Hutchison Ports TIMSA Invests US$40.16 Million in Manzanillo Yard

Hutchison Ports TIMSA is investing MX$690 million in a 15,000-TEU off-dock yard near the Port of Manzanillo, adding electrified handling equipment to increase capacity and improve flow. The expansion comes as Manzanillo faces persistent delays that COMCE says are pushing logistics costs up to 20%, making congestion relief and service reliability a priority.

Hutchison Ports TIMSA has announced a MX$690 million (US$40.16 million) investment to launch a new off-dock yard in the Port of Manzanillo to ease pressure on the terminal’s core footprint while improving container flow and storage capacity with more sustainable, electrified equipment.

The new facility is located 1.5km from the port entrance and is designed to add capacity for over 15,000 TEUs, giving the terminal an operational “buffer” to better manage inventory, reposition containers, and reduce congestion in high-demand periods.

Manzanillo continues to operate under tight space and high throughput requirements, making yard efficiency a critical lever for service levels. TIMSA’s new off-dock yard is positioned as a way to expand storage and operational flexibility without relying solely on space inside the port complex.

In practice, an external yard can help terminals separate time-sensitive, quay-adjacent activities from longer-dwell storage and repositioning work. That separation can support more orderly container stacks, smoother truck cycles, and more predictable gate operations, especially when volumes spike or vessel schedules bunch.

TIMSA framed the project as part of its broader development plan for the terminal, focused on improving capacity and reliability for shipping lines, transport providers, and cargo owners that depend on Manzanillo as Mexico’s main Pacific gateway.

A central element of the investment is the deployment of electric cargo-handling equipment, including electric rubber-tired gantry cranes (e-RTGs), electric terminal tractors, electric forklifts, and electric equipment for handling empty containers.

Electrification is increasingly seen across global ports as a pathway to reduce local emissions and improve operational efficiency. For terminals with intensive yard moves, electric equipment can also support lower noise levels, improved energy performance, and more consistent equipment availability, depending on charging infrastructure and operational design.

The investment lands as Manzanillo continues to grapple with operational disruptions that are rippling across supply chains. Mexico’s Business Council for Foreign Trade, Investment and Technology (COMCE) has warned that delays at the port are raising logistics costs by up to 20%, as bottlenecks translate into added storage, demurrage and inventory-related costs, while some shippers are forced to reroute cargo or build alternative capacity, MBN reports.

Industry updates since mid-2025 have also pointed to customs-related slowdowns and labor-related disruptions as key drivers behind prolonged congestion, tightening yard space and stressing inland transport flows.