According to statistics from the National Port System of the  Secretariat of the Navy (Semar) , in March 2026 the movement of vehicles through Mexican ports fell by 3.5% compared to the same month in 2025 with 184,829 units, thus failing to recover from the decrease recorded last February, when it fell 20.9% year-on-year.

Although some ports reported declines in car traffic in the third month of the year, the port of Veracruz showed a 33.2% increase compared to March 2025, handling 82,185 units. Tuxpan, also in Veracruz, saw a 15.8% increase, with 3,804 units moved during the period, according to an analysis by T21 Business Intelligence .

In contrast, the port of Mazatlán, in Sinaloa, handled 8,778 units in March 2026, 46.6% less than in the third month of 2025 ; Altamira, in Tamaulipas, fell 27.1% with 38,149 vehicles moved; while the port of Lázaro Cárdenas, in Michoacán, declined 8.6% with the movement of 51,913 units in the reference period.

The negative figures recorded by several ports impacted the cumulative total for January-March 2026. The first quarter of the year saw a 4% contraction compared to the same period in 2025, with 441,765 vehicles handled . During the period, the port of Veracruz was the only one with positive numbers, reporting a 22.3% year-on-year increase with 171,598 units handled.

Conversely, Tuxpan saw a 24.7% drop in the cumulative total for the first three months of 2026 compared to the same period last year , with 6,637 vehicles moved. Altamira declined 19.1% with 89,461 units; and Lázaro Cárdenas decreased by 16%, moving 133,427 cars.

Meanwhile, Mazatlán experienced a slight contraction of 0.5% in the accumulated January-March 2026 period compared to the same period in 2025, operating 40,642 units.

Regarding participation in March 2026, Veracruz accounted for  44% of vehicles mobilized ; Lázaro Cárdenas had 28%, Altamira 21%, Mazatlán 5% and Tuxpan 2%.

Despite the drop in vehicle traffic at the country’s ports in March 2026, car production in Mexico showed improvement during the third month of the year.

According to figures from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) , 343,520 light vehicles were manufactured in March 2026 , representing a 2.5 percent year-on-year increase. Additionally, 310,205 vehicles were exported, a 4.2 percent increase compared to the same month in 2025.

Meanwhile, in the first quarter of 2026, 969,294 units were manufactured in Mexican plants , a 0.5% increase compared to the same period last year. During the January-March period of this year, 795,631 units were exported, a 2.5% increase over the same period in 2025.

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El cargo Vehicle traffic through Mexican ports decreases in March apareció primero en T21.

The EAX Index – which measures the average cost of maritime freight on the Asia > Mexico > West Coast of South America (WCSA) route month by month – shook up market benchmarks again in March of 2026.

What began as a start to the year with signs of adjustment and some normalization in maritime rates, closed the first quarter with an abrupt turn: the indicator, developed by Eternity Group Mexico , registered a triple-digit monthly rebound that reconfigures, at least temporarily, the reading on supply, demand and costs on the Asia-Mexico-WCSA route.

The data is compelling. The monthly EAX (March) reached $2,809 per 40-foot equivalent unit (FEU) , representing a 102.96% increase compared to February. This not only reverses the decline observed at the beginning of the year—January had seen a 38.69% contraction—but also consolidates an upward trend whose main explanation lies outside the logistics market itself: the geopolitical factor.

Tensions in the Middle East have begun to significantly impact global transport operating costs . Rising fuel prices have put pressure across supply chains, increasing costs in all modes—sea, air, and land—and creating a domino effect that is ultimately reflected in spot rates. This environment has been enough to trigger an aggressive adjustment in freight rates, even in a context where the market’s structural fundamentals point in the opposite direction.

And that’s where the report’s main contradiction emerges. While tariffs are skyrocketing, capacity continues to grow. In March alone, 91,646 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) were added to the global market , with a significant contribution from CMA CGM , which added more than 40,000 TEUs through the entry of new vessels, including large-scale units such as ULCVs and Neo-Panamax ships. Under normal circumstances, this increase in supply would have put downward pressure on tariffs. However, the impact of energy costs has managed to neutralize that effect.

This decoupling is also beginning to be reflected in demand patterns in Mexico. Mexican Pacific ports received 629,475 TEUs in import services during the January-March period of this year, 3.9% less than in the same period of 2015, according to data from the maritime authority. The drop in volume contrasts with the increase in tariffs and reinforces the interpretation of a market where costs are outweighing demand fundamentals.

