a total of 12,072,223 tons and although it did not reach the total tons mobilized compared to the previous year, it continues to be one of the most important ports for the country.

"In Mexico, maritime foreign trade represents almost 30% of the country's total and according to every dollar of merchandise handled in the port, five additional dollars are generated by the manufacture of products; for every million tons of traffic in the port, between 400 and 600 jobs are created". (Serrano, M., 2023, parr.9)

The figures represent a good start for the beginning of the year, and it is expected that they can exceed the numbers recorded in 2023, as well as increase the revenue collection in these customs. The technological and sustainable advances being implemented by the ports allow Mexico to position itself as an attractive entry and exit point for goods, as well as a solution to the high costs and delays in the Panama Canal.

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