Customs Delays Hinder Lázaro Cárdenas Port Expansion Project
Mexico’s second largest container port, Lázaro Cárdenas Port, is undergoing a major expansion aimed at transforming it into a key regional logistics hub. However, persistent customs clearance delays are threatening to undermine these ambitions.
The port’s development plans include strengthening trade links with US East Coast ports and markets across Central and South America. Yet, stakeholders warn that operational inefficiencies—particularly in customs inspections—are slowing progress.
At a recent development meeting, industry participants voiced strong frustration over containers being held for up to 30 days due to inspection delays. This is especially problematic as storage fees begin accruing after just 15 days.
Tensions at the port are not new. In September, truckers blockaded the port in protest over excessive wait times, while customs brokers have also reacted angrily to nationwide customs reforms introduced on January 1st. These ongoing disruptions risk eroding the port’s competitiveness at a critical stage of its expansion.
However, a solution may be on the way. During the meeting, a port authority executive acknowledged the bottlenecks and indicated that the federal government plans to reinforce customs operations, including extending working hours closer to a 24-hour schedule.
There have also been recent signs of encouragement for carriers using the port. Vessel wait times have recently dropped to an average of 0.5 days, down from over 4 days earlier in the year.
Meanwhile, the port’s physical expansion is in its third and final phase, which will add 28 hectares of operational space and extend the dock to 1,278 metres. Broader support is also expected through the government’s “Mexico Plan,” a long-term infrastructure initiative running to 2030, aimed at boosting the country’s logistics and transport sectors.
