All Mexican ports that handle maneuvers for the automotive industry with brand-new vehicles in deep-sea traffic have posted negative numbers during the first quarter of this year (1Q25).
Statistics from the General Coordination of Ports and Merchant Marine (CGPMM) , an office of the Navy , indicate that during the first three months of 2025, the movement of 460,201 automobiles was recorded, adding imports and exports, which meant a drop of 17.5% compared to the same period in 2024.
This figure was affected by the export of new units by sea, which during the reference period totaled 245,000 vehicles, a 30 percent annual decline.
The decline in automobile exports through ports comes amid the United States’ imposition of a 25% tariff on imported vehicles from Mexico, prompting automakers to modify their overseas shipping plans.
During the period from January to March 2025, 973,485 units were produced in Mexico , which represented a variation of 4.8% compared to the same period in 2024, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) .
Likewise, 775,866 units were exported in Q1 25 , a 6.0% decrease compared to Q1 24. The United States was the main destination for light vehicle exports, accounting for 83.0%.
In the case of imports, the story is different. New automobiles imported into the country through ports reached 215,201 units during the first quarter of 2025, just 4.4% higher than the first quarter of 2024.
On Mexico’s Pacific coast, the ports of Mazatlán and Lázaro Cárdenas saw declines of 20.5% and 0.6%, respectively, in the comparison periods, although in the case of the Michoacán port, car imports continue to show positive figures.
In the Gulf of Mexico, Altamira (-19%), Tuxpan (-60.3%) and Veracruz (-24.9) were no exception , except in the case of the port of Tamaulipas, which also recorded an increase in the import of units.
Vehicles transported by sea in deep-sea traffic, January-March (units)
Comment and follow us on X: @EnriqueDuRio / @GrupoT21
