Mexican Customs Chaos Costs Millions in Trade Losses

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Persistent operational issues at customs offices across Mexico have severely disrupted import processes in recent weeks, resulting in significant economic losses for the state. Sergio León Cervantes, president of Empresarios por Quintana Roo, confirmed the situation, emphasizing that the port of Manzanillo in Colima—one of Mexico’s most critical trade hubs—has been particularly affected.

Labor Dispute Triggers Port Congestion and Delays

León Cervantes explained, “A labor dispute at several customs offices, especially in Manzanillo, has led to millions in losses. The primary issue is congestion at the port, compounded by delays in container releases. These holdups result in storage fees charged in pesos per day, while delays in dollar-denominated transactions incur even higher costs.”

Business leaders have called for increased staffing at customs facilities and upgrades to technological infrastructure to streamline operations. Preliminary estimates indicate that the first three weeks of the conflict have already caused losses exceeding 150 million pesos, not including additional expenses from storage and delays.

Quintana Roo Bears the Brunt of Supply Chain Disruptions

The impact on Quintana Roo is especially severe, as Manzanillo serves as the primary entry point for Asian imports. The port handles approximately 15% of the region’s import volume, including time-sensitive goods that cannot endure the longer transit times associated with alternate ports like Puerto Progreso.

Forum Aims to Address Crisis with Federal Solutions

On June 20, the Mexican Council for Foreign Trade, Innovation, and Technology (COMCE) will host a forum bringing together national experts to propose solutions. The event will include the participation of COMCE’s national vice president and other foreign trade specialists, with the goal of presenting actionable measures to federal authorities.

“COMCE supports us in foreign trade logistics and has representation within the federal Secretariat of Economy. This allows us, as business leaders, to advocate for solutions—such as hiring more personnel, allocating resources, and modernizing customs technology,” León Cervantes added.

Warning of Rising Import Costs if Crisis Persists

The business leader cautioned that failure to resolve the crisis promptly will lead to unavoidable consequences: higher import costs. “Of the $12 billion in goods we consume annually, 60 to 70% are imports. If this issue isn’t addressed urgently, additional storage and delay costs will inevitably drive up final product prices,” he stated.