The tension between supply and price is also reflected in regional dynamics. On the Asia-ECSA (South American East Coast) route , the market showed unusual resilience: despite registering capacity surpluses exceeding 70,000 TEUs, tariffs did not decrease. On the contrary, the EAX-ECSA Index for this region reached $3,145 per FEU , with a monthly increase of 54.93 percent. This behavior reinforces the interpretation that the market, at least in the short term, is being more sensitive to operating costs than to capacity imbalances.

Meanwhile, the route to the west coast of South America and Mexico (WCSA + Mexico) is beginning to show signs of weakening after several weeks of upward pressure, according to Eternity Group Mexico. During the first days of April, the market struggled to maintain levels above $3,000 per FEU , establishing a technical barrier that anticipates potential adjustments.

Under this scenario, the short-term expectation points to a correction. Despite international volatility, the EAX index itself projects that during April FAK rates could stabilize in a range of between $2,000 and $2,700 per container, as the market processes the cost shock and additional capacity begins to exert greater pressure.

Thus, the EAX closes the first quarter as a barometer of the tensions currently dominating global trade: a market with oversupply , but governed by external variables that distort its behavior. The question is not whether there will be an adjustment, but when the weight of capacity will once again prevail over geopolitical noise.

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El cargo Asia-Mexico route on the rise: maritime tariffs break trend in March apareció primero en T21.

In March 2026, Mexican ports reported a growth of 3.1% compared to the same month in 2025, moving 816,170 twenty-foot containers (TEUs) , according to data from the National Port System of the  Secretariat of the Navy (Semar) .

An analysis by T21 Business Intelligence  showed that, despite the year-on-year increase, several ports lost TEU traffic in the third month of the year, although others reported increases, such as Lázaro Cárdenas, in Michoacán, which registered a 29.2% increase with 247,009 TEUs handled ; Puerto Morelos, in Quintana Roo, which grew 33.5% year-on-year with 602 TEUs; and Manzanillo, in Colima, which advanced 1.3% compared to March 2025, with the operation of 342,110 TEUs.

Conversely, Coatzacoalcos, in Veracruz, handled 994 TEUs, representing a 43.8% decrease compared to the same period in 2025; while Altamira, in Tamaulipas, recorded 69,919 TEUs handled in March 2026, a 15.4% decrease compared to the same month last year.

Meanwhile, the port of Veracruz handled 97,129 TEUs, representing a 5.9% year-on-year decrease.

Despite the negative figures recorded by several ports, the accumulated total for the first quarter of 2026 showed an advance of 2.3% compared to the same period in 2025, with two million 334 thousand 497 TEUs recorded.

Along those lines, Guaymas, Sonora, grew 26.3% with 3,967 TEUs moved ; and Lázaro Cárdenas increased 15% with 685,412 TEUs in the aforementioned cycle.

Regarding participation in March 2026, Manzanillo accounted for 42% of the total TEU movement ; Lázaro Cárdenas had 30%, Veracruz 12% and Altamira 9 percent. 

In 2025, global trade reached a record $35 trillion , representing a 7.5% year-on-year growth rate; however, the imposition of tariffs and the conflict in the Middle East could slow this positive trend by the end of 2026, warned the  United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) .

Despite this context,  Mexican ports registered a slight rebound in TEU movement in the third month of 2026, after an annual drop of 4.9% last February, resulting from less dynamism in Mexican economic activity.

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El cargo Mexican ports “regain control”; TEU traffic grows in March apareció primero en T21.

Freight forwarding in Mexico is undergoing a quiet adjustment phase that contrasts sharply with the visible volatility of recent years. Far from the extraordinary peaks brought on by the pandemic, the market appears to have entered a stage where oversupply of capacity, weak consumption, and regulatory pressure are beginning to shape a more complex and less profitable environment for logistics intermediaries.

The clearest evidence lies in the industry’s performance during 2025. It was not a good year. The contraction in volumes and the pressure on margins affected even the most established players, in a context where supply growth—particularly in maritime transport—exceeded demand’s absorption capacity. “There was a slowdown; we saw a contraction at the industry level,” acknowledges Nicolás Portenza, CEO of Eternity Group Mexico , in an interview, describing a market that has yet to regain traction.

The problem is not temporary. The supply and demand equation has become unbalanced at a time when economies, especially in Latin America, are showing signs of weakness. The result is constant pressure on ocean freight rates , which continue to deteriorate, although without reaching critical levels. Shipping companies, more disciplined than in previous cycles, have managed to contain sharp declines through operational strategies, but the market remains far from a solid recovery.

