In extreme situations, extreme measures are required. Contecon Manzanillo distributed a statement this Thursday stating that, together with the Mexican National Customs Agency (ANAM) , they will activate extended 24-hour operations at the Manzanillo customs office for three days to “address peak demand.”

The measure comes a month after Manzanillo customs personnel closed the port’s entrances during the week of May 12-16 in protest of poor working conditions and unjustified dismissals, causing operational chaos that has yet to be resolved.

This situation has caused unprecedented delays in the port’s import and export activities, primarily affecting trucking operations. There have even been cases of vessels being diverted to other Mexican ports , as in the case of the MV MSC NOA ARIELA 0513 WB, which was scheduled to stop at the Contecon Manzanillo and SSA terminals and had to unload its cargo at the port of Lázaro Cárdenas due to “lack of berths at both terminals,” according to a statement shared by the ONE shipping company the day before.

According to a statement from Contecon Manzanillo, the extraordinary extension of opening hours will be implemented in the highway modulation area of ​​the Manzanillo North Zone Customs Office.

The measure applies from Thursday, June 12 to Saturday, June 14, 2025, with the following hours:

• Thursday, June 12: 24 hours.
• Friday, June 13: 24 hours.
• Saturday, June 14: from midnight to 9:00 p.m.

“This adjustment facilitates continuous operations for almost three days and represents a strategic step to streamline the clearance of imported goods, reduce logistical bottlenecks, and respond to the growing demand for foreign trade flowing through the port of Manzanillo,” according to a statement from Contecon Manzanillo.

Contecon Manzanillo and SSA are the main specialized container terminals in the port of Colima, considered the busiest commercial port on Mexico’s Pacific coast.

In the first four months of this year, the port of Manzanillo handled a total of 1,291,721 20-foot containers (TEU) in import and export activities , just 1.5% more than the same period last year, according to statistics from the National Port System Administration (Asipona) Manzanillo.

“At Contecon Manzanillo, we recognize that these types of collaborative actions with customs authorities like ANAM are essential to boosting the competitiveness of the port and the country. This extended schedule is part of our ongoing commitment to strengthening trade facilitation processes, especially during peak demand periods,” said José Antonio Contreras, CEO of Contecon Manzanillo, quoted in the statement.

It was also specified that customs inspections during this extraordinary period will be coordinated with the Manzanillo Customs Office and inspected directly at Contecon facilities , “for the benefit of traceability and operational efficiency.”

Earlier this month, ANAM, led by Rafael Marín Mollinedo , held a meeting with the business and logistics sectors to present the work carried out to resolve the operational problem that arose at the port of Manzanillo.

However, the port of Manzanillo continues to experience delays and logistical disruptions for users.

Comment and follow us on X: @GrupoT21

El cargo Manzanillo Customs will operate 24 hours a day for 3 days. apareció primero en T21.

Finally. After just over three weeks of chaos at the port of Manzanillo, Mexico’s National Customs Agency (ANAM) held a meeting with the business and logistics sectors to present the work carried out to resolve the operational problem that arose at the country’s main maritime hub in the Pacific, following protests by customs workers themselves.

According to information shared with T21 by various members of the meeting—held on June 2—it was indicated that ANAM, led by Rafael Marín Mollinedo , has provided personnel from central areas (deputy directors, directors, and department heads) to assist with customs inspections in Manzanillo.

Workers at the Manzanillo customs office demonstrated twice in mid-May, paralyzing the entry and exit of transport vehicles from the port in protest of poor working conditions and unjustified dismissals since Captain Rodolfo Torres Chávez took over the customs office a month earlier.

Just over four thousand units enter the port of Manzanillo daily, so the protests caused significant delays in the import and export of goods .

It wasn’t until Wednesday, June 4th that SSA Marine Mexico‘s specialized container terminal was able to breathe. “Operations are back to normal. Therefore, we have resumed the usual number of available appointments,” the American company stated in a statement to its customers.

At the meeting held by ANAM with the business leaders, it was also noted that measures have been implemented to improve the port’s operations. For example, access codes to the customs inspection system are being resolved for verification personnel ; merchandise clearances under consultation status are being released more quickly; efforts are being made to make better use of appointment times for Mondays and Tuesdays of each week; and appointments are being fully capacitated at the inspected facilities.

Likewise, the open-door option for empty vehicles will remain in place , and operations will be carried out with ZBV scanning, a vehicle cargo inspection unit, and the modulation schedule will continue from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. upon departure from the controlled areas.

