Manzanillo
Mexico's busiest container port and the primary Pacific gateway for cargo from Asia, with rail and road inland.
Last reviewed
Sea freight · China → Mexico
Sea freight from China to Mexico — Manzanillo and Lázaro Cárdenas, with the Padrón and broker filed before sailing.
Weekly sailings from Shenzhen, Shekou, and Shanghai to Manzanillo and Lázaro Cárdenas in 16–24 days. Mexico has two structural prerequisites that catch first-time importers: enrolment in the Padrón de Importadores and a licensed customs broker for the entry. Neither is optional, so we confirm both before the vessel sails.
16–24dPacific sea range
Brokerlicensed filing required
Padrónenrolment checked first
24hquote turnaround
16–24d
Manzanillo sea range
16%
IVA on most imports
Pacific
primary gateways
Required
Licensed broker filing
Gateways
Pacific first, Gulf only when it makes sense.
Nearshoring has pushed volume through the Pacific ports. Manzanillo and Lázaro Cárdenas are the default; Veracruz only when the delivery point is genuinely on the Gulf coast.
Lázaro Cárdenas
Deep-water Pacific alternative with strong rail connections into central Mexico and the US border.
Veracruz
The Gulf gateway. Much longer from China, so only worth it when delivery is on that side.
Mexico City air
For time-sensitive cargo alongside the planned ocean cadence.
Ocean freight from China to Mexico — port-by-port transit.
days
Mexican customs & compliance
Two things that must exist before the cargo ships.
Mexican import clearance has structural prerequisites. The importer must be enrolled in the Padrón de Importadores and the pedimento must be filed by a licensed Mexican broker — you cannot self-file.
| Requirement | Who handles it | When |
|---|---|---|
| Padrón de Importadores enrolment | Importer — mandatory | Before first import |
| Licensed customs broker | Legally required for the entry | At import |
| Pedimento declaration | Broker — Prodoer coordinates | At import |
| RFC tax registration | Importer | Before first import |
| HS classification and duty | Broker | Before entry |
| IVA 16% | Importer | At entry |
| NOM standards and labelling | Importer, product dependent | Before sale |
How it works
Confirm prerequisites, then move the freight.
01 — Confirm
Registry, RFC, and broker
We check Padrón enrolment, RFC, and a licensed broker before anything sails — none can be improvised at the port.
02 — Classify
Duty and NOM exposure
Classification sets duty and flags whether NOM labelling or certification applies.
03 — Ship
Book the Pacific gateway
Manzanillo or Lázaro Cárdenas against the delivery point, with congestion factored in.
04 — Clear
Pedimento and delivery
Broker files the pedimento, duty and IVA settle, then trucking or rail to your plant or warehouse.
FAQ
China to Mexico sea freight FAQ
Transit, the Padrón, mandatory broker filing, NOM standards, and IVA.
How long does sea freight from China to Mexico take?
16–24 days into Manzanillo or Lázaro Cárdenas on the Pacific side. Veracruz on the Gulf is 30–40 days and only worth it when the delivery point is genuinely on that coast. Pacific port congestion has been a real planning factor as nearshoring volume grows.
What is the Padrón de Importadores and do I need it?
Mexico's importer registry. Enrolment is mandatory before you can import commercially — without it the entry cannot be filed. Enrolment takes time and has its own requirements, so it needs to be underway well before the first container sails.
Can I file my own Mexican customs entry?
No. Mexican law requires the pedimento to be filed by a licensed customs broker (agente aduanal). We coordinate with a licensed broker and prepare the document set, but the filing itself goes through them.
What duty and tax apply on Mexican imports?
Duty depends on classification; IVA of 16% applies to most imports. Manufacturers under IMMEX or similar programmes have different treatment for temporary imports, which is worth raising at quote time if it applies.
What are NOM standards and will they apply to my product?
Mexican official standards covering a wide range of products — typically requiring Spanish-language labelling and sometimes certification before goods can be sold. It is a market-access requirement that bites at the border when labelling is missing. Send the product details and we flag whether a NOM is likely.
China → Mexico sea freight
Get an all-in China to Mexico sea-freight quote in 24 hours.
Send the cargo, origin, Mexican destination, and your importer registry status. One agent replies with compared FCL/LCL rates and any NOM exposure.
Get an all-in China to Mexico sea-freight quote in 24 hours.
Send the cargo, origin, Mexican destination, and your importer registry status. One agent replies with compared FCL/LCL rates and any NOM exposure.