The port in Lazaro Cardenas covers an area the size of several thousand football fields The port of Lazaro Cardenas in Mexico is a key gateway for Asian goods into North America Members of the navy patrol the Lazaro Cardenas port on Mexico's Pacific coast A member of the Mexican navy searches for drugs at the Lazaro Cardenas port container ships from Asia unload at a huge Pacific port in Mexico that so far appears to be weathering the storm unleashed by US President Donald Trump's tariffs Members of the navy patrol the waters off Lazaro Cardenas which for years has also been a gateway for drug flows that Mexico is under pressure from Trump to stop which covers an area of water and land the size of several thousand football fields handles thousands of vehicles and even more auto parts Millions of other goods from various industries and countries also arrive at the port Mexican authorities face mounting pressure from Trump to tackle trafficking of drugs or their precursors hidden in imported goods The importance of Lazaro Cardenas -- located in Michoacan one of Mexico's most violent states -- reflects the country's deep integration with the United States and Canada thanks to decades of free trade agreements "It's a strategic logistics point," Joel Mendez The port is connected to a railroad that extends to the United States and Canada so a container can arrive in Chicago in seven days Lazaro Cardenas has become a major competitor to the Port of Long Beach in California So far there is no sign of a slowdown at the Mexican port Container throughput increased 11 percent between January and March There are plans to expand the port's size by 1,100 hectares (2,700 acres) -- around 900 football fields It already handles the most vehicle shipments of any Mexican seaport accounting for 35 percent of the national total It also processes inputs for the steel industry another sector targeted by Trump's tough trade policy Though Trump excluded Mexico from his steep "reciprocal tariffs" -- and this week eased auto import duties --- its steel and aluminum exports are subject to a 25 percent tariff That is a major challenge for a country that is home to plants operated by major foreign automakers such as Ford Mexico's economy avoided a recession in the first quarter of the year growing 0.2 percent from the previous quarter Dozens of soldiers inspected products in a special area of the port which in 2013 was taken over by the military after it became a destination for chemical precursors used to produce crystal meth Trump has linked his tariffs in part to the need for Mexico to do more to tackle trafficking of another synthetic drug A soldier at the port took samples from big sacks of fishmeal placing them in a machine than can detect illegal substances "Cocaine and cannabis are the two substances that have been seized the most in the port," a Mexican navy officer said on condition of anonymity the navy announced it had seized more than 8.3 tonnes of drugs in the Pacific southwest of Lazaro Cardenas -- a record for a single operation at sea Authorities are focused on chemicals that can be used to produce both legal medications and synthetic drugs Port workers are preparing for the industry's peak season when companies export and import millions of products in anticipation of the year-end holidays Despite the chill winds from Trump's trade war "the port will continue to grow," Mendez predicted Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don't miss out on updates We'll send breaking news and news alerts to you as they happen Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Lázaro Cárdenas Batel is a Mexican politician serving as a chief adviser to president Andrés Manuel López Obrador and a former governor of Michoacán Cárdenas Batel served as governor from 2002 to 2008 representing the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) he represented his home state in both the federal Chamber of Deputies and the Senate Cárdenas Batel is a member of a distinguished political family: his grandfather served as President of Mexico from 1934 to 1940 has been a presidential candidate on three occasions and was the first democratically elected head of government of the Federal District (Mexico City) Both father and grandfather also served as governors of Michoacán Cárdenas Batel holds a degree in ethnohistory from the National School of Anthropology and History (ENAH) in Mexico City Cárdenas is currently on leave from the Dialogue until the end of his term The Dialogue is a hemispheric organization that builds networks of cooperation and action to advance democratic resilience and sustainable development across the Americas and enhance collaboration to unlock meaningful change in the Western Hemisphere Inter-American Dialogue1155 15th Street NW | Suite 800Washington, DC 20005P: +1-202-822-9002F: +1-202-822-9553 We use cookies to enhance your 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platforms Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns Steelworkers gathered in Lázaro Cárdenas two Mineros killed by police during a 2006 strike “Because of the pandemic, the Steelworkers are not able to march with you physically this year, but we continue to march with you in spirit, as always,” International President Tom Conway wrote in this letter.  The USW entered into a strategic alliance with Los Mineros on April 13 an early morning methane explosion rocked a Grupo Mexico-owned coal mine in the Mexican state of Coahuila There has never been a thorough investigation of the disaster and only two bodies were recovered before the mine was sealed by the government denounced the killings and the unsafe working conditions that caused them He’s now a senator in Mexico. Two months later police and military fired on striking workers at the steel mill in Lázaro Cárdenas Hector ¤lvarez Gómez and Mario Alberto Castillo Rodríguez thousands of Los Mineros members joined by their USW brothers and sisters march through the streets on the anniversary of the murders to commemorate the fallen workers and remind the world that the fight for safe and decent working conditions is not over Below is the entire text of President Conway’s letter:  Senator Napoleo n Go mez UrrutiaPresident and General SecretaryNational Union of Mine Steel and Related Workers of the Mexican Republic On the 14th anniversary of the murder of our brothers Hector Alvarez Go mez and Mario Alberto Castillo during the Los Mineros strike at the steel mill in La zaro Ca rdenas and Canada send condolences and solidarity to their families and to our Mineros sisters and brothers Hector and Mario live on in the fight for justice in Mexico and everywhere in the world the Steelworkers are not able to march with you physically this year but we continue to march with you in spirit By clicking Sign Up you're confirming that you agree with our Terms and Conditions See how the USW is making a real difference in our communities and our workplaces Portions of this website are paid for by the United Steelworkers Political Action Fund with voluntary contributions from union members and their families and is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee Join our newsletter to stay up to date on features and releases By clicking Sign Up you're confirming that you agree with our Privacy Policy Releases & AdvisoriesContact UsUSW CanadaDownload USW App Privacy Policy USW Political Action Fund - 60 Boulevard of the Allies - Pittsburgh 43,000+ global companies doing business in the region 102,000+ key contacts related to companies and projects news and interviews about your industry in English Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article Originally called the National Revolutionary Party (Partido Revolucionario Nacional) the party was renamed the Mexican Revolutionary Party (Partido de la Revolución Mexicana) in 1938 and took its current name Institutional Revolutionary Party (Partido Revolucionario Institucional; PRI) who under the Mexican constitution could serve only one term The Central Executive Committee became responsible for enforcing a common understanding among state and national officials and among the various groups within the party it violently suppressed student protests in the 1970s and was accused of rigging several elections in the 1980s and ’90s Salinas introduced far-reaching economic reforms that liberalized the economy and privatized some state firms (e.g. and he negotiated a free-trade pact with the United States and Canada Salinas’s government also passed legislation that reformed the education and agriculture systems and granted legal recognition to the Roman Catholic church (which had been stripped of its status in 1917) In 1994 Salinas’s hand-picked successor, Luis Donaldo Colosio Murrieta, was assassinated while campaigning, and the party subsequently chose as its presidential candidate Ernesto Zedillo a cabinet secretary who had helped balance Mexico’s budget and improve the country’s literacy rate during the 1990s his margin of victory was the narrowest ever for the PRI in a presidential election Zedillo instituted several reforms designed to end political corruption and promote freer elections In the midterm elections of Zedillo’s term the PRI was unable to retain a majority in the House of Deputies for the first time APM Terminals Lázaro Cárdenas has reached a significant milestone with the arrival of the first vessel operated under the Gemini Cooperation a partnership between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd that will redefine connectivity and operational efficiency in global maritime logistics This milestone reinforces the critical role of the Port of Lázaro Cárdenas in transforming the global supply chain innovative approach to managing East-West maritime trade routes The collaboration aims to deliver more efficient and reliable services by reducing the number of port calls resulting in improved terminal efficiency and reliability we are happy to support the Gemini Cooperation at it marks the beginning of a new era in global maritime trade improving both connectivity and efficiency across key trade routes this initiative strengthens Mexico’s strategic role in global commerce and positions the terminal as a key gateway for trade within the USMCA region and across the Americas” APM Terminals Lázaro Cárdenas plays a key role in this collaboration by implementing the Simultaneous Transshipment Connection a pioneering operation designed to transfer containers between two vessels simultaneously cutting down on waiting times and maximizing operational efficiency “The ambition of the Gemini Cooperation is to enhance efficiency and reliability in East-West trade routes Our terminal in Lázaro Cárdenas will be a vital key port in this initiative we are the only terminal in the Mexican Pacific executing the Simultaneous Transshipment Connection operation Our significant investments in technology and process automation place us in a unique position to contribute to the success of the Gemini Cooperation we reaffirm our commitment to strengthening our customers’ supply chains with innovation and technology while helping position Mexico as a leader in global logistics.” The Gemini Cooperation consists of 29 liner services complemented by a vast network of agile interregional services These routes cover critical markets such as Asia-US West Coast This approach will not only enhance connectivity but also reduce the number of port calls per rotation enabling improved transit times and increasing reliability for the market With the arrival of this first vessel and continuous infrastructure enhancements APM Terminals Lázaro Cárdenas reaffirms its commitment to delivering agile backed by significant investments in technology and operational improvements Disclaimer : The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only While we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct we make no representations or warranties of any kind suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of Do you have info to share with us ? Suggest a correction Marine Insight News Network is a premier source for up-to-date, comprehensive, and insightful coverage of the maritime industry. Dedicated to offering the latest news, trends, and analyses in shipping, marine technology, regulations, and global maritime affairs, Marine Insight News Network prides itself on delivering accurate, engaging, and relevant information. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Signup today and get maritime ebooks submitted to your inbox directly.  And don’t worry, we hate spam too! You can unsubscribe at anytime. © 2010 - 2025 Marine Insight — All Rights Reserved We respect your privacy and take protecting it very seriously. No spam! Reporting by Anthony Esposito and Diego Ore; Writing by Brendan O'Boyle; Editing by Rod Nickel Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab Senior Correspondent based in Mexico. Reports on politics, corruption, security, migration and economy in Mexico and Central America. A Peruvian journalist with more than 20 years of experience in Latin America and the Caribbean covering elections, coups d'etat, uprisings, summits, economic crisis, natural disasters and sports. Previously based in Peru, Bolivia and Venezuela, he's fluent in Spanish and English. , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved Bnamericas Published: Monday, December 02, 2024 Port Port authorities This commentary is one of a two-part series on China’s role in Western Hemisphere ports; read the other commentary here Chinese-owned or operated ports in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) have lately been the subject of much discussion in policymaking circles owing to their potential use as intelligence-gathering hubs and potential for military use by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in a crisis or conflict scenario While these concerns fully merit the attention of policymakers in Washington and in the region another aspect of these ports also deserves attention: whether they are shipping installations of choice at the intersection of Chinese criminal networks and organized crime groups in the Americas which are increasingly shipped as bulk commodities through Chinese-owned or operated ports and in return sells finished products to the region which should open by 2027 to ship minerals such as copper and iron concentrates In addition to Chinese companies operating key ports in the region, Chinese shipping companies ply the waters between China and Latin America. COSCO Shipping, for instance, has a route that originates in the Hutchinson-administered port of Manzanillo returning to Lázaro Cárdenas before crossing the Pacific Ocean to Busan in South Korea and Kaohsiung in Taiwan The company also has a route connecting Mexico to all Central American countries While there is no publicly available evidence of direct PRC or Chinese company involvement in the criminal operations described in this commentary, there are reports that some Chinese diplomatic staff may be complicit in the illicit trade in wildlife The two-way transpacific trade in illegal goods coupled with certain features of ports and companies may turn Chinese-administered ports in Latin America into preferred hubs for Chinese criminal entities working with regional organized crime groups particularly in ports where the PRC has piers it controls and can limit or deny inspection of products offloaded there.” as the deepwater port will allow larger ships to sail directly between the two points rather than having smaller ships consolidate shipments in Mexico or California before forward shipping to Asia The savings in time and reduced cargo handling mean that other South American countries with huge markets in China will want to use Chancay to save money The direct route to China will be particularly appealing to organized crime groups seeking to ship illicit wildlife as fewer stopovers mean fewer opportunities for illicit cargoes to be discovered and interdicted and corrupt officials and export companies help launder the illegal wood the probability that China’s licit imports have been adulterated by illicit gold is near certain The free trade zone is immediately adjacent to the Manzanillo International Terminal and the Panama Port an increasingly important southern route for shipping Andean cocaine to the world and are likely being shipped to Latin America as well it is worth investigating further whether Chinese-operated ports are particularly attractive to criminals given the opacity of Chinese business practices China’s insatiable appetite for the commodities produced in Latin America and the two-way transpacific flow of illicit commodities China’s foothold in Latin American ports is unlikely to go away any time soon alongside regional law enforcement programs and multilateral organizations such as the Organization of American States’ Maritime and Port Security Program should take a closer look at how PRC-owned and operated ports can harbor unique vulnerabilities that make them appealing to organized crime Capacity-building training for port authorities and customs officials should also be prioritized to help countries like Peru better deal with the potential surge in organized crime activity through new ports like Chancay the United States should seek to highlight potential hidden costs that countries may incur in the form of growing criminality and violence when they move to sign opaque contracts with PRC firms to operate their port infrastructure Christopher Hernandez-Roy is deputy director and senior fellow with the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington Commentary is produced by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) tax-exempt institution focusing on international public policy issues Its research is nonpartisan and nonproprietary CSIS does not take specific policy positions and conclusions expressed in this publication should be understood to be solely those of the author(s) © 2024 by the Center for Strategic and International Studies See Media Page for more interview, contact, and citation details. ©2025 Center for Strategic & International Studies. All Rights Reserved. By was deported from Russia after spending several years homeless in the city of Yekaterinburg due to the loss of his immigration status and the lack of valid documentation Cárdenas had been separated from his family for more than a decade and had been living in extreme conditions since 2021 According to the local outlet URA.RU Cárdenas arrived in Russia for the first time in 1986 to study in Magnitogorsk but in 2012 he decided to settle back in Russia where he started working as a dance and fitness instructor in Yekaterinburg a series of personal failures and the deterioration of his living conditions left him unemployed The story of Lázaro took a dramatic turn when he was found by the police at a bus stop doctors amputated the phalanges of two fingers spokesperson for the Ministry of the Interior in Sverdlovsk stated that the officers saved his life by immediately transferring him to a medical center and then to the Temporary Detention Center for Foreign Citizens as he did not have a passport or a return certificate took a personal interest in the case and attempted to obtain the documents through official channels including the Embassy of Cuba and the International Organization for Migration It was then that he turned to the press. URA.RU located Cárdenas's ex-wife and collaborated by providing them with key information and documents This intervention allowed the Cuban ambassador to Russia to facilitate the restoration of the Cuban's identity and thanks to coordination among authorities Cárdenas received a new passport and his return flight to Cuba was scheduled for April 8 Although in a situation that is not similar to Lázaro's experience, it was recently reported that Russian authorities detained 17 Cuban nationals in the Krymsk district for being in an irregular migration status All were transferred to detention centers and faced fines and a ban on entering Russia for a period of five to ten years according to the Administrative Offenses Code of the Eurasian country Since the implementation of the visa waiver agreement between the two countries in 2018 thousands of Cubans have traveled to Russia legally for periods of up to 90 days However, many of them stay longer than permitted or engage in work activities without the proper permits which exposes them to arrests and expulsions Lázaro Cárdenas was deported from Russia to Cuba due to the loss of his immigration status and lack of valid documentation His repatriation was made possible through the intervention of his ex-wife and the Ambassador of Cuba in Russia who facilitated the restoration of his identity and the issuance of a new passport Cubans in irregular situations in Russia face detentions and entry bans for periods of up to ten years many have stayed beyond the permitted time or have worked without the necessary permits which has increased immigration control measures by the Russian authorities the situation of Cuban migrants in Russia is challenging due to the tightening of immigration laws Authorities have implemented a control registry for foreigners in irregular situations which restricts their access to employment Those who do not regularize their status by April 30 Russia has implemented a national registry of controlled individuals for illegal migrants which is used to verify the legal status of foreigners before offering them services or employment authorities have increased immigration controls and established bans for those who do not regularize their situation before the deadline A team of journalists committed to reporting on Cuban current affairs and topics of global interest we work to deliver truthful news and critical analysis The Mexican Navy seized more than 8.3 tonnes of unspecified drugs a Navy helicopter crew spotted a boat with three motors and an eight-man crew they began tossing packages into the ocean a Navy ship was on the scene to make the arrests Navy personnel identified and seized five other boats approaching Lázaro Cárdenas from the south The operation — carried out just south of the port city of Lázaro Cárdenas in the Pacific coast state of Michoacán — netted a haul of illicit drugs valued at more than US $100 million, according to a press release issued by the federal government seized six vessels and confiscated 8,700 liters of fuel The drugs were distributed among the boats one of which was a submarine The use of such a vessel suggests a complex drug trafficking operation according to the German news agency Deutsche Welle “This represents the largest quantity of drugs seized in a maritime operation; it