TIJUANA, BC – The Port of Ensenada seeks to reposition itself as a strategic hub for maritime trade in Northwest Mexico amidst a global environment marked by geopolitical uncertainty, pressure on supply chains, and the need to accelerate investments in infrastructure, digitalization, and logistics coordination. This was one of the main conclusions of the panel “Challenges and Opportunities of Maritime and Port Connectivity,” held within the framework of ETYL Cali-Baja 2026 , organized by Grupo T21.

During the meeting, representatives from shipping companies, port terminals, trucking companies, logistics operators, and the port authority agreed that Ensenada’s growth has ceased to be an expectation and has become a reality that is beginning to strain the region’s infrastructure and operational processes.

José Cobos, Sales & Marketing Director of Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) , affirmed that the shipping company maintains a long-term commitment to Ensenada despite the volatility generated by the renegotiation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and the tariff landscape in North America. “MSC is a company that invests in the future, with a perspective extending to the next 10 or 20 years,” he stated, while also highlighting the growth of industries related to technology, semiconductors, and data centers in northwestern Mexico.

The executive noted that Ensenada has also become a relevant alternative for alleviating congestion at other Mexican Pacific ports, particularly Manzanillo and Lázaro Cárdenas . From his perspective, the immediate challenge will be to support the potential growth in demand with greater logistical and maritime capacity. “Mexico is in a strong position despite the current geopolitical situation… in 10 or 15 years this will be a very important region,” he pointed out.

The growth vision was also supported by Ollincuauhtli Méndez, general manager of Hutchison Ports EIT , who noted that the group will celebrate 30 years of operation in Ensenada in 2027 and that it recently completed an expansion of the port terminal . He also announced the arrival of a new container crane this year as part of a strategy that combines infrastructure, automation, and artificial intelligence.

“The focus in operational matters isn’t just on infrastructure, but also on modernizing operations to make them more agile and adapted to the world we live in,” he said. He even detailed that the new cranes operate with remote controls, artificial intelligence, and machine learning tools capable of learning from operations to seek greater efficiencies.

Méndez acknowledged that the pressure on infrastructure is beginning to be felt as the region becomes more attractive to cargo that currently moves via Long Beach or Los Angeles . “We have a lot of room to grow (…) the market is large,” he asserted, noting that the terminal maintains commercial and scouting strategies to attract new volumes.

From the port authority, Fidel Murillo, Operations Manager of the National Port System Administration (Asipona) Ensenada , explained that the port is making progress on projects to expand its maritime and land capacity. Among these, he highlighted the upcoming tender to extend the turning basin from 450 to 550 meters , as well as dredging works financed through the FIDEMAR trust.

The official maintained that the port offers competitive conditions for handling deep-draft vessels and highlighted the recent inauguration of a maritime traffic control center that will provide shipping lines with real-time information on draft, transit times, and operational conditions. “This makes us more efficient, ensuring the fastest and most efficient arrival of ships,” he commented.

Murillo also revealed that Ensenada’s logistics strategy includes projects outside the port area, particularly the development of an inland port in Jatay , about 25 kilometers from the port, where a 1,000-hectare industrial zone is planned. The goal, he explained, is to alleviate pressure on urban operations and expand regional logistics capacity.

However, while investments are progressing, participants acknowledged that the main obstacles continue to be operational coordination and administrative processes. Israel Delgado, CEO of Express Service Transport Inc. , warned that “the highest cost we face is inefficiency,” particularly due to red tape and the coexistence of different regulatory and logistics actors.

The businessman also warned of two growing pressures: the shortage of truck drivers and the problems with land access to the port. “Ensenada is growing significantly, and the infrastructure is being overwhelmed ,” he stated, emphasizing the need to work with local authorities to prevent the last mile from becoming an obstacle to regional growth.

Francisco Espinoza, commercial manager of Internaves de México , focused part of his presentation on the need to standardize logistics processes to serve time-sensitive industries such as IMMEX (the maquiladora and export manufacturing industry) and aerospace. “ Just-in-time is not something to aspire to, but a fundamental element for supply chains,” he stated.

