Mexico’s maritime customs boost foreign trade

Mexico’s performance during the first few months of 2026 underscores the importance of the country’s ports as strategic hubs for the flow of goods and regional competitiveness.

Between January and March 2026, Mexico reported a total of 5,254,625 foreign trade transactions processed through the country’s 50 customs offices. Of these, the 17 maritime customs offices accounted for more than 643,000 transactions, reflecting the logistical growth associated with manufacturing, the automotive industry, and global supply chains.

It is noteworthy that 85.6% of all maritime customs operations were handled by the ports of Manzanillo, Veracruz, Lazaro Cardenas, and Altamira, according to figures from the Mexican National Customs Agency (ANAM).

The ports of Manzanillo, Colima; Veracruz, Veracruz; Lazaro Cardenas, Michoacan; and Altamira, Tamaulipas accounted for the majority of the country’s maritime operations, reinforcing Mexico’s role as a key logistics hub for the exchange of goods with Asia, the United States, Europe, and Latin America.

The performance of these ports comes amid a trend marked by the rise of nearshoring and industrial relocation to Mexico, factors that have increased logistics demand and strengthened the country’s role within North American supply chains.

The operational growth of ports such as Manzanillo, Veracruz, Lazaro Cardenas, and Altamira points to a greater need for investment in logistics infrastructure and port capacity, at a time when Mexico continues to establish itself as one of the continent’s leading manufacturing and export hubs.