Mexican Ports Introducing Measures to Prevent Spread of Coronavirus
At least three Mexican ports are requiring 48 hours' notice before ships arrive from China, in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus through crew members, according to a Feb. 27 report from Mexico Today. The “detection protocol” is being carried out at the Manzanillo, Lázaro Cárdenas and Ensenada ports along the Pacific coast, which all have “direct trade links” to China, the report said. The Manzanillo port is Mexico's largest port by volume, the report said, moving more than 3 million containers per year. Manufacturers in northwestern Mexico have reported interruptions in production lines for a variety of goods -- including in the electric, auto, aerospace and medical equipment industries -- due to Chinese supply chain delays, the report said.
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Although the virus outbreak is affecting some Mexican industries, the country’s apparel industry could benefit from the “dislocation” of U.S. supply chains from China due to the spread of the virus, according to Mexico Today. The Mexican apparel industry could benefit from new export opportunities in the U.S. for knit fabric apparel, such as socks, sweaters, underwear and T-shirts, the report said. Mexico has “ample opportunity to fill the void left by China in the short run,” the report said.