Shipping Lines Suspend Calls to Mexico’s Port of Ensenada
Several major shipping lines have withdrawn the Port of Ensenada, Mexico, from their sailing schedules as the gateway continues to grapple with operational challenges, congestion, and regulatory delays.
German carrier Hapag-Lloyd has formally announced the suspension of Ensenada calls on the westbound leg of its TPM Service. In a statement published on its website, the company cited persistent difficulties at the port, noting: “In consideration of risks and delays beyond our control experienced in our recent operations at the Port of Ensenada, Hapag-Lloyd has decided to suspend calls to Ensenada, Mexico on the TPM Service in the West Bound rotation.”
Ensenada has long served as a strategic transhipment hub, linking Asia-origin cargo to Latin American services on the West Coast, including key connections into Colombia which made it a valuable link to regional supply chains.
In addition to suspending westbound calls, Hapag-Lloyd has confirmed it will also cease using Ensenada for export services to Asia, significantly reducing the port’s connectivity to major international trade lanes.
The move highlights the mounting strain across Mexico’s maritime sector. During the past year, ports nationwide have suffered from extended delays, labour shortages, and intermittent strikes. Many facilities have struggled to manage higher-than-usual cargo volumes with aging or insufficient infrastructure.
Compounding these issues, Mexico recently implemented a new customs duty process, resulting in increased physical inspections of containers. The additional scrutiny has created further backlogs at some of the countries key ocean gateways, including Ensenada, and has prompted carriers to seek more reliable alternatives to maintain schedule integrity.
The team at Envio is monitoring developments closely. For further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