is without precedent in the history of the institution,” the Naval Ministry said in a statement The largest drug bust made during the previous administration occurred in late August when the Navy seized 5.6 tonnes of suspected cocaine and arrested 15 people after a high-speed chase off the coast of Colima The port of Lázaro Cárdenas — believed to be under the control of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) one of Mexico’s most powerful and violent criminal groups — has been a major conduit for drug traffickers as well as for precursor chemicals used to produce methamphetamine “Precursor chemicals are the lifeblood of the [CJNG’s] deadly drug trafficking operation,” U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in May upon the extradition of Francisco Pulido Coracero allegedly a broker in the precursor chemical racket the government has seized 11.7 tonnes of drugs since the new administration took office on Oct Although the most recent bust is substantial the largest in Mexico’s history remains the seizure of 23 tonnes of cocaine in the port of Manzanillo With reports from El Debate and Deutsche Welle ADVERTISE WITH MND COMMUNITY GUIDELINES Subscription FAQ's Privacy Policy Mexico News Daily - Property of Tavana LLC This article is adapted from AQ’s special report on the 2024 U.S presidential election and its impact on Latin America the Mexican Army’s marching band was playing joyful songs Cameramen and journalists gathered in the courtyard of 33 Calle Sevilla in Mexico City trying to get a good photograph of the protagonists of the day: the doctors opening the first state-run morphine dispensary for drug addicts in Mexico City the first of many planned for the entire country was the spearhead of a broad national program that foresaw the creation of a state monopoly to supply morphine at nominal prices and as prescribed by doctors The objective was to alleviate addicts’ demand for morphine As the government-employed doctors explained that morning the dispensaries would reduce their dosage taking them through a process of gradual detoxification Those who signed up for the program would be allowed to continue their normal lives if the doctor assigned to them thought they would not represent a danger to society the dispensaries would at least allow them to stop depending on the illegal drug market would help weaken the drug trafficking networks already beginning By offering a safe place to inject morphine the dispensary promised to reduce the spread of sexually transmitted infection and combat the tendency among some addicts to resort to criminality to fund their drug consumption adhering to an approach that today would be called addiction “maintenance,” was new in Mexico—and in large part its implementation was due to the efforts of physician Leopoldo Salazar Viniegra who had headed a government directorate on drug addiction in the late 1930s Although unprecedented and highly original in the Mexican context the program was very similar to others proposed by progressive physicians in other countries dozens of clinics and dispensaries had been established in several U.S cities to provide morphine to drug addicts at low prices as well as addiction treatment programs that were radical for their time The program was made possible by an important reform to federal drug laws which had previously required all drug addicts to be confined to hospitals that Salazar Viniegra had managed to secure just a few weeks before the opening of the dispensary on that cold morning of March 9 It looked like the beginning of a new paradigm for drug policy in Mexico The dispensary on Calle Sevilla operated for only a couple of months the federal government officially suspended “for an indefinite period of time” the reform to the drug law that had been approved earlier that year Although the motivation was never formally clarified the suspension was a direct consequence of pressure from the U.S That pressure began as early as April 1938 then at the helm of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics first caught wind of Salazar Viniegra’s project Anslinger’s response—and its consequences—can be reconstructed from his correspondence with officials in the U.S Anslinger sought to put a stop to the Mexican plans which differed from the prohibitionist logic the U.S government had been promoting at the international level since the beginning of the century particularly since the Shanghai Convention of 1909 which set in motion the global regime of drug prohibition that has persisted to the present day Between spring 1938 and early 1940, U.S. diplomats put strong pressure on the government of President Lázaro Cárdenas to replace Salazar Viniegra as health secretary Besides his efforts to move toward an “addiction maintenance” policy Salazar Viniegra argued that marijuana was not harmful to health—a view he had derived based on his own experiences sampling the herb which he talked about at several conferences and in public writings Some doctors even accused him of offering marijuana cigarettes to his patients and smoking them during work meetings But Salazar Viniegra failed to grasp the gravity of the situation He saw marijuana as a less harmful substance than tobacco Salazar Viniegra’s positions were intolerable to conservative groups in Mexico and to U.S Anslinger suspected that once the “addiction maintenance” program was in place the Mexican doctor would seek to move toward a process of marijuana legalization government had several methods available to put pressure on Mexico But the main one was threatening an embargo on Mexico until its new drug regulations were repealed Anslinger had an ace up his sleeve: the U.S Narcotic Drug Import and Export Act of 1922 That act prohibited persons or companies subject to U.S jurisdiction from exporting narcotic drugs did not maintain an adequate system of control under the 1912 International Opium Convention this allowed Anslinger to deny licenses for U.S shipments of narcotics to Mexico—representing the bulk of Mexico’s supply—as long as he could claim the country could not guarantee they would be used for medical purposes Anslinger’s threat reached the ears of Mexico’s health secretary just hours after the opening of the medical clinic in Colonia Juárez and Mexico’s health council held an emergency session on March 12 but Anslinger’s position was immovable: He would deny any shipment of medicines to Mexico if the reform was not repealed The war then engulfing the world worked in Anslinger’s favor A large percentage of the narcotics shipments coming from Europe and destined for other countries in the Americas now passed through the port of New York the supply of chemical precursors needed for Mexico’s nascent pharmaceutical industry lay in Anslinger’s hands France and Spain had also entered into crisis Time was on Anslinger’s side—and he knew it the health authorities would begin to back down as they ran out of drugs to “attend to the wounded and sick.” Mexico’s federal government published the “indefinite” suspension of the Drug Addiction Regulation the dispensary on Sevilla Street was closed The brief history of Mexico’s Drug Addiction Regulation was the beginning and the end of the country’s attempt to build an alternative drug policy to the prohibition-based approach already prevailing in the U.S the suspension provoked a radicalization of the drug prohibition-based paradigm in Mexico institutions responsible for controlling drug flows were fearful of Anslinger’s reaction the Bureau of Narcotics and the State Department threatened again to embargo Mexico if its authorities did not put an end to poppy planting in the Sinaloa highlands Anslinger put a medical embargo on Chile for starting an addiction treatment program similar to the one proposed by Salazar Viniegra a couple of years earlier Mexico maintained a drug policy that was even more punitive than that of the United States a decree by President Manuel Ávila Camacho made it possible to ship suspected drug traffickers and drug addicts to the forbidding federal prison on the Islas Marías without having them pass through a court of law Mexico had gone from a policy of outpatient addiction treatment to outright criminalization of addicts Almost 85 years after the army band played at Mexico’s first narcotics dispensary on Calle Sevilla the country continues to be anchored in a prohibitionist logic and the federal government has failed to adopt addiction treatment schemes that have proven successful in other parts of the world In light of the damage caused by criminal violence in recent years it seems senseless that alternatives to the prohibitionist model have not been tried Recent drug reforms at the state and federal level in the United States offer a new opportunity for Mexico to explore alternatives on how to address the issue of drug use (The irony here is self-evident.) Will the government of Claudia Sheinbaum Mexico can learn from its own history to imagine its future Pérez Ricart is an assistant professor of international relations at the Center for Research and Teaching in Economics (CIDE) in Mexico City Reading Time: 6 minutesPérez Ricart is an assistant professor of international relations at the Center for Research and Teaching in Economics (CIDE) in Mexico City Americas Quarterly (AQ) is the premier publication on politics We are an independent publication of the Americas Society/Council of the Americas PUBLISHED BY AMERICAS SOCIETY/ COUNCIL OF THE AMERICAS APM Terminals (APMT) Lazaro Cardenas in Mexico has welcomed the first call of Hapag-Lloyd’s East Coast 2 (EC2) service The EC2 service comprises 12 vessels with a notional capacity of 13,470 TEU The Port of Lazaro Cardenas is the only location on the Mexican Pacific that will accept vessels from this service and it is the first call after leaving Asia The East Coast 2 loop operates on a weekly basis calling: Qingdao – Yantian – Ningbo – Yangshan – Busan – Lazaro Cardena – Cartagena – Savannah – Charleston – Wilmington – Norfolk – Cartagena – Busan – Qingdao READ: APMT extends leadership in the Americas and Mexico region Commercial Manager for APM Terminals (APMT) Mexico APM Terminals Lazaro Cardenas offers convenient rail connections to and from the US south and south-west “This includes direct block (unit) train routes from Lazaro Cardenas to Houston Memphis and Dallas together with a streamlined process for cross-border rail to the USA “Rail loading is extremely fast and efficient at the terminal due to strategically located on-dock rail facilities Full trains can be loaded within the intermodal yard and 99.98 per cent of moves are without a security claim.” READ: APMT Elizabeth accelerates $5 million electrification project “APMT Lazaro Cardenas also offers a direct gateway to an inland depot in Mexico City with more than 250 distribution centres serving more than 20 million consumers within a 20 kilometres radius,” Sanchez Gonzales explained “The terminal also boasts direct intermodal connectivity and the shortest distance to Monterrey Recently, APMT invested in 240 new pieces of equipment for five of its terminals in Latin America, Africa, and Europe DP World is set to implement OneStop Modal and the OneStop Vehicle Booking System (VBS) The US House of Representatives has voted to overturn the Environmental Protection Agency‘s (EPA) 2023 global schedule reliability