Fifty containers with various products have been stranded at customs in the port of Progreso for several weeks.
The president of the Index Export Maquiladora Association of Yucatán, Alejandro Guerrero Lozano, confirmed that there is a delay in the inspections carried out on the cargo, causing the merchandise to remain stuck in the high-altitude port, waiting for the port authorities to complete the review, although this put the companies’ compliance with product delivery at risk.
«Customs is scanning all export containers, which was not done before, and that has generated a bottleneck with losses for companies. We have had containers stranded for two or three weeks, and this generates losses, when we talk about perishables, when we talk about meat, fruits, and vegetables that go to Europe, where a container cannot be, if you told me, a container of oranges “It can’t be parked,” he explained.
According to the interviewee, the Secretary of the Navy ordered the scanning of 100% of the containers leaving Yucatán, through the port of Progreso, although the customs at this site does not have sufficient equipment to carry out this activity adequately. which stopped the departure of at least 50 containers loaded with merchandise.
They will solve the problem in 2 months
It was reported that only import containers were being checked randomly, although everything changed a few weeks ago, so customs estimated that the arrangements would be concluded in about two months, which would affect exporters.
Meanwhile, he stated that the affected companies run the serious risk of delaying the shipment of merchandise from the entity. In addition, they must pay 2 thousand pesos per day for each container awaiting inspection.
«It is a loss that can generate a loss of market because what is going to happen is that customers are going to look for another port to leave through, that is faster, and Progreso is going to lose cargo. Meanwhile, what is happening is that the ships are setting sail with empty, semi-empty places. “When the cargo is released, there will be no space,” he said.
He warned that the number of stranded containers could increase in the coming days, in addition, he noted that companies also face the application of fines or penalties for late shipment of merchandise, and even the cancellation of their shipment due to this circumstance.
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