Mexico Tariffs and Import Permits
Mexico Steel Rule 8a Tariff Adjustments Postponed
On October 30, 2026, Mexico's Ministry of Economy published in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF: 5802604) an agreement modifying the general rules and criteria on foreign trade matters.
The change updates the criterion and table of fraction VI of numeral 2 of Annex 2.2.2. It authorizes imports under the Regla 8a (Eighth Rule) scheme for goods in headings 72.01 to 72.07 and HS Codes 7209.16.01, 7209.17.01, 7209.18.01, 7228.30.01 and 7228.30.99 of the TIGIE.
Within the iron and steel sector (HS Codes 9802.00.13 and 9802.00.23, NICO 00), the criterion now covers definitive imports of steel bars under HS Codes 7228.30.01 and 7228.30.99 for producing steel grinding balls for mining under HS Code 7326.11.03.
These steel bars carry a general 35% tariff and lack national production meeting the required technical specifications. The measure expands eligible inputs under Regla 8a to support manufacturers of grinding balls and the mining sector's crushing and grinding stage, in line with the National Development Plan 2025-2030 and the Sectoral Program of Economy 2025-2030.
The agreement was set to enter into force the day after publication. However, the Undersecretariat of Industry and Commerce of the Ministry of Economy issued a resolution on October 30, 2026, postponing the applicability of the reform to the criterion and table of fraction VI of numeral 2 of Annex 2.2.2 until further notice to be published on the SNICE portal (www.snice.gob.mx).
The resolution was published on the SNICE portal and notified to the Secretary of Economy, the head of ANAM, the head of SAT, and the Director General of Commercial Facilitation and Foreign Trade. Existing registration, prior authorization, and compliance conditions continue to apply. Eligible manufacturers can seek tariff relief through prior authorization while the general 35% tariff remains.
Mexico SKD/CKD Auto Kit Tariffs Require Prior Permits
Effective October 30, 2026, imports of parts and components for vehicle assembly under HS Code 9803.00.01 (SKD/CKD kits) require a prior import license from Mexico's Ministry of Economy to claim the tariff exemption on the customs declaration (pedimento).
The license is issued by the Directorate General for Trade Facilitation and Foreign Investment (DGFCCE) and requires an opinion from DGIPAT. Without it, the exemption cannot be claimed for definitive import or fiscal deposit regimes.
This follows the October 13 decree that eliminated the 10% import duties on these kits for five years. Regulatory amendments to section III BIS of foreign trade rule 2.2.4 and item 1 BIS of Annex 2.2.1 took effect on October 30, 2026.
The temporary exemption applies to 11 light vehicle manufacturers established in Mexico with fiscal deposit authorizations for assembly: BMW, Stellantis, Honda, Mazda, Nissan, Toyota, Kia, Ford, General Motors, Volkswagen and Giant Motors Latinoamérica (JAC brand assembler). It covers kits from countries without free trade agreements, such as China.
Operations are supervised by SAT and ANAM, including the obligation to report vehicle identification numbers (NIV) of finished units. The measure aims to support competitiveness and gradual incorporation of Mexican components and greater national value over the five-year period.
Mexico Customs Declarations
Mexico Implements Mandatory Electronic Value Declaration (MVE)
On October 30, 2026, White & Case reported on amendments to Mexico's customs law and the mandatory rollout of the Electronic Value Declaration (Manifestación de Valor Electrónica or MVE).
The MVE replaces the prior paper-based system by requiring importers to electronically declare and substantiate the customs value of imported goods via Mexico's Single Window for Foreign Trade (VUCEM).
Mandatory transmission takes effect progressively according to the designated customs regime: November 1, 2026 for manufacturing, processing or repair in a bonded facility; November 15, 2026 for strategic bonded facilities; December 1, 2026 for transit of goods; December 15, 2026 for bonded warehouses; January 1, 2027 for temporary importation; and January 15, 2027 for definitive importation.
Concurrently, the customs reform expands customs authorities' precautionary seizure powers for undervaluation below the previous 50% threshold, unifies seizure resolution procedures with release conditions and a four-month deadline for final determinations, and requires the National Customs Agency of Mexico (ANAM) to publish implementing regulations defining the list of targeted goods and applicable valuation thresholds by December 31, 2026.