In that adverse context, not all players performed equally. Eternity Group Mexico managed to weather the general market downturn and even close the year with positive numbers. “Having surpassed the previous year’s (2024) volumes was good, and we took great care of profitability,” Portenza points out, in an analysis that reveals a strategy more focused on operational discipline than aggressive expansion.

The outlook for 2026 is not particularly encouraging . Long-term contracts anticipate rates below those negotiated the previous year, while the spot market remains volatile, making planning difficult.

In this context, freight forwarders face a structural dilemma: compete on price or build value . The first option, while tempting in a depressed market, tends to erode margins in an industry where operating costs are increasingly difficult to absorb. The second, on the other hand, requires investment, sophistication, and a business narrative that the customer is willing to pay for.

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El cargo Logistics under pressure: the new game of forwarding apareció primero en T21.

The Eternity Group Mexico EAX Index , a benchmark indicator for maritime rates on the Asia-Mexico and West Coast of South America (WCSA) route, triggered signals that the maritime market had been anticipating , but not with the intensity observed in February 2026.

With an average value of $1,384 per 40-foot container (FEU) during the second month of this year, the indicator not only broke the inertia of stability that had characterized recent months, but also revealed a turning point in the dynamics of chartering costs globally.

The month’s performance is not linear. February was divided into two clearly distinct halves: a first half with contained rates, anchored around $880, followed by an abrupt break starting on February 13th that led the index to climb to $1,785 in the last week. This behavior not only reflects volatility, but also an accelerated market reaction to factors that ceased to be latent and became active triggers.

From a monthly perspective, the adjustment is significant. The EAX registered a 34.76% increase compared to January, confirming “a decisive upward trend change in chartering costs,” according to the Eternity Group Mexico report. This is not a technical rebound, but rather a structural restructuring driven by simultaneous shocks in supply, demand, and the geopolitical environment.

Looking ahead, the outlook offers no respite. The index itself warns that “the market faces an imminent upside risk in FAK (Freight All Kinds) rates,” pressured by two converging forces: the drag on volume following the Chinese New Year (CNY) and a geopolitical escalation that is no longer peripheral . Tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran, coupled with attacks on key infrastructure in Dubai, are already having tangible operational consequences.

The impact is significant. What was once a source of uncertainty is now translating into concrete decisions by shipping companies. The report indicates that they “have gone from being a mere security alert to a real factor of logistical disruption,” in a context where route diversions are extending transit times , while fuel futures are beginning to reflect double-digit increases. The immediate result is sustained pressure on rates and an effective reduction in available capacity on key routes, stemming from changes in rotations.

Paradoxically, this upward pressure coincides with a continued expansion of supply. According to Alphaliner, an additional 65,261 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) were added to the global market in February, signaling that shipping lines are maintaining their commitment to capacity, even in an environment of increasing uncertainty. Maersk played a prominent role , adding approximately 14,931 TEUs through new vessels, although Yang Ming led the way individually with the arrival of the megaship YM Willpower, which alone added 15,600 TEUs.

This duality – more capacity in the system and, at the same time, operational restrictions – is beginning to redefine market balances, where the actual availability of space does not necessarily translate into greater logistical fluidity.

The effect is also replicated on specific routes. On the corridor to the east coast of South America (ECSA) , the EAX index showed a similarly pronounced upward correction. After reaching levels close to $1,494 at the end of January, the fare experienced a “vertical jump” that led it to stabilize above $1,992, closing February at $2,030 per FEU. This represents a monthly increase of 14.55%, confirming that the disruption is not isolated, but systemic.

Thus, the February EAX does not only measure rates: it maps a market entering a new phase , where volatility ceases to be the exception and becomes the norm, and where geopolitical, energy, and operational factors begin to intertwine with a force that the logistics sector cannot afford to underestimate.

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El cargo Ocean freight rates on the rise: EAX anticipates a new wave of logistical pressure apareció primero en T21.

Faced with adjustments due to geopolitical and structural pressures, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) warned of the stagnation of global trade and maritime transport resulting from the tariff policy promoted by the United States.

“Political tensions, new tariffs, changing trade patterns, and the reconfiguration of maritime routes are reshaping the geography of maritime trade,” the organization stated.

According to its report,  Shipping in Review 2025: Staying the Course in Troubled Waters , released Wednesday, global seaborne trade grew by 2.2% in volumes and 5.9% in ton-miles in 2024, but is forecast to slow by 0.5% in 2025 , “before averaging 2% annually over the period 2026-2030.”

