The Port of Lázaro Cárdenas, located in Michoacán, is one of Mexico's main foreign trade gateways and ranks second nationwide in container throughput, according to The Logistics World.
Between January and September 2026, the port handled 21,517,529 tonnes of commercial cargo, equivalent to 21% of the country's total cargo movement, according to the Lázaro Cárdenas National Port System Administration (ASIPONA). During the same period, it handled 2,007,493 TEUs, a 3% increase compared with the same period in 2025.
In addition to its maritime operations, the Port of Lázaro Cárdenas has rail connections to Mexico's interior through the Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) network. According to the company, it has exclusive rail access to the port's docks and connections to destinations across Mexico, the United States and Canada.
Several companies specializing in cargo handling operate within the port, including APM Terminals and Hutchison Ports LCT, which operate Specialized Container Terminals II and I, respectively. Both have infrastructure for transferring containers to rail transport.
According to APM Terminals, the company provides intermodal connections to Cuautitlán Izcalli, in the State of Mexico, and other destinations, including Monterrey and San Luis Potosí. The operator states that its facility in Cuautitlán Izcalli is located near more than 250 distribution centers within a 20-kilometer radius.
At the Port of Lázaro Cárdenas, the terminal operated by APM Terminals has infrastructure for container loading and unloading operations, as well as container delivery and reception by rail.
According to the company, the facility has an intermodal yard equipped with two rail-mounted cranes, allowing a complete train to be loaded within the port premises.
Between January and September 2026, 71% of containers transported by land at the Port of Lázaro Cárdenas were moved by truck, while 29% were transported by rail, according to the Lázaro Cárdenas National Port System Administration (ASIPONA).