For violations involving inaccurate, incomplete, or false documentation on hydrocarbons and petroleum products, penalties are increased to fines between 50% and 100% of the commercial value of the goods.
Starting November 1, 2026, the mandatory transmission of the Electronic Value Manifest (MVE) through the Single Window for Foreign Trade Procedures (VUTCE) enters into force under the same staggered schedule according to the customs regime.
Effective from November 1, 2026, Mexican importers must adapt to the new transmission scheme for the Electronic Value Declaration (Manifestación de Valor Electrónica, MVE) when handling customs procedures through the Single Window for Foreign Trade Procedures (Ventanilla Única de Trámites de Comercio Exterior, VUTCE), jointly announced by the Mexican Tax Administration (SAT), the National Customs Agency (ANAM) and the Digital Transformation Agency.
Mexico Regulatory Modifications
SAT Publishes Fourth Modification to the 2026 RMF
The Tax Administration Service (SAT) published the Fourth Resolution of Modifications to the Miscellaneous Fiscal Resolution (RMF) for 2026 in the Official Gazette of the Federation on October 30, 2026. The resolution entered into force on the same date and includes the addition of rules on fiscal and foreign trade matters.
November 2, 2026 is declared a non-working day for purposes of deadlines and procedures. The amendment adds Monday, November 2, 2026, as a non-working day for the SAT in rule 2.1.6, fraction II. This suspends the computation of legal deadlines and terms for procedures and tax returns before the authority. Deadlines that expired on that day move to Tuesday, November 3, in accordance with article 12 of the CFF.
The amendment to rule 2.5.20 empowers the tax authority to suspend activities or cancel the RFC of taxpayers ex officio. It establishes a clarification procedure in person before any Deconcentrated Administration of Taxpayer Services (ADSC) that must be resolved within 10 business days.
The resolution incorporates the new rule 2.5.25 to request verification of the status of partner, shareholder or associate through a clarification case on the SAT portal.
It also adds clarifications on the deadline for sending the adjusted trial balance for audited taxpayers in rule 2.8.1.6.
More News
Maersk Implements Land Fuel Surcharge in Mexico
Maersk announced a temporary 2% surcharge on land transport in Mexico, effective from November 1, 2026, due to the increase in fuel costs.
The surcharge will appear on invoices as EFS (Export Fuel Surcharge) or IFS (Import Fuel Surcharge) and will be subject to monthly review.
Additionally, effective October 29, 2026, Mexico imposed a definitive antidumping duty of US$0.3918 per kilogram on suspension PVC (tariff line 3904.10.03, NICO 00) originating in the United States.
Panama Canal Authority Issues Advisory No. A-40-2026 on NetZero Slot Program Eligibility and Transit Reservation System Modifications
On October 30, 2026, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) Vice Presidency for Operations issued Advisory to Shipping No. A-40-2026, announcing updated NetZero Slot eligibility requirements for first-time transit vessels and modifications to the Transit Reservation (Booking) System, effective November 1, 2026.
Under the updated NetZero Slot Program, first-time transit vessels may participate in the NetZero Slot competition once they obtain a preliminary admeasurement inspection from the Panama Canal Admeasurement Unit prior to the competition date, covering toll basis, Panama Canal Universal Measurement System (PC/UMS) tonnage, engine type, and program eligibility.
This inspection may be conducted overseas prior to the vessel's arrival in Canal waters upon request, subject to established fees: USD 14,000.00 for the Americas (Tariff Item 1080.III1), USD 21,000.00 for Europe (Tariff Item 1080.III2), USD 28,000.00 for Asia, Africa, and Oceania (Tariff Item 1080.III3), plus USD 3,500.00 per additional day required (Tariff Item 1080.III4).
The ACP also announced the reversal of a temporary measure introduced in July 2026 regarding the Transit Reservation (Booking) System due to normalized vessel traffic, returning to previous allocation criteria, while emphasizing that the booking system remains the sole mechanism guaranteeing a transit date amid persistent watershed deficit.
Mexico Reforms Customs Law with Lower Seizure Thresholds for Undervaluation and Stricter Audit Mandates
On October 30, 2026, White & Case published an analysis of the decree amending Mexico's Customs Law (Ley Aduanera) published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación as part of the 2027 Economic Package, taking effect on January 1, 2027.