He detailed that maritime energy trade patterns showed a shift, with coal increasing, oil remaining stable with longer routes, and gas also registering an increase.

The report highlighted that trade in critical minerals is expanding, creating opportunities, but also risks. “These developments are transforming maritime trade and placing new demands on transport and logistics .”

According to the agency’s analysis, there were route changes due to various situations, such as the Red Sea crisis in 2024, which caused an increase in freight rates . Added to this were geopolitical tensions this year, such as the disruption of maritime activity in the Strait of Hormuz .

“The Strait of Hormuz, through which 11% of global trade and a third of seaborne oil trade flow, also faces disruption risks. The diversion to longer routes will increase carbon emissions from shipping in 2024,” he explained.

UNCTAD noted that new tariffs in the United States and other countries have added complexity. For developing economies , the rerouting could create transshipment opportunities at some ports, but would also increase maritime transport costs.

Regarding fleet renewal , he indicated that safe vessel recycling, global standards on greenhouse gas emissions control, and a skilled workforce are key to a timely and just transition to low- carbon shipping .

In the face of geopolitical and trade disruptions, he considered that freight rate volatility has become the new normal.

“Container, bulk, and tanker freight rates have remained high and volatile in 2024 and 2025, with sharp fluctuations amid geopolitical tensions, shifts in trade policies, and supply-demand imbalances. This instability is increasing global trade costs,” he emphasized.

Vessel diversions have lengthened voyages, reduced effective capacity, and raised operating costs, impacting container shipping , with spot and charter rates nearing their COVID-19 pandemic peaks in mid-2024 before declining, “but still well above pre-crisis levels. Volatility has continued into 2025 amid new tariffs and the risk of disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.”

The report warned that ports are under increased pressure as vessel diversions and rescheduling of ports of call disrupt schedules.

“Between December 2023 and March 2024, average port waiting times increased by 23%, to 6.4 hours in developed economies, and by 7%, to 10.9 hours, in developing economies,” he added.

In this regard, he indicated that it is urgent to improve port performance, as well as adapt the infrastructure and services of these facilities to the impacts of climate change and modernize them for the energy transition.

Faced with an adverse environment, UNCTAD proposed various actions to improve maritime transport. In this regard, it considered that we must move toward a sustainable, resilient, and digitalized future .

He suggested leveraging maritime transport and logistics for equitable integration and transformation , promoting fleet modernization and sustainable maritime trade practices, implementing regulatory measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as utilizing digital solutions and strengthening the regulatory framework to address cyber risks, among others.

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El cargo UNCTAD warns of slowdown in global shipping due to tariffs apareció primero en T21.

According to its earnings report, the group’s earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) decreased to $700 million and profit to $800 million during the period.

According to the shipping company, in addition to trade changes in the United States, port congestion and the tense security situation in the Red Sea also affected operations.

In the liner shipping segment , the firm’s revenue increased to $10.386 billion in the first half of 2025, representing an 11.4% increase compared to the same period last year, when it was $9.32 billion.

This was primarily due to an 11% increase in shipping volumes to 6.7 million 20-foot containers (TEU) , compared to 6.1 million TEU in the same period in 2024, driven by growth in east-west routes.

In its report, the shipping company indicated that at $1,400 per TEU , the average freight rate was similar to the previous year’s level of $1,391.

“In a volatile market, we significantly increased our transport volume and ended the first half of the year on a solid note overall. We have gotten our Gemini network off to a very successful start and are setting new standards in our industry in terms of schedule reliability. Furthermore, we have made significant progress in the expansion of Hanseatic Global Terminals ,” explained Rolf Habben Jansen, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd AG.

In the first half of the year, the terminals and infrastructure segment achieved an increase in sales and profits. EBITDA amounted to $79 million, compared to $71 million in the same period in 2024, representing an increase of 11.3 percent.

EBIT, in turn, increased by 12.1% to $37 million, compared to $33 million in the first half of last year.

“Furthermore, the terminal portfolio was further expanded in March 2025 with the acquisition of a majority stake in CNMP LH in Le Havre, France,” the report noted.

Due to the strong commercial performance achieved in the first half of 2025, in line with expectations, the Board of Directors adjusted its earnings forecast for fiscal year 2025.

In this regard, the group’s EBITDA is expected to be between $2.8 billion and $3.8 billion , and EBIT between $250 million and $1.25 billion. “Given the wide range of geopolitical challenges and the volatility of freight rates, the forecast remains subject to considerable uncertainty.”

