Transport Services to Mexico

The United Mexican States, commonly known as Mexico, is a federal republic located in the southern part of North America. It shares borders with the United States to the north, Guatemala and Belize to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea to the east. The capital is Mexico City, and the official language is Spanish. The total population is approximately 120 million, though it is expected to decline in the future. Mexico is the most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world. Its area is roughly five times that of Japan, covering 1.95 million square kilometers. The name "Mexico" was chosen during the War of Independence in 1821 and originates from the Aztec language, Nahuatl (nāhuatl), meaning "the land of Mēxihco." Mēxihco (also written as Mexihco) refers to an alternate name for Huitzilopochtli, the Aztec god of war, the sun, and hunting, which means "the chosen one of the gods." The most worshiped god of the Aztecs, his name was combined with the suffix "-co," indicating a place, to express the desire for independence and prosperity in this land. Regarding the inclusion of "United States" in its official name, some Mexicans express dissatisfaction, as the term "United States" often refers exclusively to the United States of America, overshadowing Mexico. This has led to calls for changing the country’s name to simply "Mexico." This sentiment has been particularly noticeable since the late 19th century, following Mexico's defeat in the Mexican-American War, and the issue has been debated in Mexico for many years. In 2023, Mexico's nominal GDP was $1.7888 trillion, ranking 12th in the world. Its economy is about the same size as South Korea's and ranks second in Latin America, after Brazil. Mexico’s per capita GDP stands at $13,804, slightly above the global average. It is an observer in MERCOSUR and the South American Community, and a member of the OECD, APEC, and NAFTA. Mexico is rich in oil, especially along the Caribbean coast, and oil has been a major source of foreign currency, mainly through the state-owned company Pemex since World War II. Mexico is also famous worldwide for its silver and opal production. Other significant sources of foreign revenue include the fishing industry, tourism, salt production, and beer manufacturing. Since the early 20th century, industrialization has progressed in Mexico, with thriving production in the automotive, steel, and electronics sectors. Its major trading partners include the United States, Canada, Japan, and Spain. Since the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) came into effect on January 1, 1994, Mexico has increased its production of automobiles and electronics for the U.S. and Canadian markets, leveraging its low labor costs. However, this has also heightened Mexico’s economic dependence on the U.S., prompting efforts to diversify economic partnerships with countries outside NAFTA. On September 17, 2004, Mexico formally agreed with Japan on the Japan-Mexico Economic Partnership Agreement, which aimed to reduce tariffs and non-tariff barriers and grant most-favored-nation status. As of January 2008, all agricultural products, including corn—the last to remain protected—had their tariffs fully eliminated under NAFTA, making them freely importable.

Taking the port of Manzanillo as an example, the customs clearance for imported goods currently takes approximately 5-7 days. Additionally, similar to the United States, Mexico has a 24-hour rule (AMS). Failure to comply with the application rules may result in substantial penalties.

Since 1994, Mexico has actively welcomed new foreign companies and has implemented several incentives related to exports and imports from the perspective of promoting production.