Under the reform, the National Customs Agency of Mexico (ANAM) will have expanded powers to seize imported goods regardless of the margin of undervaluation, eliminating the previous limitation where seizure was only triggered when the declared value was 50% or more below identical or similar merchandise, and removing the exemption previously afforded to goods with official estimated prices guaranteed under Article 86-A.
Customs authorities are now required to initiate an audit whenever the declared value is below the reference value.
Furthermore, for import regimes that defer duty payments—including temporary importations under IMMEX—the threshold for presuming a customs violation is reduced from 50% to 20%.
The reform also significantly raises penalties for customs infractions involving hydrocarbons and petroleum products.
Index reaches consensus with Secretaría de Economía on four components of the IMMEX 4.0 project
During the 51st National Convention in Monterrey, the Consejo Nacional de la Industria Maquiladora y Manufacturera de Exportación (Index) announced that it will formally present its regulatory modernization project called IMMEX 4.0 to Mexico's head of state in November, with the objective of publishing a new decree before the end of 2026.
The initiative, aimed at raising customs traceability, reducing administrative burdens and strengthening legal certainty in foreign trade, contemplates five central components, of which four have already been agreed in technical tables with the Secretaría de Economía.
The organization emphasized the need for a framework that rewards compliance and facilitates the integration of inputs and supply chains ahead of the upcoming T-MEC review, in a sector that sustains 3.3 million direct jobs and 6 million indirect jobs in the country.
“Ningbo—Mexico City” international cargo flight route officially inaugurates first flight
On October 29, 2026, under the supervision of Ningbo Airport Customs, flight K4960 arrived at Ningbo Lishe International Airport from Mexico City and took off again in the early morning of October 30 returning to Mexico City, marking the official inauguration of the first flight on the "Ningbo—Mexico City" international cargo route operated by Connie Airlines, becoming the first cargo route between Ningbo air port and Mexico.
The route departs from Mexico City, passes through Anchorage in the United States to Ningbo Airport, then returns to Mexico City via Incheon in South Korea and Anchorage in the United States, with a round-trip duration of approximately 46 hours; the maximum cargo capacity per flight is 110 tons.
The inaugural flight carried 105 tons of cargo, mainly including clothing, mobile phone cases, bracket decorations, switch adapter cables, etc., of which 60% were cross-border e-commerce retail export parcels.
This route opens an air cargo channel connecting Ningbo Airport with China, the United States and Mexico, enabling rapid distribution and flow of goods between Asia, the United States and Latin America, providing high-efficiency supply chain support for Chinese and Mexican manufacturing going overseas and cross-border e-commerce expanding into Latin American markets.
Ningbo Airport Customs has implemented facilitation measures such as 24-hour appointment clearance, dedicated window declaration, and weekend overtime appointments to ensure port clearance efficiency.
Containerized Freight Index Trades Flat at 3,687.35 Points on November 2
On November 2, 2026, the Containerized Freight Index tracked by Trading Economics traded flat at 3,687.35 points.
The index, which tracks weekly spot pricing for ocean containers moving from Shanghai to major worldwide destination ports across Europe, North America, South America, and the Middle East, posted a 0.68% increase over the past month and stood 137.79% higher compared to the corresponding period in the prior year.
Tariffs on China and other countries generate more than 143,000 mdp in Mexico
Between January and September of 2026, the National Customs Agency of Mexico (ANAM) collected 143,716 million pesos from the collection of taxes on imports, an amount channeled directly to the Tax Administration Service (SAT) that reflects the impact of the tariffs applied to merchandise from countries without trade agreements with Mexico, including China, South Korea, India, Russia, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Turkey, Taiwan, China and South Africa.
This figure represents the highest amount recorded for a January-September period since the start of the historical series of the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit (SHCP) in 1990 and an increase of 10.1% at real annual rate compared to the same period of the previous year.
In the month of September, 17,811 million pesos entered from this tax, an increase of 17.4% real annual, attributed by the head of the SHCP, Édgar Amador Zamora, to the update of tariffs on more than 1,400 products and the reinforcement of customs surveillance.
