Background and Relevance
Miguel Ángel Landeros, the president of the Consejo Mexicano de Comercio Exterior (COMCE) in Occidente, has raised concerns about the dire situation at the Manzanillo port following a three-week strike by customs workers. This port is crucial for the logistics and transportation of goods in western Mexico, particularly for Jalisco, where Guadalajara is located.
Current Situation and Impact
Although the customs workers have been removed from the port, the operations are yet to normalize. Landeros warns that businesses are facing severe financial strain due to the mounting costs associated with delays, and no authority is addressing these issues.
- Scale of the Problem: The backlog is massive, affecting 4,000 daily truck operations and involving 20,000 companies that participate in the Manzanillo port.
- Financial Losses: The financial losses are estimated in hundreds of millions of pesos, as the delays were unforeseen and charges continue relentlessly. Many companies are struggling to cope with these additional expenses.
- Ripple Effect on Consumers: The financial burden is being passed on to the end consumers, resulting in price increases of up to 20% for various goods.
COMCE’s Initiatives and Future Plans
Landeros expressed COMCE’s intention to seek intervention from the authorities to “soften” the late fees, potentially condoning or reducing them for smaller and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are disproportionately affected.
In addition to addressing the current crisis, COMCE plans to participate in the XXXV Plenary Business Meeting Mexico-Japan on June 11 in Tokyo. This event aims to diversify international markets for Jalisco’s products and attract Japanese investment in the region.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main issue? The primary concern is the financial strain on businesses due to mounting costs from delays at the Manzanillo port, with no resolution in sight.
- Who is affected? Smaller and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are particularly vulnerable, as they struggle to absorb the additional expenses.
- What are the financial implications? The situation has led to losses estimated in hundreds of millions of pesos and price increases for consumers, up to 20% in some cases.
- What is COMCE’s role? COMCE is advocating for intervention to soften late fees and is working to diversify international markets for Jalisco’s products, aiming to attract Japanese investment.