In addition, ANAM agreed to provide an organizational chart to show how the different areas of the Manzanillo customs office were integrated.

In addition to Rafael Marín Mollinedo, the meeting was attended by representatives of the Confederation of Industrial Chambers (Concamin) , the Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade, Investment and Technology (Comce) , the National Chamber of Cargo Transportation (Canacar) and the Confederation of Associations of Customs Agents of the Mexican Republic (Caaarem) .

A couple of days before the meeting, Canacar itself, through its president Miguel Ángel Martínez, had stated that the sector was on the verge of bankruptcy due to non-payments to leasing companies, insurance companies, suppliers, and staff.

Based on statistics from the General Coordination of Ports and Merchant Marine (CGPMM) , an office of the Ministry of the Navy , in the accumulated January-April 2025, a total of one million 291 thousand 720 containers (TEU) have been operated in the port of Manzanillo , a growth of just 1.5% compared to the same period in 2024, and we will have to wait for the results of May with these situations that have been faced.

Comment and follow us on X: @GrupoT21

El cargo ANAM meets with business leaders regarding the crisis at the Port of Manzanillo apareció primero en T21.

The operational crisis at the Manzanillo port customs office continues without significant improvements, which has affected its operational capacity.

In a statement to its clients, SSA Marine Mexico reported that the issuance of appointments has been adjusted according to the operational capacity of said customs office, “reducing our capacity to handle 1,800 import appointments per day to 1,100 per day .”

“This delay has limited the operational capacity of both terminals, and if the scheduled appointments for Monday, June 2, are not met, the terminals will be severely affected, increasing the utilization of our yards, generating delays of more than two days in the berthing of upcoming vessels, and affecting our operations in general,” he explained.

He also explained that the resumption of activities has been partial and with insufficient staff.

“This situation primarily affects the customs inspection area, which is experiencing a delay of one to two days in inspections,” he stressed.

According to official data, more than four thousand trucking units enter the port of Manzanillo daily  to pick up or unload cargo.

In the statement, SSA Marine Mexico indicated that in recent weeks, 45% of import containers have not been delivered.

He pointed out that 32% of export containers have not been received and shipped, and that 40% of scheduled empty containers have not been received and shipped.

SSA Marine Mexico reiterated “the vital importance of maintaining the natural recycling cycle of spaces through the timely delivery of import containers,” the statement concluded.

The Manzanillo customs office is the  second highest in tax collection in Mexico, behind only the Nuevo Laredo office.

It’s worth remembering that, in order to resolve the operational crisis at the Port of Manzanillo, the transportation industry has united like never before.

In a statement signed by the  Manzanillo Freight Transport Union (UTCM) , the  Union of Local Transport Entrepreneurs of Manzanillo , the  National Confederation of Mexican Transporters (Conatram)  and the  National Chamber of Freight Transport (Canacar) , the entire union was “invited” to  stop the shipment of import units to the southern area of ​​the port of Manzanillo , next Monday, June 2, from 00:00 hours to 19:00 hours.

The transportation agencies stated that, with the actions they will take, they hope to give the  Mexican National Customs Agency (ANAM) the opportunity to clear all operations that have been delayed for several days.

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 in mid-May, in protest of alleged poor working conditions and unjustified dismissals since Captain Rodolfo Torres Chávez took over as head of the Manzanillo customs office.

Comment and follow us on X: @GrupoT21

El cargo Manzanillo Port Customs Office shows no significant improvements: SSA Marine Mexico apareció primero en T21.

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 :

1. 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.
2. Management module: Requests are being received; there is no system for assigning folios; Customs will manage entry folios directly.
3. 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.
4. 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.

Comment and follow us on X: @GrupoT21

El cargo Customs clearance in Manzanillo is proceeding slowly: AAAPUMAC apareció primero en T21.

The Manzanillo port authority reported that the demonstration and blockade of the port area by customs employees concluded during the early hours of Friday, May 16 .

“(…) we are working with the authorities and the Port Community to resume port operations at 6:00 a.m. We are requesting that we begin dispatching units at the scheduled time, continuing with the appointment schedule indicated by the terminals in order to reactivate port operations in an orderly manner,” according to the statement from the National Port System Administration (Asipona) Manzanillo .

Customs employees closed the port access points on the afternoon of May 14 due to alleged poor working conditions they have endured since the arrival (April 15) of Captain Rodolfo Torres Chávez as head of the Manzanillo customs office.

On May 12, customs workers, mostly civilians, carried out an initial nine-hour closure , but it ended after negotiations with authorities.

