The state government of Colima, in Mexico, has announced plans to develop the port of Cuyutlán, adjacent to the port of Manzanillo, in an effort to meet the expected increase in imports and exports of cars in the pre-2020 period.
Both the state governor Ignacio Peralta, Eduardo Solis, president of the Mexican Association of Automotive Industry (AMIA), have said that all new investment should be made in collaboration with the private sector.
"Colima wants to be part of the development of this industry and its development implies the need for increased cargo volume is expected for the coming years," Peralta said.
He added that the expected recovery of traffic to and from Mexico, would allow authorities to build new generation facilities that could face higher yields and lower costs for port users.
The development will include a specialized terminal for finished vehicles and an area for conducting tests on vehicles, he added.
All major vehicle manufacturers already use the nearby port of Manzanillo, Peralta said. During 2015, the total number of vehicles that passed through the port increased by 12% due to a 50% increase in imports. "We want to be an ally of that growth and, in that sense, Mexico's auto industry will continue to grow with the port of Manzanillo as a partner," Peralta said.
Cuyutlán port has excellent growth potential, with a number of large gaps and potential capacity up to 15 times greater than the port of Manzanillo, he said.
Currently, the port of Cuyutlán has a natural gas terminal, following an investment in 2004. Studies were conducted to determine what level of additional investment is needed to create a terminal of finished vehicles last generation in zone.
It is still unclear how any private sector investment will be structured. "We are studying the creation of instruments to the investment of the port authority or through another mechanism involving the private sector, assuming that the projects are profitable," Peralta said.
Source: automotivelogistics.media