The news
Contecon Manzanillo released 2,000 import containers by truck in 24 hours, and nearly 4,000 over two days. It happened on August 20 and 21, 2026 and the terminal reported it as a record for the port; the story was published on September 3, per T21 and Cluster Industrial.
The figures behind the record:
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Containers released in 24 h | 2,000 |
| Two-day total (Aug 20–21) | ~4,000 |
| Estimated weekly target | 9,800 containers |
| Increase vs. 2025 weekly average | 20% |
| Jan–Jul 2026 operation | 1,022,181 TEU (+20.1% vs. 2025) |
| Appointment compliance | above 95% since week 31 |
José Antonio Contreras, CEO of Contecon, credited the terminal's investments: "Reaching this record shows that the investments and changes we have made at Contecon are paying off."
What makes the story interesting
A week ago we published that Manzanillo was the port that deteriorated the most in July: average truck dwell time went from 5 hours 34 minutes to 12 hours 50 minutes, according to Mexico's ITPAP index. Now the same terminal reports a release record.
These do not contradict each other. They are the same story told at two moments: the record is the answer to the backlog.
The lever the terminal points to is the 24/2 scheme — continuous customs operation for 24 hours from Thursday to Friday. That spreads pickups across a longer window and keeps trucks from waiting for the port to reopen before they can move.
The number worth looking at closely
Break July's ITPAP down by component and you can see where the problem in Manzanillo actually was:
| Component | June | July | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customs | 2:43:36 | 6:11:30 | +3:27:54 |
| Waiting | 1:37:43 | 3:53:08 | +2:15:25 |
| Handling | 1:12:56 | 2:45:48 | +1:32:52 |
| Total | 5:34:16 | 12:50:27 | +7:16:11 |
Customs processing grew the most, and it is the one component the terminal does not run. That is why the 24/2 scheme is announced as coordination with Customs rather than as a unilateral decision: a terminal can add cranes, yard space and staff, but clearance depends on a different authority.
It is worth saying plainly, because it is what we keep repeating here: no logistics operator speeds up a customs office. What does change is how fast you react when customs moves.
What it means for your operation
If you import through Manzanillo into Guadalajara or the Bajío region, three practical takeaways:
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A terminal record is not a transit promise. Those 2,000 containers moved on two specific days, under a special scheme and with focused coordination. It is evidence of capacity, not a committed time for your October container.
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The pickup window now matters as much as the arrival date. With 24/2, Thursday and Friday are worth something different from the rest of the week. Whoever schedules pickup around that window gets out earlier; whoever schedules "whenever possible" competes with everyone else.
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Appointment compliance above 95% is the number to demand from your carrier. The port already did its part: if your truck misses the appointment, the delay came from your chain, not from the terminal.
What this number does not say
The ITPAP measures truck dwell time inside the port facility. It does not measure ocean transit, it does not measure full customs clearance of your goods, and it does not measure the time from your supplier's shipment to arrival at your warehouse. A release record does not guarantee your entry will clear quickly either: these are different things run by different actors.
If you want the detail on how clearance breaks down, we explain it in what a customs broker does and in how to read a Mexican import pedimento.
Frequently asked questions
Does the record mean congestion in Manzanillo is over? No. The record covers two specific days in August under an extended scheme. The most recent monthly data available (July ITPAP) still shows 12 hours 50 minutes of average dwell time across the four main ports.
Does the 24/2 scheme run every week? The terminal reports it as continuous customs operation from Thursday to Friday. Conditions are set by each port together with the customs authority; confirm them with your customs broker for the week your shipment arrives.
Can a 3PL reduce my time at the port? Not the time inside the facility. What can be done is having transport ready for the right window, documentation complete before arrival, and the warehouse prepared to receive so the container is not sitting loaded, waiting to be unloaded.
Once the container leaves the port, what decides your total time is how ready the receiving end is: dock appointment, staff and system waiting for the goods instead of improvising. That is how we run import logistics for brands bringing inventory into Mexico.