This surpassed the 2016 performance of US ports, where the volume of laden TEUs increased 3.3 per cent, according to the Mexican Secretariat of Communications and Transport.
Growth was driven by the largest Gulf Coast port, Altamira, and Lazaro Cardenas on the Pacific, while volume slowed at Mexico's biggest box port of Manzanillo, IHS Media reported.
Under normal circumstances, solid 2016 figures would mean Mexico's logistics industry is entering 2017 with a promising hand, especially given the federal government's vigorous commitment to spend US$5 billion on upgrading the ports.
Port improvements coming online over the next 12 months include a new terminal built by APM Terminals due to open on February 27 at the port of Lazaro Cardenas; a new rail tunnel at Manzanillo to open by year-end; and a continuing construction project at the nation's largest port on the Gulf of Mexico, Veracruz, that is planned to increase its 900,000-TEU capacity five-fold by 2030.
But Mexico must now face the threat of tough US trade talks from the incoming Trump administration's that wants to renegotiate NAFTA, which many fear will reduce trade and container volumes.
Already, Ford - under pressure from President Trump - has retreated from a plan to build a new factory in Mexico that would support 700 jobs, yet it still plans to shift production of its Focus model from Michigan to Mexico.
Growth was driven by the largest Gulf Coast port, Altamira, and Lazaro Cardenas on the Pacific, while volume slowed at Mexico's biggest box port of Manzanillo, IHS Media reported.
Under normal circumstances, solid 2016 figures would mean Mexico's logistics industry is entering 2017 with a promising hand, especially given the federal government's vigorous commitment to spend US$5 billion on upgrading the ports.
Port improvements coming online over the next 12 months include a new terminal built by APM Terminals due to open on February 27 at the port of Lazaro Cardenas; a new rail tunnel at Manzanillo to open by year-end; and a continuing construction project at the nation's largest port on the Gulf of Mexico, Veracruz, that is planned to increase its 900,000-TEU capacity five-fold by 2030.
But Mexico must now face the threat of tough US trade talks from the incoming Trump administration's that wants to renegotiate NAFTA, which many fear will reduce trade and container volumes.
Already, Ford - under pressure from President Trump - has retreated from a plan to build a new factory in Mexico that would support 700 jobs, yet it still plans to shift production of its Focus model from Michigan to Mexico.