The race for port capacity in Mexico is no longer measured solely in meters of dock space or container traffic. At Contecon Manzanillo , the focus has shifted towards specialized infrastructure , operational automation, and environmental sustainability as key components to support the growth of foreign trade from the Mexican Pacific.

The terminal, located in the port of Manzanillo, has accelerated an expansion strategy in recent years that combines new operational areas, large-scale equipment and technological modernization, amidst a scenario where shipping companies demand greater productivity to serve increasingly larger ships and logistics chains with less room for interruptions.

One of the most significant moves within this strategy has been the addition of 60-meter-high STS gantry cranes , considered the tallest in the Americas. The arrival of this equipment began in 2024, continued through 2025, and further additions are planned for 2026, signaling the terminal’s commitment to staying ahead of the evolving international maritime market.

With this infrastructure, the terminal became the first on the continent to operate cranes of such dimensions, capable of handling vessels up to 400 meters in length , a segment that has become increasingly common on transpacific routes and that demands higher levels of precision and operational speed in port.

“Having reached 12 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) and operating the tallest STS cranes in the Americas confirms that our commitment to modern infrastructure and sustainable technology is yielding concrete results. Today, we service large-scale vessels with greater efficiency and, at the same time, reduce emissions by more than 50% in strategic equipment such as our hybrid RTGs,” stated José Antonio Contreras, CEO of Contecon Manzanillo.

The modernization has not been limited to quayside cranes. During 2025, the terminal also incorporated hybrid RTG cranes and plans to add more of these units, along with new STS cranes, in the coming years. The goal is to strengthen the terminal’s installed capacity, reduce operating times, and maintain international standards of safety and environmental performance.

The incorporation of hybrid technology stems from technical studies initiated in 2023 to transform part of the operating fleet according to sustainability criteria. The RTGs combine high-efficiency diesel engines with lithium batteries, a configuration that reduces fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50%, as well as lowering maintenance costs.

“Having state-of-the-art facilities and machinery enhances our competitiveness and directly boosts the growth of foreign trade and the country’s economic development,” Contreras said.

The terminal’s environmental strategy has also sought institutional support. The company holds ISO 14064 Carbon Neutral certification , focused on measuring, reducing, and offsetting polluting emissions—an issue that is gaining increasing importance among the demands of global clients, investors, and shipping lines.

In parallel, Contecon Manzanillo is pursuing an aggressive physical expansion plan. Since 2023, the company has invested over $300 million in phases 3A and 3B of its growth, focused on expanding its yards, docks, and specialized equipment. As part of this project, new container yards covering nearly 12 hectares are already operational.

The terminal’s cumulative investment has already reached $900 million, while phase 4 of the project is under development with new investments aimed at sustaining the projected growth in containerized cargo handling.

The results are beginning to be reflected in the volumes handled. By the start of 2026, the terminal had reached 12 million TEUs moved since the start of operations, an indicator that coincides with the strengthening of its participation in the national movement of import and export containers.

During the first quarter of 2026, Contecon Manzanillo handled a total of 417,191 TEUs in import, export and transshipment services, a volume 7.9% higher than that recorded in the same period a year earlier, according to data from the port authority.

Behind the expansion also lies a broader message for the Mexican port system : the growth of foreign trade and the arrival of larger vessels are pressuring terminals to accelerate investments in infrastructure, digitalization and sustainability, in an environment where the country’s logistical competitiveness increasingly depends on the ability of its ports to respond efficiently to a more complex and demanding global demand.

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VERACRUZ, VER.- Construction of the Nuevo Manzanillo port has not yet formally begun, but it has already sparked the interest of major global players in the maritime industry. According to Admiral Guillermo Mejía George, director general of the National Port System Administration (Asipona) Manzanillo , letters of interest have been received from 13 of the world’s largest shipping companies and terminals to participate in future bidding processes.

“The next terminal will be put out to tender in July 2026 (…) and the first terminal will be operational in 2028-2029,” he said during his participation in the 29th Annual Congress of Shipping Agents, organized by the Mexican Association of Shipping Agents (Amanac) .

This project is, in the words of George Mejía himself, a historic opportunity to reorganize port operations . “The Port of Manzanillo is a very busy and successful port, so the expansion project gives us the opportunity not only to expand our operational capacity, but also to implement planning that allows everything currently done in San Pedrito to be done in a more orderly and efficient manner in Cuyutlán Lagoon.”

The new port complex, located approximately 30 kilometers from the current port, will cover 1,880 hectares, a polygon four times the size of the current Manzanillo port. It will specialize in containers and hydrocarbons, but will also include a support dock for interport transfers . Its depth of -18 meters will allow it to receive deep-draft vessels, while the terminals will have docks measuring between 1,176 and 2,000 meters, and areas ranging from 49 to 104 hectares.

The plan includes five highly technological container terminals, with yards and docks designed for progressive automation and comprehensive rail connectivity . “The movement here is intended to be 70% by rail and 30% by land transport,” the admiral stated.

The construction of this new port also includes the relocation of the Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) facilities currently located in Polygon 1, a measure that, he explained, will strengthen the energy supply chain, ensuring control and traceability, and reducing risks to society at large.

The goal is ambitious: to make Manzanillo the number one port in Latin America and the 15th worldwide, with a projected volume of 10 million TEUs annually. “The goal: greater productivity per area, lower operational risk, and greater logistical efficiency,” Mejía George summarized.

According to the official, the current port of Manzanillo is operating at 95% capacity , causing severe congestion when internal or external disruptions occur, while the expansions currently underway at the terminals could reduce this percentage to only 89%. This highlights the importance of building the New Manzanillo port.

It should be remembered that in June of this year, T21 published that in an extraordinary session of the Board of Directors of Asipona Manzanillo, it was reported that the port authority would begin the administrative process for the relocation of the Specialized Container Terminal (TEC) I , concessioned since 1995 to the American company  SSA Marine Mexico , to the port of Cuyutlán.

He added that Navy personnel are working directly with Semarnat to expedite the process.

Added to this is the opposition from some local groups. ” There are some leaders out there who don’t let us move forward… they just put up obstacles, and those leaders have nothing to do with the fishermen. So the problem will be solved,” he stated. For years, he said, they have been working to offer alternatives to fishing cooperatives and prevent damage. “The watershed where they work is definitely not being touched, and they are being given support,” he emphasized.

Despite these obstacles, the project maintains international appeal. Six global companies have already expressed interest in participating in the dredging project , one of the most important technical components of the project. For Mejía George, the message is clear: Mexican port expansion is attracting global attention, and the challenge is to translate that interest into efficient and sustainable infrastructure within the agreed timeframe.

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