However, the SHCP recognized that the accumulated collection was 44,000 million pesos below the budgetary program due to the effect of the peso appreciation on the liquidable value of imports.
Panama Canal Revises Neopanamax Transit Slot Booking System and NetZero Inspection Rules
On November 1, 2026, the Panama Canal announced via an Advisory to Shipping that it has revised the criteria for reallocating canceled or newly available transit slots during booking periods 1A and 2 at the Neopanamax locks, restoring policies in effect prior to July 2026.
The special allocation priority order is established as container ships first, followed by liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers, and vehicle carriers/roll-on roll-off (RoRo) vessels, using Transit TEU Allowance (TTA) capacity as the primary tiebreaker.
Furthermore, effective November 1, 2026, vessel operators transiting for the first time under the NetZero program may request preliminary tonnage inspections outside Panama before arriving in canal waters to verify engine configurations and calculate tolls under the Panama Canal Universal Measurement System (PC/UMS).
Two Oil Tankers Explode After Striking Mines in Strait of Hormuz
On November 1, 2026, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy spokesperson announced on state media channel Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting that two oil tankers exploded after hitting Iranian naval mines while transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
The spokesperson stated that the tankers were operating on an unauthorized route in violation of regulations, and confirmed that one of the vessels was a supertanker engulfed in flames following the explosion.
Earlier on the same day, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a commercial oil tanker passing through the Strait of Hormuz was struck by an unidentified projectile, based on a report from the master of a nearby tanker.
Iran Conditions Strait of Hormuz Reopening on Blockade Relief and Asset Unfreezing
On November 1, 2026, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz within two days subject to seven prerequisite conditions for resuming talks with the United States.
The conditions specified by Iranian leadership include halting all military hostilities against Iran, lifting the US maritime port blockade in place since July 14, unfreezing approximately $12 billion in Iranian assets, and instituting a regional ceasefire.
Joint Maritime Information Centre data indicates maritime disruptions and mine warfare have cut shipping traffic through the chokepoint from a pre-war average of 138 vessels per day to fewer than twelve on most days.
U.S.–Mexico Trade Alert for November 2026 Outlines Final Antidumping Duties on U.S. PVC and CORE Steel Margins
On October 31, 2026, Eilan Trade issued a trade alert detailing trade policy and trade remedy updates affecting cross-border operations between Mexico and the United States.
Following the final resolution published by Mexico's Ministry of Economy in the DOF (effective October 29), a definitive antidumping duty of 0.3918 USD per kilogram was imposed on suspension PVC (vinyl chloride homopolymer in suspension, tariff line 3904.10.03, NICO 00) originating in the United States, reduced from the provisional duty of 0.6315 USD/kg under the lesser-duty rule, while bulk, emulsion PVC, and compounds remain excluded and provisional duty guarantees are cancelled.
In addition, in the corrosion-resistant steel (CORE) proceeding from Mexico (case A-201-864), following the Court of International Trade sustaining the remand redetermination in the Galvasid case, a Federal Register notice dated November 2, 2026 amends the final antidumping duty order to 14.54% for Galvasid and 14.29% for all other Mexican producers and exporters, instructing CBP to adjust cash-deposit rates accordingly while keeping entry liquidations suspended.
Manzanillo moves nearly 3.16 million TEU from January to September 2026, up 9.5%
According to the statistical report of the Administración del Sistema Portuario Nacional (ASIPONA) Manzanillo, analyzed as of October 31, 2026, the port of Manzanillo moved almost 3.16 million TEU from January to September 2026, or approximately 3,155,000 TEU. That volume was 9.5% higher than in the same period of 2025.
Total commercial cargo reached almost 23,514,000 tons, an increase of 5.4%. Containerized cargo accounted for three quarters of the total tonnage moved.
Export operations accounted for 44% of container movements at the port, imports for 41%, and transshipment for 15%. Direct Mexico international trade accounted for 85% of Manzanillo’s containerized maritime cargo.
Hormuz commercial shipping disruption lifts insurance and tanker freight costs
On October 31, 2026, Bloomberg reported that ongoing strikes on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz have intensified the economic standoff between Iran and the United States.
Merchant vessels are still transiting the strait at roughly 80% of prewar volume. Higher security risks have sharply increased war-risk insurance premiums. In early October, supertanker charter rates reached levels comparable to the cost of launching a space rocket.
