Manzanillo Port Struggles with Lingering Delays Weeks After Strike
More than a month after a brief customs strike disrupted operations at Mexico’s largest container port, Manzanillo is still grappling with serious congestion and delays.
Despite the resumption of full customs activities on May 21st, wait times for berths have worsened, now averaging 1.8 days – the highest level so far this year.
The labour disruption began on May 12th, when customs personnel staged a walkout and blocked access to the port, protesting working conditions under a newly appointed customs chief. Although partial operations resumed by May 15th, and full services were officially restored six days later, the port has struggled to return to normal.
June has witnessed mounting concerns as delays have escalated. Customs inspections for single shipments have reportedly been taking more than 72 hours, while container yards have became severely overcrowded. Export and import truck assignments now require up to 72 hours, with similar delays for rail cargo.
Even before the strike, Manzanillo was dealing with growing congestion due to rising container volumes. The recent disruption has only exacerbated the issue, straining infrastructure and slowing logistics throughout the supply chain.
In response to a yearly decline in the port’s productivity, the Mexican federal government has announced a major expansion plan aimed at quadrupling the port’s capacity.
However, the project isn’t expected to be completed until 2030, leaving shippers and logistics firms bracing themselves for ongoing bottlenecks in the coming years.