surged to 57.5 per cent Container throughput at the Port of Melbourne totalled 267,000 TEUs in March 2025 Cover image: ©Associated Press The death toll has risen to at least 70 An ongoing strike by port workers in the United States will have an impact on Mexico and potentially a “significant” one according to the president of an umbrella group that represents Mexican industry Some 45,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) went on strike on Tuesday walking off their jobs at 36 ports on the East and Gulf coasts of the United States On Monday, the ILA said in a statement that “the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) continues to block the path toward a settlement on a new Master Contract by refusing ILA’s demands for a fair and decent contract and seems intent on causing a strike at all ports from Maine to Texas beginning in almost 12 hours.” Disagreements over wage increases and port automation are the main causes of the dispute the biggest of its kind in nearly half a century has blocked unloading of container ships from Maine to Texas threatening shortages of everything from bananas to auto parts and triggering a backlog of anchored ships outside major ports.” President Joe Biden said Thursday that he believed progress toward resolving the contract dispute between the ILA and the USMX was being made Foreign ocean carriers have made record profits since the pandemic when Longshoremen put themselves at risk to keep ports open It’s time those ocean carriers offered a strong and fair contract that reflects ILA workers’ contribution to our economy and to their record profits — President Biden (@POTUS) October 1, 2024 the president of the Confederation of Industrial Chambers (Concamin) said at a shipping industry event that while the strike is taking place in the United States “it will affect us” in Mexico “The problem is that if [goods] don’t leave [ports] there they won’t arrive here,” he said Malagón predicted that Mexico’s auto industry which relies on parts shipped from the United States “But we still have to see what arrives by road or train,” he said adding that Concamin is discussing options with the Washington D.C.-based National Association of Manufacturers and the Texas Association of Business Malagón said that if the strike lasts eight or nine days it will have “a significant impact” in Mexico general director of the National Chamber of Freight Transportation said that the organization she leads is looking at the possibility of bringing more goods into Mexico from the U.S she said that moving freight overland is “extremely costly” compared to transporting it by sea Mexican exporters that ship goods to ports on the U.S East and Gulf coast are also set to be affected by the strike president of the National Association of Importers and Exporters of the Mexican Republic said that there will “definitely” be a “strong impact on the supply chain because our main access to the United States will be by land … [at a time when] maritime transactions were increasing a lot.” “That will affect us,” he said Shortages of imported products shipped to Mexico from the U.S But there could be a silver lining for Mexico Tajonar said that Mexican ports stand to benefit if some U.S exporters decide to reroute their shipments via Mexico “It’s a great opportunity for ports like Lázaro Cárdenas [in Michoacán] to increase operations,” he said A report by the United States Congressional Research Service said that “Texas shippers might examine rail connections to Mexican ports” given the strike by East and Gulf Coast dockworkers president of the Mexican Association of Shipping Agents said that a strike “always causes [economic] damage” and predicted that “the North American economy will be brought to a standstill” if the job action continues for a prolonged period Morgan estimated that a strike that shuts down East and Gulf coast ports could cost the economy [US] $3.8 billion to $4.5 billion per day with some of that recovered over time after normal operations resume.” ILA President Harold Daggett told CNN that “if we have to be out here a month or two months USMX said it is “proud of the wages and benefits” it offers its employees and “strongly supports a collective bargaining process that allows us to fully bargain wages Diálogo Américas The increasing number of Chinese-operated ports in Latin America is raising concerns about their use by Chinese criminal networks as well as transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) for the trafficking of illicit goods the Washington-based think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) indicated in a recent report the network of ports and maritime routes controlled by Chinese companies strategically covers the Latin American Pacific connecting critical areas both for the arrival of chemical precursors for drug production and for the departure of illegal goods and to exploit natural resources,” Yadira Gálvez a security expert and academic at the National Autonomous University of Mexico “This creates great instability and concern in the region.” TCOs resort to ports to camouflage illegal products within legal shipments a tactic facilitated by the expansion of markets around the globe Trade agreements between China and the region create a network that moves large volumes of legal goods Containerized seaborne trade carries about 90 percent of the world’s goods because less than 2 percent of these shipments are inspected the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) indicated China owns or controls several ports in Latin America and the Caribbean including Lázaro Cárdenas and Manzanillo in Mexico a subsidiary of Chinese state-owned conglomerate COSCO controls 60 percent of the Port of Chancay in Peru COSCO launched weekly container shipments from Chancay to Asia with a direct route to Shanghai and other destinations that will vary based on the demand It will also open cabotage routes with ships from Colombia by the Peru-based think tank Institute of Criminology and Violence Studies warns that Chancay could be a hub for cocaine and fentanyl trafficking between South America and Asia Chinese investment in infrastructure in Latin America fosters an environment of opacity which facilitates the corruption and bribery necessary for criminal organizations to exploit ports It is even easier when a port has a vertical operating structure “This represents a major vulnerability for countries in the region An example is the Chinese base in Argentina which operates with high levels of secrecy to the point that not even the Argentine government itself knows with certainty what activities are carried out there,” Gálvez said “This lack of transparency could be replicated in Chinese-run ports in Latin America.” entered Peruvian ports without the satellite device required by Peruvian law According to the DEA’s National Drug Threat Assessment 2024 report the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) uses Lazaro Cardenas for drug trafficking although it also operates in the port of Manzanillo in Colima and extortion to secure the passage of its shipments and precursor chemicals from China to manufacture fentanyl and methamphetamines These ports play a crucial role in receiving these chemicals from China on a large scale The DEA report also notes that the Sinaloa Cartel operates in at least 47 countries where it obtains precursor chemicals for drugs and has ties with Chinese money laundering networks Precursors for fentanyl are smuggled into Mexico hidden in legal shipments through Pacific ports China tends to downplay the seriousness of fentanyl trafficking and blames third parties reported Otros Diálogos magazine of the College of Mexico Also cause for concern is the increase of Chinese migrants entering Mexico illegally through Pacific ports where Chinese mafias take part in human trafficking and totoaba fish trafficking endemic to the Gulf of California and in danger of extinction is prized in China for its swim bladder used in soup and traditional medicine China’s activities are a growing threat to regional security combined with the alliance between Russia and China may create a scenario conducive to the proliferation of activities between state and non-state actors to promote illicit trafficking and undermine other countries,” Gálvez said “China is intensifying its presence in Latin America not only with its logistics network but also by offering port technology at affordable prices “This growing influence raises concerns about information security as this equipment could be used to collect sensitive data in strategic areas such as customs.” It is critical that the countries at stake and like-minded partner nations such as the United States and countries of the European Union along with organizations such as the Organization of American States prioritize capacity building training for port authorities and customs officials to help countries better address the potential increase in organized crime activity through ports operated by Chinese companies For more on security and defense issues around the globe Send your statement of support for the East Coast dockworkers by filling out the form below As the indefinite strike of 45,000 dockworkers in the East and Gulf Coasts of the United States enters its third day Thursday logistics companies are scrambling to redirect freight to other ports in Mexico A three-day strike by 1,150 dockworkers just ended at the major Port of Montreal in Canada which is expected to have long-term impacts But amid the need to mobilize workers across North America to refuse to handle redirected shipments the union bureaucracies in each country are ordering their members to scab on the historic strike in the United States global director of intelligence for Everstream Analytic “Shipping lines could revert to a port-hopping strategy in the first week of a possible strike to allow their ships to unload cargo calling at Caribbean transshipment hubs such as at Freeport in the Bahamas or at gateways in Mexico or Canada.” Scan Global Logistics told customers to consider “Mexican routings via Veracruz and Lázaro Cárdenas,” two major ports on the east and west coasts The trucking publication OpenOTR indicates: “In Mexico Lázaro Cárdenas is another strategic alternative for shippers It provides an inbound rail option via CPKC offering a direct line to Houston and Kansas City This could be particularly helpful for companies with strong ties to the southern U.S and driving trucks across Mexico and North America need to oppose the attempts to force them to scab on their class brothers and sisters They must see the struggle as an opportunity to fight against the transnational corporations this struggle is objectively international and needs to be conceived of and organized consciously as such A central demand made by East and Gulf Coast dockworkers is to have secure jobs against automation which presents an urgent threat to workers in every sector internationally Lázaro Cárdenas and other major ports in Mexico to protest labor conditions pointing to the potential of an international struggle While industry publications also warn of congestion and higher costs in alternative ports North American freight is closely integrated and redirection of shipments greatly weakens the strike The unitarization and computerization of shipping helped propel the