Key Logistics and Industrial Hub Development in Jalisco
Jalisco aims to establish itself as a leading logistics and industrial hub in Mexico, leveraging the expansion of the Manzanillo port, strengthening cargo railway transportation, and developing a dry port in the metropolitan area. Mauro Garza Marín, Jalisco’s Coordinator General of Economic Growth and Development, highlighted these strategic projects.
Manzanillo Port Expansion
One of the crucial projects is the expansion of the Manzanillo port, which Garza Marín stated is progressing slowly. He emphasized the need for collaboration with the Colima state government, as this project is vital for the nation.
- Current capacity: ~4 million containers
- Target capacity: 10 million containers
Garza Marín explained that Manzanillo is Jalisco’s primary port, with most goods passing through the state and ultimately destined for Jalisco. The expanded port will significantly benefit the state.
Cargo Railway
Another bottleneck identified is the underutilization of rail for cargo movement. Only 13% of containers arriving at Manzanillo are transported via rail, far below the standards of competitive countries.
Garza Marín stressed the importance of completing the railway track connecting El Salto industrial corridor to Encarnación de Díaz and then to Aguascalientes. Currently, cargo trains from Manzanillo pass through Guadalajara, transfer in Irapuato (Guanajuato), and take over 16 hours to reach Aguascalientes.
The project depends entirely on the federal government and is being managed by the Mexican Railroad Regulatory Agency, led by Andrés Lajous Loaeza. Garza Marín criticized the federal focus on passenger trains, calling it a “losing bet” compared to cargo trains. He pointed out that projects like the Tren Maya have resulted in significant operational losses.
Dry Port Development
Garza Marín also mentioned that the Jalisco state government is working on developing a dry port in the Centro Logístico de Acatlán de Juárez, located on the Guadalajara-Manzanillo highway.
The goal is to directly dispatch goods from Manzanillo at this platform, reducing urban congestion and logistics times. Goods not destined for Guadalajara could be dispatched directly to various destinations, such as Mexico City or El Bajío.
Early next year, Jalisco will meet with interested investors for the dry port development and insist on this project to Hacienda’s authorities. They also aim for Banobras’ involvement in directly connecting the Guadalajara-Manzanillo highway to the logistics center, as transporters currently have to travel to kilometer 40, causing time losses.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the current capacity of the Manzanillo port, and what is the target? The current capacity is around 4 million containers, with a target of 10 million after expansion.
- Why is the cargo railway underutilized? Only 13% of containers arriving at Manzanillo are transported via rail, which is far below competitive countries’ standards.
- What is the proposed dry port’s purpose? The dry port in Acatlán de Juárez aims to directly dispatch goods from Manzanillo, reducing urban congestion and logistics times.
- Who is responsible for the cargo railway project? The project depends entirely on the federal government and is being managed by the Mexican Railroad Regulatory Agency.