Espinoza warned that some regulatory and customs changes implemented at the national level do not necessarily reflect the operational dynamics of Baja California. “ There are horror stories out there , but the flow of this operation can be streamlined by sitting down together to review our needs,” he said, calling for greater coordination among authorities, terminals, and service providers.

The discussion also addressed the uncertainty generated by trade tensions between Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Although participants acknowledged that the market reacted nervously to the new US tariffs and the USMCA negotiations, an optimistic view prevailed regarding the logistical potential of northwestern Mexico.

“It is very easy to lose trust and very difficult to regain it,” acknowledged Ollincuauhtli Méndez, who considered it essential to avoid regulatory bottlenecks and take advantage of technological modernization to streamline reviews and processes.

In parallel, Asipona Ensenada announced new projects linked to a bonded warehouse for the development of a multi-purpose terminal for general cargo – which is expected to be put out to tender soon – as well as a new cruise terminal and a large-scale tourist marina, initiatives that seek to expand the economic and logistical diversification of the port.

At the close of the panel, the participants agreed that the main challenge for Ensenada will not only be to grow, but to do so in a synchronized way between infrastructure, regulation, connectivity and customer service.

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The port of Manzanillo in Colima, Mexico’s largest maritime trade port , suffered one of its most severe operational crises between May and June due to a labor dispute that partially paralyzed its activities and whose consequences are already reflected in its figures.

In May of this year, the port recorded the movement of 298,923 20-foot containers (TEU) , the lowest monthly figure so far in 2025. This is the first time this year that the volume has fallen below 300,000 TEU , after having reached a maximum of 337,670 operations in March.

On May 12, workers at the Manzanillo customs office began a series of demonstrations and work stoppages to denounce alleged labor abuse and unjustified dismissals. These protests continued until May 16, when they were evicted by authorities.

Although the protests lasted only four days, they were enough to destabilize operations at the port . As of May 20, the port was operating with only five inspectors. On June 12, Contecon Manzanillo  announced that, together with  Mexico’s National Customs Agency (ANAM) , they would activate extended 24-hour hours at the Manzanillo customs office for three days to “address peak demand . “

Port rhythm in the country

Despite its internal conflicts, the Port of Manzanillo continues to lead the nation in the number of port operations. However, it registered the steepest decline in May 2025, with a 10.4% drop compared to the same month in 2024. It was followed by the Port of Altamira, Tamaulipas, with a 3% reduction. In contrast, Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán, reported a 12.6% growth , while Ensenada, Baja California, registered a 6.2% increase, based on data from the Ministry of the Navy (Semar) .

From January to May, the port of Manzanillo recorded 1.59 million operations , followed by the port of Lázaro Cárdenas with 1.028 million; the port of Veracruz with 509,427; Altamira with 373,428; and Ensenada with 170,576 operations.

However, the port that saw the greatest annual growth in accumulated operations was Lázaro Cárdenas, with an increase of 12.9% , followed by Altamira, Tamaulipas, with 2.3%; while the port of Veracruz recorded the largest decline, with a contraction of 4.6%, followed by Manzanillo, with a decrease of 1%.

The recent crisis in Manzanillo not only highlighted the operational fragility of Mexico’s most important port in the face of conflicts, but also raised alarm bells about the need to modernize its processes to maintain operations. While the ports of Lázaro Cárdenas and Ensenada benefited from what happened in Manzanillo , the challenge for this port will be to demonstrate that its leadership depends not only on its numbers, but also on its ability to manage and overcome crises like those of last May.

(Main image source: @ASIPONA_Man ) .

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The Port of Ensenada made history on Monday, June 2, welcoming the Ovation of the Seas , the largest cruise ship ever to dock at this terminal. At 348 meters in length, the Quantum-class vessel from Royal Caribbean International surpassed the previous record of 334 meters.

For Hutchison Ports ECV , the cruise ship’s arrival represented the culmination of years of preparation and coordination between Royal Caribbean and port authorities; For company representatives, this event underscores the need for constant development of port infrastructure to accommodate new, large-scale cruise ships.

