Insider Spotlight
• Terminal milestone highlights strength of long-term operational planning
• Expansion investments sharpen efficiency and vessel-handling capability
• Scale, technology and workforce alignment reinforce leadership position
The ICTSI-operated terminal recently surpassed a cumulative 12 million TEUs handled since beginning operations, reflecting a strategy anchored on scale, reliability and continuous infrastructure development.
Why it matters
The Port of Manzanillo is Mexico’s primary Pacific entry point for international trade. As volumes fluctuate across the region, terminals with the ability to absorb demand efficiently are gaining share.
The big picture
Contecon Manzanillo’s performance is rooted in a comprehensive operational approach that prioritizes berth productivity, yard capacity and equipment readiness.
This foundation has allowed the terminal to post the highest container throughput at the port, even as other Pacific coast ports recorded broadly flat performance.
In 2025, the terminal registered growth of 10.5 percent in imports and 12.5 percent in exports, signaling how operational resilience can translate into commercial gains amid uneven market conditions.
Driving the efficiency engine
Since 2023, Contecon Manzanillo has invested more than $300 million as part of its Phase 3A and 3B expansion, with total project costs reaching $900 million.
These investments expanded yard and berth capacity while adding specialized, modern equipment designed to raise productivity and reduce congestion.
Following the completion of Phase 3, the terminal now operates 1.3 kilometers of berths and deploys quay cranes with outreach of up to 60 meters, supported by hybrid rubber-tired gantry cranes.
This configuration enables the terminal to handle vessels up to 400 meters long and 24,000 TEUs in capacity without compromising safety or turnaround times.
What they’re saying
“The dynamism of trade with Asia has been fundamental to the development of the terminal. Over the past four years, imports from the region–particularly from China–have grown by more than 70 percent, driven by Manzanillo being the first port of call and its proximity to the country’s main production centers,” José Antonio Contreras, Contecon Manzanillo chief executive officer, said in a press statement.
“Reaching the 12 million TEU mark confirms that we are moving in the right direction at a critical moment as our expansion project enters its final stage. This milestone prepares us to operate with a capacity exceeding 2 million TEUs annually, reinforcing our commitment to efficiency, growth and the development of trade in Mexico,” he added.
Beyond capacity
Operational efficiency is also reinforced by workforce coordination, ongoing training and the adoption of hybrid equipment that cuts fuel consumption by about 50 percent.
Since 2022, the terminal has maintained Carbon Neutral Certification under ISO 14064, aligning productivity gains with sustainability goals.
Bottom line
Contecon Manzanillo’s experience shows how disciplined investment in capacity, technology and people can create a durable efficiency advantage, positioning the terminal as a critical enabler of Mexico’s Pacific trade flows. —Vanessa Hidalgo | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
