Mexican port delays cost freight sector 44 million pesos daily

Logistics delays at major Mexican ports are generating estimated daily operating costs of 44.4 million pesos for road freight transport. According to Javier Cendejas Meneses, president of the Mexican Council of Foreign Trade (COMCE) Northeast, these delays in ports, highways, and customs impact the entire supply chain, including transporters, warehouses, manufacturers, and importers/exporters.

Data from July 2026 indicates significant waiting times at key ports: Manzanillo averaged 12 hours and 50 minutes, Lázaro Cárdenas averaged 11 hours and 58 minutes, Altamira averaged 9 hours and 36 minutes, and Veracruz averaged 7 hours and 13 minutes. The operational cost per cycle, accounting for fuel, operators, and trucks, was highest in Manzanillo at 4,934 pesos and lowest in Veracruz at 2,776 pesos.

These inefficiencies pose a threat to competitiveness, particularly for the Northeast region—comprising Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, and Durango—which accounted for 48% of Mexico's total exports during the first half of 2026.