The latest statement from Asipona Manzanillo does not indicate whether the protesters reached an agreement with the authorities.

The Port of Manzanillo is the busiest container port in the Mexican Pacific coast. During the first four months of this year, it handled a total of 1,291,721 20-foot containers (TEUs) , a 1.5% increase compared to the same period last year, according to data from the port authority.

In terms of tax collection, the Manzanillo customs office is the second most active in the country , behind only the Nuevo Laredo customs office, Mexico’s most important border crossing with the United States.

Comment and follow us on X: @GrupoT21

El cargo Manifestation and strike conclude at the port of Manzanillo apareció primero en T21.

The demonstration and blockade of the port of Manzanillo by customs employees has begun to affect the operations of the port terminals .

SSA Marine Mexico announced in a statement to its clients that it has suspended appointment scheduling “until we have a clearer picture of the situation. We ask for your support in not generating appointment requests on our portal until further notice.”

Customs officials have closed all access points to the port since the afternoon of May 14, in protest of alleged poor working conditions since the arrival of Captain Rodolfo Torres Chávez as head of the Manzanillo customs office.

On May 12, customs workers, mostly civilians, carried out a nine-hour initial closure, but it ended after negotiations with authorities. Apparently, during this new demonstration and closure, there has been no contact between the authorities and the complainants.

“As a support to our customers, the Specialized Container Terminal (SSA) and the Multipurpose Terminal (OCUPA) will not be charging for missed appointments or changes to those facilities today (May 15),” SSA Marine Mexico said in its statement.

For its part, Contecon Manzanillo , also the operator of a specialized container terminal, urged transport users not to send export or import units until further notice, in order to avoid further logistical disruptions.

“We are coordinating with Asipona Manzanillo to mitigate the impact,” the company said in its statement to customers, also stating that vessel service continues as normal.

During the first four months of this year, the Port of Manzanillo handled a total of 1,291,721 20-foot containers (TEU) , a 1.5% increase over the same period last year. Contecon Manzanillo and SSA are the main container terminal operators at this maritime hub .

In terms of tax collection,  the Manzanillo customs office is the second most active in the country , behind only the Nuevo Laredo customs office, Mexico’s most important border crossing with the United States.

Comment and follow us on X: @GrupoT21

El cargo SSA Marine Mexico suspends appointment scheduling due to closure of the port of Manzanillo apareció primero en T21.

On Wednesday afternoon, Manzanillo customs workers again closed the southern access to the port , disrupting the movement of trucking vehicles, arguing that authorities have not responded to their demands.

Just last May 12, customs employees, mostly civilians, blocked this access for nine hours to demand better working conditions , such as:

• Respect for working hours, as workdays have supposedly been extended to 16 continuous hours from Monday to Saturday, with no lunch breaks.
• End workplace harassment. Some employees have been forced to sign their “voluntary” resignations without further explanation from the authorities.
• Likewise, the hiring of more staff and the purchase of computer equipment.
• They are also demanding timely payment of their salaries, as they have experienced unjustified delays.

The National Port System Administration (Asipona) Manzanillo shared a statement this Wednesday stating that access through the north zone and gate 15 continues to operate normally , allowing the entry and exit of vehicles.

“The Asipona Manzanillo, a unit of the Navy, remains vigilant regarding developments and is in communication with the relevant authorities, with the goal of safeguarding the port’s operations and the safety of all those who are part of the port community,” he stated.

For its part, the Manzanillo Port Community (Copoma) , made up of port authorities and users, urged in another statement to “avoid sending units to the southern area of ​​the port of Manzanillo.”

The May 12 demonstration ended at 3:30 p.m. due to an alleged negotiation between the authorities and the employees .

Port authority statistics indicate that just over four thousand trucking units enter the port daily to pick up or unload merchandise.

In terms of tax collection, the Manzanillo customs office is the second most active in the country , behind only the Nuevo Laredo customs office, Mexico’s most important border crossing with the United States.

Former Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador decided that customs would be managed by military or naval personnel (in the case of port customs), although since the beginning of this year, the leadership of the Mexican National Customs Agency (ANAM) has been held by Rafael Marín Mollinedo , a civil servant close to the ruling Morena party.

Just last April 15, it was announced that Captain Rodolfo Torres Chávez was appointed to head the Manzanillo customs office, the second-highest in revenue collection in the country.

Comment and follow us on X: @GrupoT21

El cargo Customs workers again close access to the port of Manzanillo. apareció primero en T21.