Contecon Manzanillo commissions new container yards

Contecon Manzanillo (CMSA) is making significant progress in its Phase III expansion project by putting into operation three new container yards covering an area of nearly eight hectares and offering a capacity of over 200,000 TEUs.

This partial delivery of Phase III greatly expands the terminal's container handling capacity and strengthens the modernization of its facilities, contributing notably to the growth of the Port of Manzanillo – the most important port in Mexico.

“These new container yards are part of our third phase of expansion. They will increase capacity by more than 200,000 TEUs per year, enhancing our operations and dynamism. This is excellent news for all our customers, and augurs well as for the continued growth and future of our terminal,” said José Antonio Contreras, CMSA chief executive officer.

The new yards are equipped with facilities that will improve efficiency in the handling and transit of goods. This type of investment allows the Port of Manzanillo to increase its cargo handling capacity and strengthen its infrastructure to meet the growing demands of national and international trade. It is estimated that CMSA’s expansion will increase the terminal’s current container movement capacity by 40 to 45 percent.

During the first eight months of 2024, the Port of Manzanillo increased its container throughput by nine percent compared to the previous year. CMSA saw a 15 percent increase during this period. This sustained trade growth, coupled with a 70 percent increase in total import handling at the port over the past four years, led to the early commencement of CMSA’s Phase III expansion in 2022. The project includes new docks, container yards, and port equipment.

The terminal is expected to continue the remaining work on this third phase (additional yards and docks) throughout this year and into the next, with Phase IV expected to begin next year.

Such investments are vital to further strengthen the Specialized Container Terminal II (TEC-II) at Manzanillo, operated by CMSA, a terminal that plays a critical role in Mexico’s foreign trade.