Open-source records track at least 28 verified reports of damage to merchant vessels. At the same time, the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian petroleum has cut Iran’s prewar crude exports of 2 million barrels per day to marginal overland flows. The restriction is constraining Iran’s 300 billion dollar economy.
Quad ministers jointly reaffirm navigational freedom in Hormuz and the Red Sea
On October 31, 2026, the foreign ministers of the United States, Australia, India, and Japan met in Atlanta, Georgia. They issued a joint Quad statement on economic prosperity and maritime security.
The ministers recognized the strategic importance of critical sea lanes, energy security, and commerce that moves without hindrance and without transit tolls.
They restated the absolute necessity, under international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), of preserving and defending navigational rights. They also restated the need to protect the safety of commercial crews and vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
CBP prepares advance reviews for Mexican companies exporting under the T-MEC
On October 30, 2026, at the 51st National Index Convention in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Lea-Ann B. Bigelow announced that Mexican companies must strengthen supply-chain traceability and the documentary support for the origin of their inputs. Bigelow is director of the Office of Trade Agreements and Textile Trade Programs of the Office of Trade at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The call responds to intensified audits meant to verify strict compliance with the T-MEC rules of origin.
Bigelow said customs authorities expect to request validation of documentary compliance as soon as the day after importation. They may also request it in advance, before the goods physically arrive at the border.
She said imports of Mexican products into the United States could exceed 600,000 million dollars by the close of 2026, compared with less than 500,000 million two years earlier. Nearly 90% of those imports use tariff preferences.
She added that CBP is working to implement the provisions of the executive order “Strengthening Customs Enforcement,” issued in June. That work follows the August 2025 elimination of the “de minimis” benefit, which had exempted packages of up to 800 dollars from tariffs and from detailed information. The change affects a flow of almost four million shipments a day.
USTR says Mexico and Canada must coordinate trade policy with the United States on China
On October 30, 2026, at the 51st National Convention of the National Council of the Export Manufacturing Industry (Index) in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Daniel O’Brien said Mexico and Canada must collaborate and coordinate their trade policies with Washington against China. The stated aim is to compete successfully and to relocate supply chains that depend on the Asian market to North America. O’Brien is Acting Deputy Trade Representative for the Western Hemisphere at the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).
In the context of the review of the Treaty between Mexico, the United States, and Canada (T-MEC), O’Brien said economic security is a bipartisan priority in the United States. That priority covers the trade deficit, rules of origin, and defense of the U.S. industrial base.
He emphasized that if the United States imposes barriers on inputs from China, it seeks to prevent those products from entering through triangulation via Mexico or Canada. He raised coordination of external tariffs, export controls, and investment control as key points.
During the forum, it was reported that from January to August 2026 Mexico exported goods to the United States worth 419,344 million dollars and imported 263,473 million dollars. The surplus was 155,871 million dollars.
Plastics industry reviews commercial impact and the T-MEC amid tariff adjustments
On October 30, 2026, leaders and specialists met at the third edition of the Foreign Trade Forum organized by the Asociación Nacional de Industrias del Plástico (ANIPAC). They assessed how tariff classification and promotion programs directly affect business costs and competitiveness.
Perc Pineda, chief economist of the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS), warned that differences in tariffs and rules of origin persist in the T-MEC review. The fourth round of negotiations is still pending. The forecast is for an agreement between the end of 2026 and the beginning of 2027.
Pineda said U.S. priorities include strengthening regional supply chains, reducing dependence on products from China, and compliance with labor and environmental standards.
Octavio de la Torre, president of CONCANACO SERVYTUR, set out the cross-cutting role of the plastics sector in packaging, automotive, medical, and foreign-trade activities.
Tanker hit by limpet mines in the Strait of Hormuz in first such attack since February
On October 30, 2026, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO Warning 187-26) confirmed that an outbound commercial tanker was attacked on October 29 while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The incident occurred approximately 25 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman.
A small craft approached the vessel’s port side and attached two explosive devices above the waterline. The devices started an engine-room fire and temporarily disabled propulsion.
UKMTO confirmed that the crew remained safe, the fire was extinguished, and no environmental pollution was observed. The vessel resumed transit.