“In the second half of the year, we will maintain our focus on quality and growth, as well as operational and commercial performance, while continuing to optimize our cost structure. At the same time, we will do everything in our power to help our customers navigate this volatile market environment, and we expect more new trade agreements to make their supply chains more predictable,” emphasized Rolf Habben Jansen.

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El cargo Hapag-Lloyd weathers volatility to close strong 1H25 apareció primero en T21.

The Mexican Association of Freight Forwarders (Amacarga) has predicted that ocean freight rates on routes connecting Asia with Mexico could increase by up to 100% in the coming weeks due to equipment shortages.

The source of this increase has been emerging in recent weeks, as importers in the United States have generated excess demand for shipping containersin the international market to anticipate purchases, taking advantage of the truce in the tariff conflict with China.

This situation has significantly altered the availability of containers in global trade operations, generating, for now, a 50% increase in tariffs in this sector, according to Eva María Muñoz, president of Amacarga.

“We’re seeing that buyers in the United States have sharply increased their purchases of goods from China, and this has led to them literally monopolizing containers on the international market, impacting rates for this service to Mexico,” he emphasized.

Eva María Muñoz acknowledged that it is in these scenarios that freight forwarders’ professional skills come into play , seeking the best options for their clients (importers and exporters) so that they suffer the least possible impact on the cost of their goods.

“We definitely won’t be able to enjoy the same advantages we had a year ago in terms of rates due to the international environment that has affected us all, but with our knowledge and the relationships we have with shipping lines, we will try to find new routes and support foreign trade companies as much as possible,” he emphasized.

Finally, he expressed confidence that once the 90-day grace period granted by the United States to China to maintain tariffs ends, the market may level out, “but frankly, uncertainty prevails ,” he concluded.

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El cargo AMACARGA forecasts an increase in maritime freight rates of up to 100% apareció primero en T21.

The “tidal wave” caused by the US-led tariff war has had an impact on ocean freight rates on the Asia-Mexico trade route, bringing them below $2,000 per container for the first time since January 2024.

The EAX index, which measures containerized traffic from Asia to Mexico, closed March at $1,668 per 40-foot container (FEU) , a 30.03% drop from the previous month.

“This weakness aligns with a 12% reduction in cargo volume on the Asia-Mexico route, according to Drewry Maritime Research . Shipowners unsuccessfully attempted to implement rate increases (GRI) on three occasions during the first quarter, due to low demand and trade uncertainty,” according to the EAX index report, prepared by Eternity Group Mexico .

It also highlights that the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has reported that during the first quarter of the year, container volume orders from Asia to North America have decreased by 15 percent.

Although it also highlights what the Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade, Investment and Technology (Comce) has said , that Mexico and Latin America could benefit from this situation, as China seeks to diversify its trade routes away from the United States , increasing exports to Mexico by 22% year-on-year.

According to the most recent statistics from the Mexican port authority, during the first two months of 2025, Mexican ports located on the Pacific coast, which have direct connections to Asia, have shown an annual increase of 9.6% in container imports.

“In April, the downward trend (on ocean rates) persists, with shipowners (shipping lines) deploying an additional 138,000 TEU (20-foot containers) weekly capacity, a 25% increase in the low season. This excess capacity, combined with weak demand, could reduce rates by another 10-15% in the second quarter. Competition among core carriers in the trade lane has reduced rates, intensifying downward pressure,” Eternity Group Mexico predicts.

Meanwhile, this Chinese freight forwarder indicated that, globally, the market received 175,000 TEUs of new vessels in the first quarter, with ONE adding 27,000 TEUs , strengthening its presence on Asia-Latin America routes. However, it indicated that this increase, which represents 4% of the global fleet according to Alphaliner , exacerbates the oversupply.

“In Mexico, port congestion, such as the 18% increase in waiting times at Manzanillo, could increase logistics costs by 5-7% in the short term,” he said.

“Mexico has an opportunity to consolidate its position as a logistics hub, with projects such as the Isthmus of Tehuantepec Interoceanic Corridor, which could reduce transit times from Asia by 20%. However, port infrastructure needs modernization, and geopolitical tensions could generate trade retaliation that affects market stability. The EAX index reflects a market under pressure, but Mexico can capitalize on emerging opportunities by diversifying routes and optimizing supply chains in this volatile environment ,” the report states.

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El cargo Tariff war sinks Asia-Mexico ocean freight rates apareció primero en T21.