globalization of capital the American ruling elite responded to the redoubled challenge from economic rivals in Europe and Asia by integrating even more closely the economies of North America as a launching pad for economic and military war grew out of the explosive expansion of capitalism in the United States after the destruction of the slavocracy during the American Civil War The ownership and lines of the rail system and ports have remained fully interconnected along with its own corporatist union apparatus was only too happy to subordinate itself further to US imperialism and gain privileged access to investments and markets providing guarantees to US and Canadian capital that it will stop at nothing to provide endless cheap labor At the center of this relationship is the ability to “secure supply chains,” above all against any resistance by the working class The supposedly “left” government of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and his incoming successor Claudia Sheinbaum have doubled down on this process under the framework of the new USMCA trade agreement that entered into force in 2020 and is explicitly aimed against China His government also built a Tehuantepec Isthmus Inter-Oceanic Corridor a rail and highway system launched this year that connects the Pacific Ocean with the Gulf of Mexico (and Atlantic Ocean) at the narrowest point in southern Mexico and seeks to compete with the Panama Canal The López Obrador administration also worked hand-in-hand with the AFL-CIO and Unifor in Canada to sponsor and legitimize a new trade union apparatus falsely called “independent” to replace the traditional One such “independent” union is the Mexican Order of Maritime and Dockworkers (La Orden) has remained silent about the use of Mexican ports to weaken the strike in the United States This is the case despite its affiliation with the International Organization of Masters like the International Longshoremen’s Association on strike in the US La Orden oversaw a 36-day strike to win a contract at Crosby Marine Services after which the union thanked the support of the López Obrador government as well as the AFL-CIO and its Solidarity Center the American bureaucracy’s international arm financed almost entirely by the US federal government bases his whole persona before workers on the promotion of Mexican nationalism even denouncing companies for hiring foreign workers “They are stealing the jobs that a Mexican could have,” he said during a forum last month He also focused his attacks on foreign operators that sail in Mexican waters as a threat to “national sovereignty.” the so-called “independent” union led by Napoleón Gómez Urrutia is affiliated to the United Steel Workers (USW) north of the border and works closely with the Solidarity Center Los Mineros isolated and sold out a 55-day strike at the ArcelorMittal steel plant the most important company located in the port of Lázaro Cárdenas The main demand of workers for fair profit sharing was simply dismissed through vague promises of an “audit.” The union apparatus refuses to organize a genuine international fight because it serves the companies and American imperialism the union bureaucracy has responded to globalization by looking after the competitiveness of its “own” capitalists and integrated itself fully into the capitalist state and management This was most clearly demonstrated by the US International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) order to continue moving military equipment being used in the Israeli genocide in Gaza the expanding war in the Middle East and the US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine This maneuver also highlights how much impact workers in Mexico who produce and transport many of the components for the US war industry can have in the struggle against the expanding world war between nuclear powers In another critical measure to secure supply lines López Obrador has given the military oversight over all customs and ports in the country with the ability to impose martial law against any disruptions His administration also created a National Guard whose military character was emblazoned in the Constitution as his last act in office It has been deployed against migrants as an extension of the US border patrol and has already been used to violently clear protesting teachers who had blocked the train connecting Lázaro Cárdenas with the United States The strike of dockworkers is an international political and revolutionary struggle that poses the need to break from all parties of the national bourgeoisie like the Democrats which are innately subservient to Wall Street and imperialism The question that arises forcefully from this international struggle is which class controls the globalized chains of production and distribution: the capitalist class on the basis of maximizing profits and serving imperialist war at the cost of the livelihoods and lives of countless workers or the working class on the basis of ending poverty and meeting all human needs The Puerto Vallarta Municipal Council last week approved the terms of a 181 million-peso loan (US $9 million) for infrastructure improvements while also voting to refinance three long-term loans that amount to 312 million pesos (US $15.6 million) The new loan — sponsored by Alderman Víctor Manuel Bernal — was approved on a 12-0 vote with four abstentions. Bernal identified 21 priority infrastructure projects and said the bulk of the loan will go toward improving and repairing roads in the popular Pacific coast resort in the state of Jalisco Among the roads to be repaved are Avenida México (a main north-south avenue) Avenida Federacíon (a major north-south road further inland) and the access road along Highway 544 Additionally, bicycle lanes on all the principal roads will be repaired, the iconic waterfront promenade will be refurbished the Lázaro Cárdenas Park in the city’s Zona Romántica will be remodeled and the Cuale Island park will be rescued underground cable will be installed in the Colonia Emiliano Zapata which is adjacent to the Zona Romántica As for refinancing the three previous loans — contracted between 2017 and 2020 — Bernal said the idea is to unify them into one amortized loan which would lower the interest payments If the new loan is authorized by the Jalisco state Congress (as required by law) Puerto Vallarta will have an overall debt of nearly 494 million pesos (US $24.7 million) The Municipal Council also adopted an Ethics Code for all public officials and created a Diversity Council in formal recognition of the contributions of the LGBTIQ+ community and to promote gender equality. Bernal claimed in a Facebook post that these actions will make Puerto Vallarta “a more just and equitable city.” The council also tabled a proposal to set aside 100,000 pesos (US $5,000) to establish a gun-buyback program nearly 3,000 workers at ArcelorMittal Mexico resumed work at the company’s steel plant in Lázaro Cárdenas An agreement brokered by the Labor and Social Welfare Ministry (STPS) led to the reactivation of the plant around midnight on Friday night, which is expected to positively impact related industries and the broader economy Workers from section 271 of the miners’ union had blocked the steel plant’s facilities since May 28 initially due to dissatisfaction with profit-sharing (PTU) payments operates six facilities in three Mexican ports and has a capacity of 6.5 million tonnes per year It also runs three iron ore mines in Mexico: El Volcán in Sonora Las Truchas in Michoacán and Peña Colorada in Colima the latter through a joint venture with Ternium SA reached on Thursday through STPS mediation in collaboration with the Federal Center for Conciliation and Labor Registration (CFCRL) grocery vouchers worth 17,000 pesos (US $949) and full compensation for lost wages an external audit of the 2022 and 2023 fiscal years will be conducted to ensure the accuracy of PTU payments Levantan huelga en Arcelormittalhttps://t.co/ZMvgJ87sqI PIC.TWITTER.COM/RNZA1BNJJU — Quadratín Michoacán (@Quadratin_) June 15, 2024 ArcelorMittal and STPS both reported that the proposal to end the strike was approved by a majority of section 271 of the National Union of Mining Steel and Similar Workers of the Mexican Republic (SNTMMSRM) in Michoacán some members of the union opted to continue blocking the plant after the ratification vote a group of dissidents has chosen to continue the illegal blockade with acts of violence putting at risk the safety of those present and the population of the municipality of Lázaro Cárdenas,” ArcelorMittal said in a statement and once it was certain that health and safety conditions were in place workers began preparing the furnaces and other equipment to restart operations after which the company announced it was already in the process of dismissing union workers for this reason ArcelorMittal estimated its losses in steel production to be 1 million tonnes: 800,000 tonnes during the stoppage and an expected loss of 200,000 more tonnes during the restart process “Order cancellations and loss of customers have been very significant,” the company said in a statement “It will be difficult to recover the market.” The agreement stipulates that the company will pay any outstanding balance in favor of workers within 20 business days following the completion of the audit In urging workers to reassess their demands during the strike CEO Víctor Cairo emphasized that ArcelorMittal had adhered to legal provisions regarding PTU payments He noted that expecting a 32% PTU payment was outside the law and that the company’s proposal of a 10% PTU payment exceeded current legislative limits Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla applauded the plant’s reactivation noting that ArcelorMittal is a critical player in the state’s exports and the most important company in Lázaro Cárdenas a port city of 84,000 people in western Michoacán The agreement also includes a commitment from ArcelorMittal to avoid any reprisals against workers and to halt proceedings aimed at ending individual and collective labor relations Burns Logistics CEO Ed Burns wanted to provide a way to allow small carriers to create relationships with shippers that typically shy away from brokers Shippers are increasingly seeking so-called mini-bid contracts to bridge a transitioning market reflected by carriers cutting capacity With a “reintroduced” ground freight shipping option UPS hopes to tempt LTL shippers seeking alternatives to LTL rates that are up 12% on average from mid-2023 Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page The federal government announced Thursday that it will invest almost 33 billion pesos (US $1.6 billion) to modernize and expand six ports four on Mexico’s Pacific coast and two on the Gulf of Mexico The ports set to benefit from the investment are: At her morning press conference on Thursday President Claudia Sheinbaum described the investment as “very significant.” She noted that the outlay is in addition to investment in the ports in Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, and Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz. Those two ports — the former on the Pacific side of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, the latter on the Gulf of Mexico side — are being modernized and expanded as part of the Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (CIIT) project The Mexican Navy’s general director of port promotion and administration Marco Antonio Martínez Plancarte provided the details about the investment in the six “strategic” ports of Ensenada Lázaro Cárdenas and Acapulco on Mexico’s Pacific coast and Veracruz and Progreso on the Gulf coast The Pacific ports are Mexico’s gateway to Asia while the Gulf of Mexico ports provide access to Europe and the Gulf and East coasts of the United States A total of 5.74 billion pesos (US $283.7 million) is set to be invested in the port in Ensenada located about 100 kilometers south of Tijuana on the Pacific side of the Baja California peninsula Martínez noted that the Ensenada port is made up of two different precincts — one called Ensenada and the other called El Sauzal the port will be deepened and a maritime traffic control center will be built The increased depth will allow the port to accommodate larger ships the wharves and breakwater will be expanded and fishing boat docks will be relocated Martínez said that the projects will commence in 2025 and conclude in 2028 the Ensenada port precinct will only receive cruise ships while the El Sauzal precinct will receive container ships as well as fishing vessels in a separate section Martínez said that the government will invest 13.59 billion pesos (US $671.2 million) in projects in the Nuevo Manzanillo and Manzanillo San Pedrito precincts of the Manzanillo port He noted that the Manzanillo port is Mexico’s largest and the third biggest in Latin America Among the proposed projects for the Nuevo Manzanillo port precinct are the construction of two fuel terminals four container terminals and a “specialized dock” for large fishing vessels A customs precinct with the capacity to attend to 10 million shipping containers annually will also be established The private sector is slated to invest close to 50 billion pesos in the Nuevo Manzanillo project which will transform Mexico’s largest port into a major international logistics hub new docks for container ships and fishing vessels will be built and a new storage area for empty shipping containers will be established The projects in Manzanillo are set to begin in 2025 and conclude in 2029 A total of 6.14 billion pesos (US $303.4 million) has been set aside to modernize the port in Lázaro Cárdenas A range of infrastructure projects will aim to more than double the number of 20-foot-long shipping containers the port can handle on an annual basis The port’s current capacity is 4 million containers annually but projects including the expansion of docks and the construction of new access roads is slated to increase capacity to 8.2 million containers per year The port in Acapulco, battered by Hurricane Otis in October 2023 is set to receive a 386-million-peso (US $19 million) makeover Martínez said that “major maintenance” work will be carried out on the port’s “multiple purpose dock” as well as in the Jardín del Puerto (Port Garden) and a section of the port where new eateries and an entertainment precinct are slated to be installed Martínez said that 1.8 billion pesos (US $88.9 million) will be allocated to the construction of a new breakwater at the port in Veracruz The new eastern breakwater will allow the establishment of new terminals in the port and thus attract new investment The Veracruz port provides quick access to the United States’ Gulf coast, a factor that helped attract investment from U.S. brewery Constellation Brands Martínez said that a total of 7.22 billion pesos (US $356.7 million) will be invested in the port in Progreso located just north of Mérida and due south of New Orleans The federal government will contribute 5.2 billion pesos the state government will provide 1.5 billion pesos and the private sector will chip in with 525 million pesos Martínez said that the money will go to the construction of “an 80-hectare platform” that will be able to accommodate a shipyard as well as a range of terminals including ones for liquefied gas and petroleum The Maya Train railroad is expected to be extended to Progreso which would allow freight trains to take goods to the port for onward shipment by sea The modernized ports in the six aforesaid locations as well as Salina Cruz and Coatzacoalcos will complement the 10 new industrial corridors the Sheinbaum administration intends to develop As it seeks to capitalize on Mexico’s nearshoring opportunity and increase domestic production capacity in order to reduce reliance on imports from China the federal government is planning to establish specialized industrial corridors or “well-being hubs,” spanning all 32 federal entities Each corridor will focus on attracting investment from companies in specific sectors of the economy For example, the priority sectors for the Bajío corridor are automotive, data centers, aeronautical and tourism, while the trans-isthmus corridor — part of the CIIT — will focus on renewable energy The upgraded ports on Mexico’s Pacific and Gulf coasts could facilitate the export of products manufactured in the different industrial corridors which includes private sector representatives will focus on the development of the government’s “well-being hubs.” the president met with members of the Mexican Business Council (CMN) which is affiliated with the government’s advisory council Sheinbaum told reporters that she spoke to business leaders about Plan México a government initiative whose aims include increasing investment in Mexico and the development of the industrial corridors The president said that she explained to the CMN members how they could contribute to the realization of the plan “There was a commitment to work together … complement each other and invest,” she said Hapag-Lloyd issued a customer advisory warning of delays at the port of Lazaro Cardenas – cargo moving to and from the port hit by congestion at the Hapag-Lloyd and APM terminals The news was hardly a bolt out of the blue Mexico’s largest Pacific port has suffered from congestion for more than three months partly the result of a surge in car shipments but problems with the rail system have also affected box traffic In this episode of The Loadstar’s News in Brief Podcast host and news reporter Charlotte Goldstone .. Ocean carriers “need a big nudge” to get their global on-time performance (OTP) back to .. If the tariff offensive by its northern neighbour raised .. Container freight spot rates maintained their downward trajectory this week The box carrier heavyweights appear to be increasingly romancing the Indian market The USTR fees for China-built shipping threaten a “complete destabilisation” of the ocean alliances After taking delivery of the 16,000 teu MSC Germany this week email: [email protected] email: [email protected] email: [email protected] email: [email protected] email: [email protected] Get quality reporting directly into your inbox Lázaro Cárdenas is a strategic port for commerce with countries in the Pacific It has been controlled by Mexican Marines since last November as the government cracks down what it says are illegal exports of iron ore to China by the Knights Templar cartel State Commissioner Alfredo Castillo said that more than 400 police agents raided 11 holding and supply yards around the port where they found the undocumented iron and machinery Six Chinese citizens detained during the operation Monday will be held until they can prove their legal status in the country, reports Reuters Latin America It is unclear if they played any role in the smuggling operations The Knights Templar is a powerful drug cartel in Mexico that has also been accused of kidnappings The cartel controls the mining industry in Michoacán, from extraction and transportation to paying off or extorting customs authorities and international companies, reports the New York Times Military and police forces have been deployed to Michoacán since January to control the violence and chaos arising from clashes between the Knights Templar and self-defense groups formed by armed civilians to fight the cartel’s abuse and advances Support from readers like you helps OCCRP expose organized crime and corruption around the world you’ll be directly supporting investigative journalism as a public good You’ll also gain access to exclusive insights and benefits Brazil issued an international warrant against former billionaire Eike Batista for his alleged involvement in a.. journalists investigating the environmental and human impact of the mining industry are facing threats,.. Ugandan authorities are investigating unexplained imports of 7.4 tonnes of gold worth US$300 million that is suspected of.. Welcome to www.automotivelogistics.media. This site uses cookies. Read our policy By 2024-06-12T11:50:00+01:00 Finished vehicle handling ports in Mexico have seen volume increases across the board in 2023 with three of them now in the top five vehicle-handling ports in the wider North American market Lázaro Cárdenas is a gateway for Chinese imports to Mexico  which is North America’s top vehicle-handling port by volume saw a 9% increase in 2023 with more than 933,000 units processed Lázaro Cárdenas registered a similar increase in volumes but it was the port of Altamira that saw the biggest gain ranking it third in Mexico and fifth in North America The port Mazatlán also saw a big percentage increase in 2023 though overall volume was behind the top three ports at 166,000 vehicles Nissan and VW are the top three carmakers in Mexico import volume increases are  fed by vollumes from China which have grown significantly in recent years Mexico is one of China’s top four export markets second only to Russia and Chinese brands are on average 20-30% cheaper that their rivals Chinese vehicles represent around 20% of the market and sales have grown around 300% over the last few years Many of those imports come through the port of Lázaro Cárdenas and external vehicle storage yards have grown around the port to cope with the increase in imported vehicles has been acting as an overflow port for volumes originally destined for Lázaro Cárdenas At last year’s Automotive Logistics and Supply Chain Mexico conference Isidoro Massri manager of JAC Motors’s Mexican subsidiary said the Chinese carmaker is planning to be a core part of Mexico’s EV supply chain for the next 100 years Site powered by Webvision Cloud Toyota is looking at alternative gateways for its new Prius model as the port of Lázaro Cárdenas is inundated with auto imports It is an ominous sign for movement of auto parts as the Mexican auto industry is going through the roof and demand for vehicles is strong both in Mexico and the US US automakers are set for a reprieve after the White House claimed it would ease .. Congestion levels are set to rise at ports across Northern Europe – expect schedule disruption In this episode of The Loadstar’s News in Brief Podcast With a range of tariffs to be implemented on Wednesday next week by the US Automotive logistics could be hard hit – with some modal shift to cut costs – .. email: [email protected] email: [email protected] email: [email protected] email: [email protected] The terminal operators at Mexico’s second largest container port on the Pacific coast Less than two months after APM Terminals kicked off phase two of its expansion Hutchison Ports announced it would start the expansion of its Specialised Container Terminal 1 in the new year Mainline operators are pushing for higher transpacific rates in May has bought the Panama Canal Railway Company (PCRC) Early signs may be positive for the Gemini Cooperation’s “hub and spoke” model In this jam-packed episode of The Loadstar’s News in Brief Podcast Strong freight rates and resilient container shipping volumes for most of last year delivered healthy .. continues to be regularly beset by severe .. email: [email protected] email: [email protected] email: [email protected] email: [email protected] email: [email protected] The first phase of APM Terminals Lazaro Cardenas opened in 2017 as part of a USD $900 million investment It is the first semi-automated and most technological advanced container terminal in Mexico Following the final phase of development expected between 2027 and 2030 the terminals will have a capacity of 4.1 million TEU it is strategically located along the main maritime trade routes of the pacific coast between Asia and America Lázaro Cárdenas operates the largest customs facility in México with over 60 positions for cargo clearance process Its customs process is typically two to three days faster than other ports such as the port of Manzanillo.  