Mexico
Air freight, sea freight and customs in Ciudad Juárez
Ciudad Juárez has a large export manufacturing base directly across from El Paso.
Services in Ciudad Juárez
- Air freight in Ciudad JuárezAir freight for time-critical and high-value cargo between Europe, the Americas and Asia.
- Sea freight in Ciudad JuárezFCL and LCL sea freight on the main trade lanes, with pre-carriage and on-carriage by road or rail.
- Customs clearance in Ciudad JuárezImport and export clearance by our in-house customs teams in 8 countries and by partner teams in the Ziem network.
Airports, seaports and connections in Ciudad Juárez
- AirportCiudad Juárez
CJS - AirportEl Paso
ELPcross-border - SeaportRoad and rail to the US
Abraham González International Airport (CJS) serves Ciudad Juárez with domestic connections and limited international cargo. Directly across the Rio Grande, El Paso International Airport (ELP) in Texas offers additional cargo capacity, and many Juárez manufacturers move air freight through US gateways and truck it across the border. Ciudad Juárez has no seaport: ocean freight reaches the city by road and rail from Pacific ports such as Manzanillo, or from US ports via El Paso.
Ciudad Juárez and El Paso are joined by several international bridges, including the Bridge of the Americas and the Ysleta–Zaragoza bridge, which carry commercial truck traffic; the San Jerónimo–Santa Teresa crossing serves freight towards New Mexico. Federal Highway 45 runs south to Chihuahua city and central Mexico. Rail lines cross the border between Juárez and El Paso. We arrange pick-up and delivery across Ciudad Juárez, with cross-border trucking through trusted road partners.
Industries in Ciudad Juárez and how we support them
Ciudad Juárez has one of Mexico's largest export manufacturing bases, built on maquiladora plants that assemble electronics, automotive wire harnesses, electrical components and medical products for the US market. Many plants import components from Asia and the US and export finished goods daily across the bridges. Ziem Logistics supports these supply chains with air freight on our own air waybills, Next Flight Out for line-down parts, On-Board Courier for hand-carried components and cross-border road freight. Customs clearance in Mexico is handled by a partner team in the Ziem network, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures, aligned with IMMEX requirements.
Operational logistics facts for Ciudad Juárez
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Juárez–El Paso international bridges | Cross-border truck freight | Direct road access from Juárez plants to Texas |
| El Paso International Airport (ELP) | Air cargo via a US gateway | Additional airline capacity across the border |
| Ciudad Juárez maquiladora parks | Electronics, wire harnesses, electrical components | Components imported under IMMEX and handled in one shipment file |
Customs clearance in Mexico
Ziem network
Customs clearance in Mexico is handled by a partner team in the Ziem network, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures.
For air freight to and from Mexico we issue our own air waybills.
Importers in Mexico need an RFC tax ID and registration in the Padrón de Importadores.
Frequently asked questions
Do you fly cargo into CJS or via El Paso?
Both are possible. CJS has mainly Mexican domestic service, so many international lanes use ELP or another US gateway with trucking across the border. We compare routings and customs steps for each shipment.
Can you supply a Juárez assembly plant with urgent components from Asia?
Yes. We book Next Flight Out on the first suitable connection or send an On-Board Courier, and plan the final leg and border crossing in advance. The choice of gateway depends on flight options and the customs setup of your plant.
Can finished goods from Juárez be flown on your own air waybills?
Yes. Ziem Logistics has direct airline access and issues its own air waybills for exports, for example urgent consignments to Europe or Asia. We collect at the plant and prepare the export documents in the same file.
Who clears imports for maquiladoras in Ciudad Juárez?
Clearance with the National Customs Agency of Mexico (ANAM) is handled by a partner team in the Ziem network, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures. We prepare the shipment data, the pedimento is filed on that basis, and you deal only with Ziem Logistics.
How does IMMEX affect imports into Ciudad Juárez?
Under IMMEX, components for export production can be imported temporarily without paying certain taxes, provided the goods are later exported or transferred correctly. Each pedimento must match your programme registration, so we align shipment data with your IMMEX setup before the goods cross.
Can goods from Asia be cleared in Juárez after arriving at a US airport?
Yes, goods can move in bond through the United States and be cleared into Mexico at the border. The US transit and the Mexican import must be documented consistently. We plan both steps when the shipment is booked.