Martin Kelly, Head of Advisory at EOS Risk Group, identified the ship as the LOUISE 1. He said this was the first successful use of limpet mines against merchant shipping in the waterway since hostilities began in February.
Transpacific spot rates drop as carriers face resistance to November increases
On October 30, 2026, The Loadstar reported that container spot rates on the transpacific eastbound route posted their sharpest weekly retreat since June 2025, after the end of peak season.
On Drewry’s World Container Index (WCI), Shanghai–Los Angeles rates fell 6% week on week to 7,514 dollars per 40-foot container. Shanghai–New York fell 5% to 9,631 dollars per 40-foot container.
Drewry cited National Retail Federation forecasts that project an 11% month-on-month drop in U.S. ocean import volume for November.
Weaker demand and more consistent vessel schedules have cast doubt on carrier General Rate Increases (GRIs) scheduled for November 1. Those increases range from 2,000 to 3,000 dollars per 40-foot container.
On Asia–Europe routes, Shanghai–Rotterdam rose 1% to 3,686 dollars per 40-foot container. Shanghai–Genoa was unchanged at 4,151 dollars per 40-foot container.
Drewry reports 56 blank sailings on major east–west trades for weeks 45 to 49
In its Cancelled Sailings Tracker published on October 30, 2026, Drewry reported 56 blank sailings on major east–west trade lanes. The cancellations run from week 45 (November 2–8) through week 49 (December 1–7), out of 715 scheduled sailings. The cancellation rate is 8%.
Asia–North Europe/Mediterranean accounts for 46% of the scheduled cancellations. Transpacific eastbound accounts for 36%, and transatlantic routes for 18%.
Despite the cancellations, 92% of scheduled services are projected to sail. Among major carrier groupings, Gemini Cooperation has the lowest projected cancellation rate, at 1%.
Drewry said the blank sailings reflect carrier capacity management. Container markets face winter slack-season pressure, while Suez Canal transits continue to resume.
Dockworkers stage coordinated strikes at 113 ports worldwide
On October 30, 2026, dockworkers at 113 ports in 22 countries staged coordinated strikes and protests. The actions were part of the international campaign “Dockworkers Don’t Work for War.” The campaign opposes arms shipments to Israel and the use of commercial ports for military logistics.
More than 25 labor unions took part. Major operational disruptions were reported in France, Italy, Greece, and Türkiye. About 3,000 workers walked out at the Port of Piraeus.
Campaign organizers estimated that the actions could delay roughly 52,000 containers, valued at 2.8 billion U.S. dollars.
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) endorsed the actions. It cited worker rights and seafarer safety in conflict areas.
DP World chief executive says Hormuz rerouting will raise consumer prices
On October 30, 2026, DP World Group CEO Yuvraj Narayan warned that prolonged maritime disruption in the Strait of Hormuz is raising logistics costs. He said it will eventually raise consumer prices worldwide.
Merchant vessels that can carry up to 24,000 containers are avoiding the strait because of security threats. DP World set up truck feeder networks that move more than 3,000 containers a day for nearly 12,000 companies in the Jebel Ali port free zone. Normal terminal throughput is about 40,000 containers a day.
Narayan said the shift from ocean shipping to lower-volume overland transport has raised logistics expenses four- to five-fold in certain cases.
Baltic Dry Index rises for a third day to 2,714 points on capesize gains
On October 30, 2026, the Baltic Exchange dry bulk freight index rose for a third consecutive session. It gained 0.1%, or 2 points, to 2,714 points, its highest level since October 13.
The capesize index, which tracks rates for vessels that typically carry 150,000-ton cargoes of iron ore and coal, also rose for a third day. It gained 0.9% to 4,126 points, its highest mark since October 12.
The panamax index, which tracks coal and grain shipments of 60,000 to 70,000 tons, fell 1.7% to 1,889 points, its lowest level since April 13.
The supramax index fell 0.3% to 1,865 points.
The benchmark index gained 2% on the week, but it dropped by more than 12% across October.
New Times Shipbuilding Delivers the 8,454 TEU CMA CGM Austral for the Far East-Mexico M2X Service
The Chinese shipyard New Times Shipbuilding has delivered the 8,454 TEU containership CMA CGM Austral to Eastern Pacific Shipping, a non-operating owner based in Singapore.
