The Association of Customs Brokers of the Port of Manzanillo (AAAPUMAC) published a statement this Thursday to its members, reporting that the modulation operations at the Manzanillo customs office are proceeding “slowly,” both in the northern and southern zones, following the operational challenges the port has experienced in recent weeks.
The bulletin identifies four points to consider :
- The operation in the southern zone is being slowly ramped up, beginning with a review of the previous day’s reconnaissance as the operation allows.
- Management module: Requests are being received; there is no system for assigning folios; Customs will manage entry folios directly.
- The operation in the northern zone is being ramped up slowly as saturation allows; it has not yet begun reviewing the inspections pending from yesterday.
- For customs inspections in Bonded Warehouses, the workload limit is being reviewed.
Customs clearance is a procedure used to channel and verify goods entering or leaving the country , with the aim of ensuring compliance with customs laws and avoiding fraud, smuggling, or errors in the import or export process.
Meanwhile, the National Port System Administration (Asipona) in Manzanillo issued a statement yesterday stating that, “according to information from Manzanillo Customs, operations at the bonded facility have been fully restored . Following recent events that impacted operational rhythm, the Port of Manzanillo is back in normal operation, with a safe, efficient, and continuous flow of goods.”
There, he stated that “this Tuesday, May 20, 2025, alone, during the reactivation process, the terminal complex handled a total of 4,367 containers , including import, export, and empty cargo; and 14,524 tons of loose and bulk cargo were dispatched, with a total of 4,190 trucking units arriving.”
This information contrasts with what the port terminals themselves have been issuing. In the case of Contecon Manzanillo , a statement was published yesterday afternoon stating that, “In coordination with the authorities, it was determined that it will no longer be possible to receive trucks for imported cargo , due to circumstances beyond the terminal’s control. We urge transport users not to send imported vehicles to avoid further logistical disruptions.”
“We also indicate that any appointments that cannot be entered today (May 21) will be automatically rescheduled for Monday, May 26. This change will be visible tomorrow, May 22, so there will be no need to attempt to make any changes, as scheduling new import appointments on our operational portal will not be permitted until further notice,” stated the operator of one of the port’s specialized container terminals.
The operational chaos at the Manzanillo customs office comes after its own employees, mostly civilian foreign trade officers, closed access to the port on two occasions last week , in protest of alleged poor working conditions and unjustified dismissals since the arrival (April 15) of Captain Rodolfo Torres Chávez as head of the Manzanillo customs office.
The Manzanillo customs office is the second highest in tax collection in the country , behind only the Nuevo Laredo customs office, which is the largest border crossing for goods with the United States.
On May 20, T21 reported that, based on information from a source close to the Manzanillo customs office who requested anonymity, the inspection and oversight authority is working with just five inspectors, when on a “normal” day of operation there should be at least 25 inspectors distributed throughout the day.
According to official data, just over four thousand trucking units enter the port of Manzanillo daily to pick up or unload cargo.
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