Lázaro Cárdenas has the capacity to carry out same day inspections for 100% of all import volumes but also results in lower or no additional storage fees.  APM Terminals Lázaro Cárdenas uses the largest ship-to-shore cranes in Latin América Able to lift a 2x40 on tandem mode or 100 tonnes of general cargo The two largest vessels currently serving Asia-México services are able to call at the terminal simultaneously APM Terminals Lázaro Cárdenas offers the fastest on-dock intermodal rail access with highly secured daily unit trains to Mexico City which can save up to 5 days compared to other ports The terminal’s strategic location also offers potential for cross-border rail to the USA through Kansas City Southern Mexico The rail connection also provides a direct gateway to our inland depot close to Mexico City which has more than 250 distribution centres reaching 20 million customers within a 20km radius APM Terminals Lázaro Cárdenas facility has the capacity to build 3 kilometres of track within the terminal. The terminal operates an automated yard and gate providing high and reliable productivity levels and security standards. Learn more about rail services APM Terminals Lázaro Cárdenas began the construction of its Phase II expansion in September 2023 Upon completion of the work and start of operations in 2026 the project will increase annual capacity at the container terminal Icon DONATE Mexican President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum (center) with cabinet picks The Mexican president-elect has revealed cabinet picks for key secretariats This article was originally published on June 20 Incoming Mexican presidents tend to announce their cabinet choices close to their inaugurations started announcing cabinet members right after her June 2 victory she announced that Finance Secretary Rogelio Ramírez de la O would continue in his post after she takes office she unveiled six members of her team on June 20 She made additional announcements each Thursday after that Several of the nominees have served in the government of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador It is anticipated that the country’s first woman president will have a gender-balanced cabinet. Mexico already has gender parity laws in place for political roles. Altagracia Gómez, who will serve as Sheinbaum’s private-sector coordinator (see below), has said the next president will take steps to extend legal requirements for parity to the cabinet Who has the president-elect announced to be in her team AS/COA Online profiles her cabinet members There has been no lack of questions about what Ebrard’s political destiny might be The former Mexico City mayor (2006–2012) served as foreign secretary for the majority of the López Obrador government until he stepped down from the role in June 2023 in a bid to be the presidential candidate of the governing Morena party After losing Morena’s internal competition to Sheinbaum speculation grew that he would leave the party.  Instead, he eventually backed Sheinbaum’s campaign, and she, in turn, has selected him to be the country’s economy secretary, which caused a peso rally Given AMLO’s infrequent international travel Ebrard often stood in for the president as Mexico’s representative at international summits while foreign secretary The former journalist will serve as Sheinbaum’s righthand woman Icela Rodríguez will play important roles such as presenting Sheinbaum’s legislative proposals to Congress and stepping in should the president have to step aside for health or other reasons She and the president-elect have a history of working closely given that Icela Rodríguez was Sheinbaum’s government secretary in Mexico City from 2018 to 2020 she held various roles in preceding government administrations in the capital focusing on areas such as indigenous rights and social development.  In 2020, she switched over to the federal government, first serving a three-month stint as ports coordinator before becoming AMLO’s security secretary by November that year—a position she is expected to hold for the remainder of AMLO’s term. Nicknamed “La Comandanta” (the Commander”) she is considered faithful to AMLO’s political movement right up through the outcome of the June 2 vote and her government will face a rising fiscal deficit and the question of how to handle state oil firm Pemex’s massive debt.  Ramírez de la O responded to his appointment with a pledge of financial discipline and macroeconomic stability to investors De la Fuente left his role as Mexico’s permanent representative to the UN to join Sheinbaum’s campaign and, after her victory, took on the task of running her transition team.  A surgeon and psychiatrist by training, de la Fuente was health secretary from 1994 through 1999, during the administration of President Ernesto Zedillo. He then became rector of UNAM Latin America’s largest university—a position he held until 2007 García Harfuch also gained fame for surviving a June 2020 ambush by hitmen that involved 400 shots on his car The incident led his supporters to compare him to Batman.  García Harfuch was seen as Sheinbaum’s favorite in this year’s race to govern Mexico City García Harfuch ran for and won a senate seat The alliance between Sheinbaum and García Harfuch is not without its oddities given that her parents were part of the country’s leftist 1968 student movement while his grandfather was defense secretary during a notorious massacre of student activists that same year was a hardliner in the previously hegemonic Institutional Revolutionary Party that Sheinbaum has railed against.  The former governor of Michoacán (2002–2008) served as a chief advisor to AMLO from 2018 to 2023.  In the intervening period, he held research positions at various international organizations in Washington DC he headed electoral observation missions for the Organization of American States His professional experience abroad could make him a key player in U.S.-Mexico relations.  Sheinbaum’s selection of Cárdenas Batel is steeped in symbolism. A member of one of Mexico’s most important political dynasties of the past century he is the grandson of President Lázaro Cárdenas (1934–1940) a general in the Mexican Revolution who went on to lead the country and is a three-time presidential candidate and a prominent leftist figurehead in Mexican politics whose loss in the 1988 election was widely seen as fraudulent in a landmark event for the country’s politics As energy secretary, González will attempt to thread the needle on Sheinbaum’s energy policy which proposes continuing AMLO’s plans for the state to develop oil and gas while also facilitating an energy transition through investment in alternative energy González will also sit on the boards of Pemex Sheinbaum has articulated her intention to make both organizations more solvent and productive.  “The first priority will be guaranteeing energy sovereignty.” Sheinbaum appointed 32-year-old business leader Gómez to serve in a new role that will make her an important liaison between the incoming cabinet and Mexico’s private sector.  Gómez has also been included in Sheinbaum’s private-sector meetings with both national and international investors Buenrostro has served on financial oversight positions in several agencies including Pemex She will now oversee the disbursement of the federal budget she has also held various roles and published research related to environmental issues including founding director of the Earth Council and coordinator of the Latin American and Caribbean Sustainable Development Program at UNDP The president of Morena and a coordinator of Sheinbaum’s campaign Delgado will serve as secretary of public education Delgado has served in the mayoral cabinets of both AMLO and Ebrard including as education secretary of Mexico City (2010–2012) He’s also served in the federal legislature as both a senator (2012–2018) and a federal deputy (2018–2020).  Godoy, who early in her career served as a legal advisor to victims of Mexico City’s devastating 1985 earthquake, helped found Morena when it began as a political movement in 2011. In addition, she was legislator in the capital’s legislature and worked in the government of Clara Brugada A biologist and academic, Ruiz served a similar role in Mexico City’s cabinet during Sheinbaum’s tenure as mayor. Now, she will head a new secretariat focused on scientific investigation She previously held a number of academic roles including director of the Faculty of Sciences at UNAM subdirector general and regional representative of the Food and Agricultural Organization to the UN for Latin America and the Caribbean.  A looming row over GMO corn may serve as a “litmus test for Mexico’s commitment to USMCA,” explains North American trade research expert Diego Marroquín Montiel, an UNAM-trained architect, previously served a variety of roles including director of Mexico City’s public transportation system (2006–20120) deputy in the capital’s Congress (2012–2015) Like Sheinbaum, Esteva Medina is a scientist trained at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. He’s spent most of his career working on infrastructure projects in Mexico City, including the beloved Vasconcelos Library. Under Sheinbaum, he served as the head of the capital’s public works and services secretariat will be tasked with executing the president-elect's promise to build one million homes who surged since the resignation of Justin Trudeau will remain in power for a fourth consecutive term Carney is positioning himself as a counterpoint to Trump © 2025 Americas Society/Council of the Americas Current Head of Commercial for APM Terminals Latin America will effective June 2022 assume the role of Managing Director of APM Terminals Lázaro Cárdenas in Mexico who will move to Managing Director of APM Terminals Moín in Costa Rica “I am very pleased to welcome Marliz to our team where her vast regional commercial and Lazaro Cardenas port experience will serve as a strong foundation for our Way of Working operating model and customer-centric approach in her new role,” said Wim Lagaay Mrs.  