+26.9%
TEU growth since 2019
The Patterns Behind the Numbers
Explore the growth, shifts and structural patterns emerging from Manzanillo's trade data over time.
10 minIntelligence Report
Pacific Intelligence
This report is part of the MZO Intelligence platform and presents an editorial analysis based on regional context, public information and strategic interpretation.
Data Analysis
The Headline Number Does Not Tell the Whole Story
Manzanillo's container activity expanded substantially between 2019 and 2025, but the path was not linear and the underlying distribution of activity changed over time. Growth differed across terminal operators, while the slight decline in total activity in 2025 masked divergent movements within the system.
Container activity increased 26.9% between 2019 and 2025, despite a decline in 2020 and a slight contraction in 2025.
Long-term growth was uneven across terminal operators, with some gaining activity while others declined.
The 2025 decrease in total TEU activity was not uniform: Contecon grew while the other operators recorded declines.
Import and export activity continued to account for the large majority of container traffic, while transshipment declined more sharply in 2025.
Patterns at a Glance
What Changed Beneath the Headline
Four indicators highlight the most visible changes in Manzanillo's container activity between 2019 and 2025.
−0.8%
TEU change in 2025
+56.6%
Contecon TEU change since 2019
82.0%
2025 share of SSA + Contecon
Trade Volume
Trade Volume
The Recent Change Was Not Uniform
The 2025 change in container activity differed by traffic type. Import and export volumes remained broadly stable, while transshipment recorded a more pronounced decline.
Importation
Import container activity increased approximately 1.2% between 2024 and 2025.
Exportation
Export container activity remained broadly stable, increasing approximately 0.1% between 2024 and 2025.
Transshipment
Transshipment declined approximately 8.9% between 2024 and 2025, a sharper movement than either import or export activity.
Overall Movement
Total container activity declined approximately 0.8% in 2025, reflecting different movements across traffic types rather than a uniform contraction.
Cargo Distribution
Cargo Composition
Containerized Cargo Dominates the Mix
The 2025 non-petroleum cargo mix was strongly concentrated in containerized movement, with mineral bulk forming the second-largest category.
Containerized Cargo
Containerized cargo represented approximately 74% of non-petroleum cargo movement in 2025.
Mineral Bulk
Mineral bulk represented approximately 14.8% of non-petroleum cargo movement.
Agricultural Bulk
Agricultural bulk represented approximately 5.8% of non-petroleum cargo movement.
General Cargo
General cargo represented approximately 5.5% of non-petroleum cargo movement.
Historical Trends
Historical Trends
Growth Was Real, but Not Linear
Annual container activity declined in 2020 before entering four consecutive years of growth from 2021 through 2024. Activity reached a series high in 2024 and then eased slightly in 2025, remaining 26.9% above the 2019 level.
2020 Decline
Container activity fell from 3.07 million TEU in 2019 to 2.91 million in 2020.
2021–2024 Expansion
Container activity increased every year from 2021 through 2024, reaching 3.92 million TEU.
2025 Correction
Activity declined slightly to 3.89 million TEU in 2025, approximately 0.8% below the previous year's peak.
Long-Term Expansion
Despite the non-linear path, 2025 activity remained approximately 26.9% above the 2019 level.
Conclusion
Key Insight
The Structure Matters as Much as the Total
Manzanillo's trade data shows that changes in total activity can conceal meaningful shifts underneath the headline number. Container activity expanded over the long term, but growth was uneven across periods and terminal operators. The slight decline recorded in 2025 was also internally differentiated, with traffic types and operators moving in different directions. These patterns provide a more detailed view of how the system is changing, while their broader implications require a separate layer of interpretation.
MZO Intelligence
Sources
Sources
Primary sources and references supporting this report.
ASIPONA Manzanillo
Port Statistics — Historical Container Activity
2025
ASIPONA Manzanillo
Port Statistics — January–December 2025
2025
Continue Exploring
Continue Exploring
Related Data Reports
Continue exploring regional datasets, indicators and visual analysis of the Port of Manzanillo.
Data
Manzanillo in Numbers
Explore the scale, composition, geography and historical evolution of Manzanillo's trade activity through measurable evidence.
10 min→
Data
The Signal Behind the Data
Explore what Manzanillo's trade data reveals about scale, structural change and the dynamics beneath aggregate activity.
10 min→
Previous Report
Manzanillo in Numbers
Data
All Data Reports
Browse regional datasets
Next Report
The Signal Behind the Data
Data