Port capacity in Mexico increased from 260 million tons in 2012 to 406 million tons in 2017, an increase of more than 56%. Shipping accounts for 90% of the world's economy, so it's important to know Mexico's main seaports to better understand how they operate. Below are the top 5 ports in Mexico.
5. Port of Ensenada
The Port of Ensenada is a deep-water port on the west coast of Baja California, just 110 kilometers from California, United States. It has cargo and cruise terminals and offers container unloading at its terminals.
The three most important overland routes for cargo transportation to and from the port are the Tijuana-Ensenada Expressway and the Tijuana-Ensenada and Tecate-Ensenada Federal Highways. Most cargo in and out of the Port of Ensenada uses these three routes, which also connect to major U.S. highways. Additionally, these routes provide direct connections to major U.S. border crossings such as Tijuana, Tecate, and Mexicali.
4. Port of Altamira
The Port of Altamira is located on the east coast of Mexico, facing the Gulf of Mexico. It is connected to 125 ports, most of which are located on the Atlantic coast. Domestically, its land and rail connections connect the port directly to the northern and central regions of the country, including important cities such as Monterrey, Saltillo, Reynosa, Guadalajara, Mexico City, and more.
3. Puerto Veracruz
Located 500 kilometers south of the port of Altamira, is the third largest port in Mexico, Puerto Veracruz. The Puerto Veracruz is also on the east coast of the country with direct access to the Gulf of Mexico.
Today, the port of Veracruz is the oldest and most historic port in the country. As the first port to be equipped with automobile transportation equipment, it is one of the most important ports for the Mexican automobile industry.
2. Lazaro Cardenas
Located in Mexico's Pacific Basin, the port of Lazaro Cardenas is one of the largest seaports in the region.
This deep-water seaport accommodates post-Panamax vessels and handles containerized, dry bulk and liquid cargoes. A new semi-automated terminal opened in 2017 and can handle more than 1.2 million containers per year. As a result, the port's capacity is expected to increase from 27 million tons to 29 million tons.
The port is well connected to Mexico City, just 620 kilometers away, and the U.S. Mexican rail network south of Kansas City.
1. Port of Manzanillo
Mexico's largest port, the Port of Manzanillo, is located in the state of Colima on the Pacific coast and handles Pacific cargo for the Mexico City area. Most imports destined for central Mexico pass through the port of Manzanillo, which is an important port for Asian importers and exporters due to its geographic location.
Most of the port's exports go to the neighboring United States, Canada, Guatemala and Colombia, but also to countries further afield, including Japan, China, India, Malaysia and Singapore. Its main exports include beer, automobiles, cement, sugar, copper, steel pipes, carbon, glucose and resins.
