Guaymas Port Seeks Greater Role in México’s Trade with the US and Far East

“The Northwestern México port readies for development but logistics companies in México differing ideas about its potential”

Guaymas, Mexico, December 21, 2005 – Guaymas Port is under serious consideration in both México and the United States as a possible target for international transport development but for two very different reasons. The Mexican side sees Guaymas as a potential point to accept overflow from Los Angeles / Long Beach port and the United States side, namely Arizona, see Guaymas as a new point for transshipping cargo for the maquiladoras and for the Southwestern United States markets. Guaymas is situated approximately 220 miles (354 km) south of Nogales, Arizona, a major border crossing point for cargo.

Mexican forwarders have differing opinions about whether Guaymas will compete with Manzanillo for Far Eastern cargo though. “I don’t think that Guaymas will take volume from Manzanillo,” said Edgar Calderon, managing director of the Guadalajara based TRC Cargo Internacional, an Aeroceanetwork member in México, “Remember that Manzanillo is basically in the center of México and all the cargo goes and comes from this area. Guaymas will be for the factories located in the North of México so this will be a different market.” Aeroceanetwork is a non-exclusive network for professional logistics companies and international freight forwarders.

But Nicolas Medina Trujillo, CEO of Mexico City based Aire Mar Logistics, also an Aeroceanetwork member in México, believes that current congestion in Mexican ports can be a catalyst for cargo volumes moving toward Guaymas in the future the same way many believe Guaymas is well located to relieve Los Angeles / Long Beach port traffic. “Manzanillo is our gateway for the Far East, but as other ports in México are becoming too small to handle the container traffic increases,” says Medina Trujillo, “For example in Manzanillo some times it has taken up to five days for clearing one consolidated container. We believe if [planned Guaymas port] developments are true, Guaymas could take some of the traffic from Manzanillo.”

Guaymas’s export possibilities are also not entirely clear due to this being the early stages of development. “The export possibilities that I see are as I said, for the North maquilas located basically for the exports to the USA,” explained Edgar Calderon. But Nicolas Medina Trujillo sees export traffic development as yet still a question mark over the port’s future. “Export operations will depend on the facilities or infrastructure offered like customs brokers, bonded warehouses, etc.” said Medina Trujillo.

One thing that does seem for certain, Guaymas port would most likely be focused solely on Far East and US traffic as its location makes it not so competitive for other locations. “I just asked some rates to Central America,” said Calderon, “But Guaymas is pretty far from the center of México so it is not a cheap option.”

To Return to the News Page

To Return to the Home Page