Mexico’s Port of Progreso is about to undergo a serious transformation, and it’s making waves. Recently, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced an ambitious expansion project for this bustling port located in the Yucatan Peninsula.
By the end of the year, construction will start on an upgrade that will turn the port into a true deep-sea powerhouse, boosting its role as a major trade and travel hub along the Gulf of Mexico.
What makes Progreso special? For starters, this isn’t just any port. It’s the only offshore deep-water cargo port in Mexico and doubles as a popular cruise ship stopover.
The port already boasts some impressive stats: a pier stretching 4.11 miles and a 4.68-mile shipping channel. But with the current width of 492 feet and depth of 36 feet, there’s a need to go deeper and wider to meet the demands of bigger, cargo-loaded ships. The plan is to expand the channel to over 500 feet wide and 47 feet deep, giving those mega cargo vessels the space they need to pull in, unload, and get moving.
“We are finally going to make it a reality for the Port of Progreso to be a deep sea port,” Sheinbaum said during an October 20 speech. She also explained that the entire project would take three years due to the challenging terrain.
The expansion won’t just be for the port’s sake; it’s also a win for Mexico’s economy and international trade. The port connects Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula to the markets of America, Europe, and Central and South America. By expanding, the port will embrace bigger vessels with more cargo, inviting fresh business opportunities and economic advancement.
Raymundo Pedro Morales Angeles, Mexico’s Secretary of the Navy, highlighted the port’s strategic importance, calling it “one of the most important points of tourist and commercial connectivity for the country.” He added that initial environmental and soil studies have already begun, and the public will soon see Navy dredgers getting to work on the expansion.
Progreso is already well-equipped, with facilities like a container terminal with two ship-to-shore cranes, a grain terminal, a tank terminal, a cruise terminal, and public docks for multi-purpose shipments. The port exports a variety of goods—textiles, jewelry, electronics, poultry, pork, fruits, vegetables, seafood, and honey—making it a vital part of Mexico’s trade portfolio.
APM Terminals, a subsidiary of global shipping leader Maersk, undertakes the management of the port and views this development as a key opportunity for growth. From January to June 2024, APM Terminals Progreso handled 54,161 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) and welcomed 151 vessels, averaging around 22 per month. With the expansion, those numbers could soon rise.
Beatriz Yera, managing director of APM Terminals Mexico, expressed excitement for Progreso’s next chapter, citing that the upgrades will boost regional development and attract foreign investment. With technology already present at the site, APM Terminals aims to enhance the processes, cut wait times, and keep cargo moving smoothly.
By leveraging their expertise and resources, Lading Logistics aims to provide efficient and reliable international shipping and logistics solutions for their clients.