Bermúdez holds a degree in Logistics and Intermodal Transportation from the U.S Merchant Marine Academy and a degree in supply chain management from the University of Plymouth United Kingdom.  She has held several strategic roles within liner shipping and the terminals business including the implementation of new container terminals “APM Terminals Lazaro Cardenas’ strategic location technology and modern infrastructure play an important role in Mexico’s economy and the wider region’s competitiveness.  I am excited about the commercial and operational opportunities ahead working with our professional team and our great customers in Mexico,“ commented Mrs Bermúdez has been involved at all stages of APM Terminals Lazaro Cardenas formation and commercial success She served as APM Terminals Lazaro Cardenas’ Director of Implementation managing cargo handling equipment selection and rollout technology and operational best practices to create the most modern infrastructure in Mexico and Latin America reflecting APM Terminals’  USD 900 million investment that ushered in a new era in Mexican Ports and their national importance to the economy she was named Head of Commercial for APM Terminals Lazaro Cardenas to build the business she was promoted to Regional Head of Commercial for APM Terminals Latin America strengthening commercial foundations through a vision based on a strategic operating model and customer-focused culture to grow the regional portfolio of business activities Mexico is positioned in the southern part of the North American Continent and is the tenth most populated country in the world it has been categorised as an upper-middle-income country by the World Bank and is the second biggest economy in Latin America It has a diverse cultural heritage and houses many UNESCO World Heritage sites Financial services and tourism are the leading sectors Mexico is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea It has more than 20 seaports situated on its Atlantic coast and around 12 on its Pacific Coast Let us review the 10 biggest ports in Mexico listed according to the volume of cargo handled Manzanillo port is situated in the State of Colima on the western Pacific Coast of Mexico Puerto de Manzanillo is the main gateway for international trade linked to the nation’s industrial and commercial corridor in the western and central regions It has direct shipping connections with 125 ports in more than 40 countries In 2022, Manzanillo handled around 31 million tonnes of cargo and 3.474 million TEU The region’s economy is based on the manufacturing A wide range of products are unloaded at the port including consumer goods like wax The port covers 437 hectares of land and consists of 19 operational berths and a passenger terminal capable of accommodating the biggest cruise ships Lazaro Cardenas Port lies at the mouth of the river Rio Balsas on Mexico’s Pacific coastline in the State of Michoacán The port handled approximately 29 million tonnes of cargo and 2 million TEUs in 2022 and its growth rate can be attributed to the automotive industry The industry recorded a rise of 40% in 2022 when the facility established a new record by handling 646,000 automotive units It serves a steel mill and the industrial zone and also houses a naval base Cardenas Port receives shipments of pellets Lazaro Cardenas is the only Mexican port with an 18-meter-wide access channel capable of receiving the largest cargo vessels It spans 25 hectares and has 22 wharves divided among its five public and four private terminals containerised cargo and miscellaneous goods Founded by the Spanish Conquistador Hernan Cortes in the 15th century Veracruz has transformed into an important financial centre and a trading hub The Port of Veracruz is located on the Gulf Coast of Mexico near the Bay of Campeche It serves the country’s central and southern regions and is also connected to North and South America The volume of cargo handled at Veracruz amounted to 2.59 million metric tons in 2022 up from 2.37 million metric tonnes handled in 2021 The principal port on the eastern coast of Mexico is the backbone of the city’s economy It is also an important fishing port and provides water sports facilities People from all over the world flock to the city to enjoy the Carnaval an annual festival featuring colourful parades This port lies at the mouth of the Coatzacoalcos River before it flows into the Gulf of Mexico having a natural harbour divided into two portions: a free port lying on the western bank of the river and the Pajaritos oil port owned by Pemex company An important port and a transportation centre Coatzacoalcos is linked to the Mexico metropolitan area and Merida by railways It primarily exports petroleum products manufactured in Minatitlán The port’s liquified gas terminal contains 7 wharves for accommodating gas carriers and oil tankers It has 8 conventional berths and 9 tanker berths and handled 2.53 million metric tonnes in 2022 Altamira port is on the Gulf of Mexico and serves the country’s economic and industrial regions It is also a much-liked holiday destination visited by nature lovers Altamira Port handled 1.65 million metric tonnes in 2022 down from 1.73 million metric tonnes in 2021 It has a large modern container terminal consisting of 4 docks it mainly serves the region’s petrochemical sector and contributes to job creation and revenue generation Companies like BASF and POSCO have processing plants near the port facility Tampico Port is located on the northern bank of the Río Pánuco in the State of Tamaulipas just ten kilometres from the Gulf of Mexico It is the major maritime gateway for petrochemical and mining products The facility handles approximately 8,831,000 tonnes of cargo Twenty major shipping lines connect Tampico with 100 ports in countries such as the United States It is an important commercial and military harbour consisting of 24 berthing facilities Drydocks and shipyards are located on the southern bank of the river including 2 tanker terminals operated by the Pemex company Tampico has 6 private and 2 public terminals and 10 fields for constructing marine oil rigs It has ample storage space including 38,000 m2 of warehouse area 6500 m2 of sheds and 330,000 m2 of open yards for storing general cargo Guaymas Port is situated near the Gulf of California off the Pacific Ocean in the State of Sonora It boasts one of the best natural harbours in the world and covers 90 hectares It serves the agricultural hinterland and exports cash crops like cotton Although many seafood processing plants are present near the port overfishing and decreasing freshwater levels in the Colorado River have put considerable strain on the port’s fisheries Topolobampo is located on the western coast of Mexico in a highly fertile agricultural zone that produces more than half of the country’s agricultural output and fruits comprise the majority of exports It has 4 private terminals for handling general cargo Topolobampo has more than 10 berthing facilities and 5 fishing wharves covering 600 m with an alongside depth of 6 m for accommodating fishing vessels This port handles approximately 1,000 ships and 185,000 passengers annually It is connected to northern Mexico through the Chihuahua Pacific railroad and has trading partners worldwide was a small fishing village before the commencement of port expansion in the late 1990s it is a bustling port with maritime trade links with Asia Situated in the State of Sinaloa in western Mexico Mazatlan Port handled 300,000 tonnes in 2022 Puerto de Mazatlán’s economy rests on agro-based industries like food processing and automobiles are also received at the port It has 12 berthing facilities and a total quay length of 1426 m, which can handle general cargo vessels, container ships A popular resort town on the Pacific Coast it is known for its golden sand beaches and picturesque waterfront overlooking the international cruise terminal It possesses the second-biggest commercial fishing fleet in Mexico and boasts a thriving fishing industry It has a 2500 m long and 12 m deep access channel capable of accommodating ships with an LOA of 300 m Puerto de Mazatlán contains six warehouses covering 15,000 m2 for storing loose cargo two yards for keeping automobiles and a 90,000 m2 cold shed Ensenada port is located near Todos Santos Bay off the Pacific Ocean in the northern part of Mexico Due to its advantageous position near the US border and the Pacific Rim it has access to crucial international shipping routes It covers 9000 square miles and contains 6 multipurpose wharves for handling all types of cargo The port city is a renowned holiday destination adorned with luxury hotels gorgeous beaches and finger-licking seafood restaurants Its economy also rests on agriculture and livestock rearing Olives and grapes are produced in abundance while the majority of cotton is exported to Asian countries and the United States Fertiliser is the main import arriving from Asia the port is popular among sports fishers and commercial fishermen it consists of shipyards and marinas for accommodating yachts and cruise ships This marine freight and cruise terminal handled 250,000 tonnes in 2022 possessing immaculate research and editing skills she loves books a little more than anything else We respect your privacy and take protecting it very seriously The Mexican government will invest over $6 billion pesos (approximately US $322 million) in the Lázaro Cárdenas port in Michoacán In a meeting with the Mexican Association of Shipping Agents (Amanac) Asipona head Jorge Luis Cruz Ballado said that improvement works started in 2020 with upgrades scheduled to be completed by 2026 Ongoing projects include the construction of a goods yard with a static capacity for 7,560 automotive units Cruz Ballado said that the new funds will be allocated to projects including the construction of the control tower the renovation of the Lázaro Cárdenas airport terminal and the optimization of handling of cabotage cargo and customs services The port will also build nine fluid storage tanks with a capacity of 401,280 barrels To discuss ways to improve efficiency for the transit of rail cargo, Director General of Lázaro Cárdenas port, Norma Becerra Pocoroba invited representatives of Kansas City Southern railroads APM Terminals and Hutchison Ports to take part in the meeting Amanac reinforced that Lázaro Cárdenas is key to the development of the Mexican economy owing to its strategic geographical position within the Eastern The site also boasts more than 820 hectares available for new business With drafts of up to 19 meters in its access channel Cruz Ballado said that Lázaro Cárdenas can accommodate ships of up to 165,000 tons as well as seventh-generation container ships the total cargo movement from Lázaro Cárdenas was 2,460,374 tons followed by containerized cargo (35%) and oil products (5%) Despite automotive units amounting to only 3% of the port’s total cargo imports hit a record figure of 646,578 units placing Lázaro Cárdenas as the nation’s second in automotive cargo statistics thanks to strong import quantities from Asian manufacturers Forbes Mexico reported that the Chinese automakers Zhong Tong Bus the port reported a movement of 56,983 units from Chinese automakers and brands like Toyota This high number of automobiles has led to port congestion With reports from Forbes México, Actualidad MP and Reforma Reporting by Dave Graham; editing by Grant McCool