“I take this opportunity to express my special thanks to Royal Caribbean, one of our main trading partners. Thank you for trusting Ensenada as part of your itineraries (…) At Hutchison Ports ECV, we are working hard for the arrival of this cruise ship,” said Jorge Magno Lecona Ruiz, general manager of Hutchison Ports in Latin America.

Among the improvements made to the Port of Ensenada for the cruise ship’s arrival are the installation of two new 200-ton bitts at Pier 2, used simultaneously for the first time to receive this vessel. In addition, operational guidelines and maximum lengths permitted by authorities were updated.

On the other hand, Lecona Ruiz announced 17 arrivals of the Ovation of the Seas from June to September, in addition to the incorporation of its sister ship, Quantum of the Seas , with 16 arrivals scheduled from October to December 2025. With both vessels, it is expected to receive 165 thousand passengers in the port .

He also reported that 2025 will be an important year for Ensenada, with a projected 350 arrivals and more than 1.3 million passengers , setting a record in the history of Hutchison Ports ECV.

The Ovation of the Seas is a vessel with a gross tonnage of 168,666 tons and a capacity to accommodate up to five thousand passengers .

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On June 2, the port of Ensenada will receive the  Ovation of the Seas cruise ship , the largest to ever arrive at the port, announced Hutchison Ports ECV , who highlighted that this represents a milestone in the shipping history of the region.

The company detailed that the vessel, operated by Royal Caribbean International , will dock at Pier 2 of the Ensenada Cruise Terminal, reaffirming the port as a world-class destination in that industry.

The Ovation of the Seas is a vessel with a length of 348 meters and a gross tonnage of 168,666 tons , with a capacity to accommodate up to five thousand passengers .

As part of the preparations for the cruise ship’s arrival, Hutchison Ports ECV reported that technical simulations were conducted to assess the feasibility of docking. Additionally, efforts were made to extend the maximum permitted length, with the goal of reaching 350 meters for Dock 2.

Improvements were also made to the terminal’s infrastructure, including the installation of two new 200-ton capacity bollards.

Since 2022, Hutchison Ports ECV has worked closely with Royal Caribbean International to enable the arrival of cruise ships of this magnitude, and the arrival of Ovation of the Seas will not only represent a logistical and operational achievement, but will also contribute to the economic and tourism development of Ensenada.

On May 18, the Port of Ensenada celebrated its 143rd anniversary, and the federal government announced its expansion with an investment of 5.745 billion pesos (mdp) , which will be used to increase the port’s cruise ship reception capacity at this port and the container reception capacity at El Sauzal.

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ENSENADA, BC.- The multi-use terminal in Ensenada, part of the Hutchison Ports group , reaffirmed on Thursday its position as a competitive option in the container market on the northwest coast of the Mexican Pacific.

Its directors and port authorities gave the green light to the expansion of the terminal , an infrastructure project that began in February 2023, and where 2.3 billion pesos were invested, without affecting the loading and unloading of containers.

“We have been growing and we have had the opportunity to have a very interesting port activity,” said Jorge Magno Lecona, head of the Latin American and Caribbean Division of Hutchison Ports, during the inauguration ceremony.

Between empty and full containers, this terminal handled 462,176 20-foot containers (TEU) in 2023 and the outlook for the next five years is that the demand for port services will increase at a constant rate, motivated by the arrival of a greater number of foreign companies attracted by the wave of nearshoring (relocation of production lines) in Mexico.

As of September of this year, the port of Ensenada had accumulated a total of 322,252 TEUs , just 7.9% less than in the same period in 2023, according to official data.

The works at the terminal included the extension of an additional 300 meters on the dock, an increase in the container yard, technological improvements, the acquisition of a new Super Post Panamax electric gantry crane (already in operation) , as well as two RTG electric cranes focused on the sustainability objectives of the Hutchison Ports group.

