The Average Port Transportation Time Indicator (ITPAP) for August 2025, conducted by T21 Business Intelligence, raised new alarms regarding operational efficiency at the country’s main ports. During the eighth month, 2,823 movements of transportation units in import services were analyzed, yielding an overall average dwell time of 8.6 decimal hours , representing a 9.5% increase compared to July.
The widespread upswing reveals growing tensions in the logistics chain, where port competition is measured minute by minute. However, when the data is broken down, each port exhibits its own dynamics that reflect both its structural challenges and its areas of opportunity.
The ITPAP (Tax and Logistics Information Processing Unit) gathers monthly information provided by trucking companies and GPS vehicle tracking companies; it focuses on the average time tractor-trailers spend in storage, broken down into three critical categories during the cargo collection process: maneuvering, waiting, and customs.
Altamira: the biggest mismatch of the month
The port of Altamira recorded an average time of 8.2 decimal hours (converted this way for comparison), which represented an increase of 34.4% compared to the previous month.
This jump, the most pronounced of the period, places the terminal at the center of the discussion about logistics coordination processes. The increase calls into question Altamira’s resilience in the face of the operational pressures posed by the peak foreign trade season .
Lázaro Cárdenas: sustained increase
Although the increase is less dramatic than in Altamira, it is a sensitive indicator: the Michoacán terminal concentrates part of the long-haul Pacific cargo, and any deviation directly impacts the supply chains of key industries such as the automotive industry .
Manzanillo: the exception to the rule
In contrast, Manzanillo reduced its times, reaching an average of 7.8 decimal hours , which translated into an improvement of -4.8% compared to the previous month.
The data, although positive, should be analyzed with caution: the reduction could be due to both operational adjustments and temporary variations in cargo flow. If this trend is confirmed, it would be a relief for the country’s most important port for container handling.
Veracruz: another source of pressure
The port of Veracruz reported an average of 7.2 decimal hours , an increase of 12.5% compared to July.
The increase reaffirms that modernizing infrastructure and customs processes remains a pending challenge for maintaining competitiveness in the Gulf of Mexico.
Competitiveness at stake
August’s performance shows that while some ports are managing to contain dwell times, others exhibit vulnerabilities that affect the logistics chain. The overall increase in the ITPAP to 8.6 decimal hours reflects a deterioration that, if sustained, could jeopardize Mexico’s efforts to consolidate itself as an agile foreign trade platform .
The evidence is clear: logistics productivity depends not only on infrastructure, but also on effective coordination between terminals, customs, and carriers. Every additional hour in port erodes competitive margins in a market where speed translates into confidence for global investors.
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