Market Insights
LATAM trade intelligence, shipping analysis, and logistics trends
NOM-251 Phase 1 + Melt-and-Pour Origin: Mexico’s Dual Barriers Tighten on China-Origin FCL Steel
Mexico's Ministry of Economy prepares Phase 1 of NOM-251-SE-2025, introducing mandatory technical certification and testing for 6 structural steel categories out of 26 used in construction and infrastructure.
Read More →Manzanillo Highway Works Collapse Main Pacific Logistics Corridor
August 3, 2026: Pinfra's four-to-six lane expansion on the Manzanillo-Colima highway has paralyzed Mexico's main Pacific logistics corridor. Travel times have surged from three hours to six-to-fourteen hours, raising carrier costs by 25% and causing severe cargo delays at Manzanillo Port.
Read More →Typhoon Bavi's 2M TEU delay pushes Manzanillo FCL deliveries back 2 weeks
Typhoon Bavi disrupted Shanghai and Ningbo ports over the weekend, delaying 2 million TEU and accounting for 54% of global congestion. Transpacific services to Manzanillo and Lazaro Cardenas face blank sailings and equipment shortages, pushing FCL deliveries back at least two weeks.
Read More →Mexico-Japan inspections at Manzanillo from July 14 raise demurrage on China FCL
Mexico and Japan launched enhanced physical and documentary inspections at Manzanillo from July 14, extending clearance times for industrial imports. Combined with SCFI surging 150% and 3.7 million TEU congestion, the measures directly increase demurrage for China-origin FCL while final anti-dumping duties on Chinese cardboard take effect.
Read More →Manzanillo FCL halt until 6 July 21:00 risks missing 1 August electronic customs declaration with fines up to $6,000
Manzanillo port suspended full container shipments until 21:00 on 6 July 2026, directly delaying Asia-Mexico FCL supply chains. Mexico’s new electronic customs declaration starts 1 August with fines up to $6,000 for inconsistencies, while Hormuz missile attacks raise war-risk premiums.
Read More →Puerto del Norte advances with urgency: Manzanillo & Laredo demand adds 12-24 hour waits to your FCL imports
Mexico Senate approves up to 50% import tariffs on goods from China, India, South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia. New SAT origin verification rules effective October 2026 and revised China-Mexico origin rules from September 2026 create compliance pressure. Ports including Manzanillo report 12-24 hour waits amid USMCA review uncertainty.
Read More →