Mexico is proceeding with a massive expansion of its largest seaport, the Port of Manzanillo, aiming to make it the busiest in Latin America despite the economic uncertainties spurred by U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade wars.
The Mexican government plans to increase the port’s capacity to handle 10 million 20-foot containers, up from nearly 4 million in 2024, according to the Mexican Navy, which operates the facility.
The Port of Manzanillo, already Mexico’s largest and the third-largest in Latin America, is at the heart of a multibillion-dollar infrastructure project spearheaded by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. This expansion is a central element of Sheinbaum’s strategy to counter a sluggish economy, as U.S. tariffs on Mexican exports have raised concerns of a slowdown.
Despite the International Monetary Fund’s recent forecast of a 0.3% economic contraction for Mexico in 2025 due to these tariffs, Sheinbaum remains confident, asserting that public investment will prevent economic contraction and bolster domestic industry through initiatives like “Plan Mexico.”
The modernization of Mexico’s ports, including Manzanillo, is a critical part of this strategy.
According to port officials, U.S. tariffs have not yet had a significant impact on trade at Manzanillo, where most imports come from Asia and are used in domestic manufacturing. The expansion project is set to enhance the port’s capacity to handle both containerized cargo and hydrocarbon products, with the completion of the upgrade expected by the end of Sheinbaum’s presidency in 2030.
