While Trump and Washington focus on renaming the Gulf of Mexico, reclaiming the Panama Canal, 'purchasing' Greenland, toppling the governments of Mexico, Venezuela, Bolivia, Cuba, and Nicaragua, and militarizing and sabotaging global trade, Beijing is subtly reshaping the commercial landscape in the Americas. Enter the new Port of Manzanillo, Mexico's mega project on the Pacific, a crucial element in China’s strategic plan for the Maritime Silk Road of the Americas:
Mexico is currently building the largest port in Latin America in Manzanillo, a flagship project in President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration that continues the legacy of Andrés Manuel López Obrador (2018-2024) to enhance the country’s infrastructure and establish Mexico as an economic superpower.
Second phase inauguration of the Manzanillo project, November 23, 2024.
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Mexico's new trade hub on the Pacific, bypassing the Panama Canal.
This expansion is part of a broader strategic initiative to amplify Mexico's global connectivity, which includes the construction of specialized terminals, advanced dredging systems, state-of-the-art cranes, and improvements to the railway and road infrastructure. These upgrades will allow the port to accommodate up to five mega-ships simultaneously and connect seamlessly with interoceanic logistical corridors and commercial routes in Asia, North America, and Latin America. The expansion will not only optimize the movement of goods but will significantly reduce transportation times and improve access for Mexican products in markets across the globe.
By 2030, Puerto Manzanillo will rank among the 20 largest ports in the world.
Puerto Manzanillo will become a pivotal hub for international trade, facilitating direct links with Asia and bypassing the Panama Canal bottleneck. COSCO Shipping’s direct routes further bolster Manzanillo’s position as a central node in the Asia-Pacific supply chain, making it a strategic partner for Latin American markets.
Mexico is on track to become an economic superpower, driven by a growing population, an expanding middle
class, and a robust manufacturing sector, potentially surpassing the US in the second half of the 21st century.
This connection strengthens Mexico’s role in the global trade network, promoting exports like automobiles, agricultural goods, and steel, and secures it as a vital link between Latin America and Asia’s manufacturing powerhouse.