Customs agents strike slows operations in Mexico’s largest international trade port

Order was restored and afloat operations resumed astatine the Pacific Coast larboard of Manzanillo connected Friday, aft authorities suppressed a labour onslaught that began Monday. 

National Guard troops, aided by national information forces, secured the affected areas and removed striking customs employees who were blocking points of introduction to the port. 

#Entérate
Cerca de 100 trabajadores y funcionarios de la aduana marítima realizan bloqueo al puerto, denuncian abuso, acoso y maltrato laboral y exigen renuncia del nuevo titular de la aduana en #Manzanillo, Rodolfo Torres Chávez. pic.twitter.com/fBDo6i3gLR

— Diario de Colima (@Diario_deColima) May 12, 2025

An unspecified fig of strikers were apprehended, according to Reforma newspaper. Authorities did not supply details astir the arrests oregon specify what charges the picketers mightiness face.

Before dawn Friday, larboard authorities issued a connection saying the “demonstration that blocked entree to Manzanillo Customs has concluded,” adding that operations were expected to resume astatine 6 a.m.

Authorities besides urged each larboard users to stay alert for authoritative communications. 

The larboard of Manzanillo, Colima, is Mexico’s apical larboard by gross and the second-largest by cargo volume.

Customs unit initiated their protestation connected Monday morning, denouncing violations of their labour contract, accusing absorption of maltreatment and harassment. 

Omar Chávez, a customs employee, told section quality outlet Origen Informativo that immoderate employees were being forced to enactment 16-hour shifts portion being denied overtime wage and luncheon breaks.

Negotiations produced a speedy statement Monday afternoon, but absorption was astir instantly accused of failing to grant it, prompting an escalation of the strike.

In summation to blocking entree points, strikers added caller demands, including the removal of customs head Rodolfo Torres Chávez and the reinstatement of four employees allegedly fired for their actions Monday.

Manzanillo, Mexico’s apical larboard by revenue, is captious for planetary trade. (Presidencia/Cuartoscuro)

Torres has been the Manzanillo larboard head for conscionable 1 month, replacing Mario Alberto Limas, who had been successful complaint from Jan. 16 to April 15. The Naval Ministry (SEMAR), which oversees each aspects of larboard development, medication and planning, did not supply a crushed for the change.

Unnamed national authorities cited by El Universal paper said Monday’s onslaught was prompted by the dismissal of 5 customs employees accused of corruption, but port authorities did not notation this successful authoritative communications.

SEMAR announced it volition proceed to show the concern to warrant the information of larboard operations.

During the strike, larboard stakeholders were successful changeless connection with larboard authorities to mitigate the impact. Customs brokers advised transporters not to nonstop import and export units to the port, portion juggling schedules, waiving precocious fees and further charges, and reassigning appointments adjacent arsenic dispatches and vas operations continued. 

Miguel Ángel Landeros, president of the Mexican Foreign Trade Council (COMCE), said larboard administrators indispensable instrumentality steps to forestall specified situations from occurring.

“Foreign commercialized is the cornerstone of Mexico’s economy,” helium said. “[Port security] is simply a substance of nationalist security. … Even 1 day’s closure represents the nonaccomplishment of millions of pesos.”

COMCE said that arsenic of Thursday 1,500 proscription operations had been impacted.

With reports from Reforma, Proceso, El Universal and El Economista