“It was a company that delivered on time and in the correct manner, and it is very clear to me that it is a good thing for everything that has to do with jobs, both direct and indirect, not only in Ensenada, in the state, in Mexico and internationally,” said Admiral Luis Javier Robinson Portillo Villanueva, general director of the National Port System Administration (Asipona) Ensenada .

The Hutchison Ports TUM in Ensenada primarily serves the maritime activities of companies based in cities in the northwest of Mexico such as Tijuana, Mexicali, Tecate, San Luis Río Colorado, Hermosillo, Nogales and even Ciudad Juárez , which in some cases are connected to the industrial market in southern California or Texas. For this reason, its main competitors are the twin ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.

One of the advantages is that shipping lines have established direct services to Ensenada, which becomes the first port of call for ships coming from Asia , which then go down to other ports in the Mexican Pacific and in other Latin American countries on this same coast.

Hutchison Ports in Mexico also operates other terminals in the country’s main ports such as Manzanillo, Lázaro Cárdenas and Veracruz .

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El cargo Hutchison Ports inaugurates terminal expansion in Ensenada apareció primero en T21.

On June 9th, the Ensenada International Terminal (EIT) of Hutchison Ports Holdings welcomed a new quay crane and two yard cranes, all powered by electricity, aimed at boosting operational efficiency and cargo capacity at the terminal.

The three cranes arrived on Saturday, June 8th, aboard the BM Zhen Hua 29, which docked at the anchorage area of the port of Ensenada. The new super post panamax quay crane has a reach of 70 meters and a height of 48 meters under the spreader, enabling it to handle practically all container vessels operating in transpacific maritime commercial transport, as stated by Hutchison Ports in a press release.

“This increased capacity is crucial for improving efficiency in container loading and unloading, significantly reducing waiting and operational times,” explained Javier Rodríguez, General Manager of EIT.

The two electric yard cranes, which are part of this upgrade, will facilitate the more efficient delivery and receipt of containers to and from land transport. These cranes are the first of their kind in Ensenada and are part of a fleet of electric equipment that includes internal electric trucks, introduced earlier in 2024.

“The incorporation of these yard cranes will optimize container movement within the terminal, improving productivity and reducing environmental impact,” stated Rodríguez.

This infrastructure is part of Hutchison Port Holdings’ strategic plan to electrify all equipment at its terminals, significantly contributing to carbon emissions reduction and supporting its commitment to environmental sustainability. This sustainable approach aligns with Hutchison Ports’ NET Zero strategy, which encompasses physical expansion, technological modernization, and environmental sustainability.

“The arrival of these new electric cranes marks a significant milestone in our modernization and sustainability plan. Not only do they increase our operational capacity, but they also reinforce our commitment to emission reduction and energy efficiency,” stated Javier Rodríguez.

Hutchison Ports initiated a commitment in 2021 to reduce absolute Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions of scope one and two by 54.6% by the year 2033. Additionally, by 2030, the goal is to achieve a 54.6% reduction in CO2 emissions from the 2021 baseline year, with the projection of reaching net zero GHG emissions across the value chain by 2050.

The new infrastructure adds to what EIT already has, with three cranes on the docks, totaling four electric cranes for ship handling. Additionally, the two new electric yard cranes join the Reach Stackers, forklifts, and internal electric trucks, advancing the plan for equipment electrification.

This complements the recent investment of 2.3 billion pesos for the expansion of the terminal at the Port of Ensenada. The project includes extending the pier by an additional 300 meters, improvements to the cargo yard, the construction of a wave deflector wall, and the addition of 432 container connections, totaling 720. Initiated in February 2023, this project will not only increase static capacity to over 7,500 TEUs but will also enhance existing facilities to handle a higher volume of operations more efficiently.

Hutchison Ports’ Multi-Purpose Terminal (TUM) in Ensenada primarily focuses on serving maritime operations for companies located in the northwest of Mexico, such as Tijuana, Mexicali, Tecate, San Luis Río Colorado, Hermosillo, Nogales, and even Ciudad Juárez, many of which have direct connections to the industrial market of Southern California and Texas.

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