The vessel is the final unit in a four-vessel series built by New Times Shipbuilding for Eastern Pacific Shipping. All four vessels are under long-term charter to the French ocean carrier CMA CGM.
The newly delivered vessel will be deployed on CMA CGM's Far East-Mexico M2X service.
Container lines are channeling newbuilding deliveries toward expanding capacity on booming trade lanes between the Far East and Latin America.
Mexico's 2026 Tariffs: Impact on Steel and Manufacturing Imports from Asia
According to the foreign trade analysis of Mexico's tariff scheme in 2026, the steel sector concentrates 268 tariff fractions, equal to 18% of the total of 1,463 modified lines.
Steel ranks as the third sector with the highest number of taxed items, after textiles and clothing.
Trade measures applied to countries without a free trade agreement, such as China, impose tariffs of up to 50% on key industrial inputs.
The measures also reach plastics, with 79 fractions, and aluminum, with 38 tariff fractions.
These measures increase costs for importers and for companies that use Asian components.
OICA "5 Noticias": Friday, October 30, 2026
Within the framework of the industrial and commercial activities monitored as of October 30, 2026, it is reported that the Mexican government seeks to implement stricter safeguards and diversified alliances in industrial sectors.
The same report states that Mexico is maintaining economic ties with China while investigating construction conditions related to the company BYD and applying environmental sanctions to CATL for violations.
Expert Outlook
Core judgment
On October 30, 2026, Mexico’s Ministry of Economy published an expansion of Rule 8a steel relief in the Diario Oficial de la Federación and, the same day, postponed its application until further notice on the SNICE portal, leaving the 35% general tariff on the covered steel bars in force. That split between publication and effect is the signal: Mexico is tightening compliance gates on non-FTA Chinese full-container (FCL) imports—through mandatory electronic value declarations, a prior license for auto kits, and a lower undervaluation seizure threshold—while USTR presses Mexico to block triangulation. Mid- and large Mexican importers face higher near-term clearance friction and less predictable landed cost even as non-FTA tariff revenue is already at a record.
Drivers decoded
In January–September 2026, ANAM collected 143,716 million pesos in import tax on non-FTA goods, including from China, up 10.1% in real terms year on year—the highest January–September take since the SHCP series began in 1990. September alone brought 17,811 million pesos, up 17.4% in real terms, which SHCP attributed to tariff updates on more than 1,400 products and reinforced surveillance. Steel accounts for 268 of 1,463 modified fractions (18%), plastics for 79 and aluminum for 38, with duties of up to 50% on key inputs from non-FTA Asia, including China.
Effective October 30, 2026, HS 9803.00.01 SKD/CKD kits require a prior license from DGFCCE, with a DGIPAT opinion, before the five-year exemption from the 10% duty can be claimed on the customs declaration (pedimento) for definitive import or fiscal deposit. The rule covers 11 assemblers—BMW, Stellantis, Honda, Mazda, Nissan, Toyota, Kia, Ford, General Motors, Volkswagen and Giant Motors Latinoamérica (JAC)—and kits from non-FTA countries such as China. The same day, Rule 8a cover for steel bars under HS 7228.30.01 and 7228.30.99, for grinding balls under HS 7326.11.03, was set to start the next day and then postponed on the SNICE portal. The 35% tariff remains.
MVE transmission via the single window (VUCEM/VUTCE) enters into force on November 1, 2026 for bonded manufacturing, processing or repair; November 15 for strategic bonded facilities; December 1 for transit; December 15 for bonded warehouses; January 1, 2027 for temporary importation; and January 15, 2027 for definitive importation. On January 1, 2027, seizure for undervaluation is no longer limited to a gap of 50% or more, an audit is required when declared value is below the reference value, and the presumption of a violation on IMMEX and other duty-deferral regimes falls from 50% to 20%. ANAM must publish the list of targeted goods and the valuation thresholds by December 31, 2026.
On October 30, 2026, in Monterrey, Daniel O’Brien, Acting Deputy Trade Representative for the Western Hemisphere, said Mexico and Canada must coordinate external tariffs, export controls and investment screening with the United States so that Chinese inputs do not enter through triangulation during the T-MEC review. He called economic security a bipartisan U.S. priority.
