Mexico plays a crucial role in global trade, particularly as a key link between the Asia-Pacific and North America, as well as Latin America. Ports in Mexico are not just loading and unloading points for goods, but the essence of logistics efficiency, industrial development, and international business expansion. With growing import and export volumes, as well as large-scale development projects. So, how do ports become a strategic element in the global supply chain?
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Main Ports in Mexico and Their Locations
Port growth is one of the keys that can support the global supply chain. There is not just one port but several interrelated ones that play an important role. The location of the port is crucial, as it is strategic and can benefit many sectors. The following are the ports in Mexico.
Port Manzanillo, Colima.
It is located on the Pacific coast of the state of Colima, and is the largest container port in Mexico. It is also the main gateway for trade with Asia. In the middle of this year, Manzanillo broke a record by handling the largest amount of supplies in one month. Currently, the Port of Manzanillo is undertaking a major expansion to increase its capacity per year by 2030, in addition to expanding its port.
Port Lázaro Cardenas, Michoacán
Port Lázaro is located on the Pacific coast. This port is classified as a port with deep-sea depths. This makes Port Lázaro a port that allows large ships to dock. Port Lázaro has several container terminals; three main terminals and all of them are active, and some cargo is distributed by land via trucks and trains.
Port Altamira, Tamaulipas
Port Altamira is on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf Coast) and is known as a vehicle and chemical export port. In 2024, Altamira handled more than 500,000 vehicles exported from AmPort terminals, a sharp increase from the previous year. The increase in vehicle volume at Altamira Port shows the Port’s competitiveness in handling cargo and vehicles that require special logistics services.
Port of Veracruz
The Port of Veracruz, located on Mexico’s Atlantic Gulf coast, is an important hub for agricultural, general goods, and container exports. In 2023, Veracruz’s container capacity reached around 1.14 million TEU, a slight decrease from the previous year.
Capacity, Traffic, and Specific Significance
As ports grow in the world, including one in Mexico, it turns out that not everyone knows about several important things about these ports. for example, people know there is a big port in Mexico but few know about capacity, traffic, and specific significance.
- Manzanillo: container capacity at the port of Manzanillo is now around 3.5 million TEU/year, with plans to increase container capacity to 10 million. Monthly traffic at the Manzanillo port has reached hundreds of thousands of TEU.
- Lázaro Cárdenas: the port of Lázaro Cárdenas has exceeded one million TEU in the first five months of 2025. Increased container ship traffic and balanced use of land and rail modes further strengthen distribution efficiency at the port of Lázaro Cárdenas.
Port Altamira’s high export vehicle volume reveals it handles not only standard containers but also special cargo, requiring dedicated logistics services like vehicle terminals and secure handling. Despite decreased volume, Veracruz remains a main Atlantic port, handling containers, general goods, and agricultural exports and imports.
How Ports in Mexico Support Global Business Growth
Of course, the existence of ports in Mexico supports certain sectors that continue to grow, including business. Below are some of the significant roles of these ports. The first is activities to import products from Asia or export commodities to Latin America and the US can utilize ports on the Pacific coast, such as Port Manzanillo or Lázaro Cárdenas, to make sea travel more efficient, reducing the distance travelled and transit time through land routes.
Next is how these ports provide growth in special industries. Altamira port with vehicle exports, Veracruz port with agriculture, and Manzanillo port with general cargo & transshipment, all ports provide their own unique facilities and special services and play an important role in supporting industries that require special handling, such as the vehicle, cold goods and petrochemical industries.
It has connectivity with land and rail modes. Port Lázaro Cárdenas for example, this port has had significant improvements in road and rail infrastructure. This makes distribution from ports to big cities more efficient. Improving the port’s infrastructure is very important so that products can quickly leave the port and continue their journey to market.
The continuity of investment development and infrastructure expansion. Port Manzanillo is in the process of expanding; this is aimed at overcoming bottlenecks and meeting nearshoring demand. The multibillion-dollar expansion project is aimed at building a new terminal, expanding land area, and strengthening facilities at Port Manzanillo to handle much larger TEU volumes.
Conclusion
The largest ports in Mexico, such as Manzanillo, Lázaro Cárdenas, Altamira, and Veracruz, are not only delivery points for goods but also the center of business growth strategies. High capacity, large traffic, and special services from the largest ports in Mexico are able to pave the way for products and businesses to reach global markets more quickly, effectively, and competitively.
If you need integrated logistics solutions, warehousing, transloading, or distribution in the U.S., Shipazon is ready to support your business growth. From Amazon FBA prep to port-to-warehouse delivery in Kent, WA, our team ensures faster, more efficient access to the global market. With Shipazon’s reliable logistics network, real international growth for your business becomes easier than ever.
“With Mexico’s ports expanding rapidly, cross-border fulfillment directly from Mexico to the U.S. will soon become a strong alternative for businesses aiming to shorten delivery times and reduce costs.”
— Andre Ren, Co-Founder & Logistics Manager at Shipazon