This year, Mexico has occupied a special place in the plans of Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) , the largest shipping line in the world.
There are several reasons. 2024 has brought together various elements that have boosted the company’s maritime activities in the country, such as the growth of Asian import cargo, the industrial phenomenon of nearshoring (relocation of production lines), strong local consumption, an exchange rate that favors the peso, as well as the global trend to increase tariffs on certain products , mainly of Chinese origin.
“Many people shipped their cargo in advance to avoid these tariffs, and that caused import cargo to skyrocket in the first half of the year. By September, the curve stopped growing and remained flat since then,” said Victor Monroy, general manager of MSC in Mexico, in an interview with T21 from his new offices in Mexico City.
Official statistics support the comments of the director. Until September of this year, the import cargo measured in 20-foot containers (TEU) that arrived at the ports of the Mexican Pacific, where mainly merchandise of Asian origin is unloaded, showed an annual growth rate of 13.0%, with two million 030 thousand 867 TEU , according to data from the General Coordination of Ports and Merchant Marine (CGPMM) .
The interpretation of this statistic is that once the so-called peak season (from June to August) has passed, most companies ( retailers ) have stocked up on the goods that will be sold in the last part of the year during commercial seasons such as El Buen Fin, Christmas and New Year. Although not everything was smooth sailing.
“In 2024, we are very satisfied with the growth we have had as a company. We have managed to grow and have built a close relationship with our clients, especially in a difficult situation,” says Monroy.
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