ANAM, SAT and the Ministry of Economy are using seizure, audits, permits and MVE to raise collections on Chinese and other non-FTA imports, while keeping selective industrial relief—an option they froze the day Rule 8a was published. That fits fiscal pressure and the political cycle more than a one-off notice. USTR is pursuing relocation of Asia-dependent chains into North America; the T-MEC review and CBP advance origin reviews are the leverage, and alignment is framed as the condition for preferences and investment. Mid- and large importers of China-origin FCL need a landed cost and a clearance time they can plan. They can shift volume and suppliers. They remain highly exposed to the license, the electronic value file and the lower seizure bar.
Chain effects
Staged MVE filing through January 15, 2027, together with mandatory audits below the reference value and seizure no longer limited to a 50% undervaluation, raises the documentation burden and the seizure risk on value declarations for Chinese FCL. Clearance can lengthen, and demurrage can follow, for mid- and large importers. Landed cost then becomes more volatile, and inventory buffers widen.
The kit gate is already in force. Without the DGFCCE license, the exemption cannot be claimed on China-origin shipments under HS 9803.00.01. Preferential entry may be delayed or denied, so higher duty or interrupted assembly falls on the 11 named manufacturers, and the five-year design pushes those plants toward more Mexican content.
USTR’s call for Mexico to coordinate China policy, together with CBP advance origin reviews, points to closer Mexican screening of Chinese-origin inputs so triangulation is harder to sustain. Origin documents on inbound FCL may be tested more often. Holds or refused preferences would then make cost and timing for China-sourced manufacturing inputs harder to plan. That last step is a possible transmission, not a count of shipments already held.
Leverage accrues on two sides. ANAM, SAT and the Ministry of Economy gain it because wider seizure powers, mandatory undervaluation audits and MVE enforcement reinforce tax collection, in line with the record 143,716 million pesos taken on non-FTA imports in January–September 2026. The U.S. government gains it because the coordination demand and CBP origin reviews pressure Mexico to tighten China-related flows and advance the stated relocation of Asian-dependent supply into North America. The cost sits with importers of China-origin FCL and with the 11 assemblers wherever the exemption, or Rule 8a, does not in fact apply.
Scenarios and signposts
The license rule has applied since October 30, 2026. MVE enters into force on the regime dates running from November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027. The seizure-threshold and audit changes take effect on January 1, 2027. Rule 8a steel relief stands postponed. Those points are already fixed; the later dates are determined future obligations, not open questions.
Whether SNICE, within the next 7–14 days, restores Rule 8a or permanently changes the steel criterion is still open.
How ANAM defines targeted goods and valuation thresholds before the December 31, 2026 deadline is still open.
Early MVE rejection and error rates for the bonded regimes starting on November 1, November 15, December 1 and December 15 are still open.
The volume and processing time of DGFCCE licenses for HS 9803.00.01 are still open.
Whether Mexico answers the USTR call with a statement or decree on China tariffs or export controls is still open.
Whether CBP requests for origin documents spill into tighter checks on China-origin FCL entering Mexico is still open.
The baseline path is highly likely if there is no further SNICE reversal and no USTR escalation beyond current statements, and if ANAM publishes implementing regulations by December 31, 2026 as required. On that path, staggered MVE and the January 2027 seizure-threshold changes proceed on schedule, the auto-kit permit adds about one to two weeks of friction but remains workable, tariff revenue stays elevated, and FCL clearance lengthens modestly on higher documentation cost, without systemic holds.
An optimistic path may open if an SNICE notice restores Rule 8a within 7–14 days and early MVE feedback shows low rejection rates. Steel relief would return, permit processing for kits would stay smooth, MVE start-up problems would clear faster than feared, and U.S. pressure would stay rhetorical. The landed-cost effect would be limited to documentation overhead.
A pessimistic path is unlikely. It would require ANAM regulations to be delayed or seizure lists to expand aggressively, and CBP origin requests to spill into Mexican inbound scrutiny. MVE glitches plus seizures under the new thresholds could then cause widespread FCL holds, auto-kit permits could bottleneck, coordination demands could turn into Mexican mirror measures, and demurrage could push landed cost higher.
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