Monterrey, Mexico
Sea freight in Monterrey
We book FCL and LCL sea freight for shippers and consignees in Monterrey, via Altamira, and road to the US border at Laredo. Pre-carriage, on-carriage by road or rail and the customs entries are planned together with the ocean booking.
Airports, seaports and connections in Monterrey
- AirportMonterrey International
MTY - SeaportAltamira, and road to the US border at Laredo
Monterrey International Airport (MTY), officially General Mariano Escobedo International Airport, lies in Apodaca, north-east of the city and close to many of the industrial parks of Nuevo León. It is the main air cargo gateway for north-east Mexico. Because Monterrey sits close to the US border, a large part of its freight moves by truck through Nuevo Laredo and Laredo, Texas, one of the busiest land crossings between the two countries. For ocean freight, the Gulf port of Altamira in Tamaulipas is the closest container port, while Manzanillo on the Pacific handles cargo to and from Asia.
Federal Highway 85 and its toll version run north to Nuevo Laredo, while the Colombia bridge in Nuevo León offers a second commercial crossing into Texas. Highway 40 links Monterrey with Saltillo and Reynosa, and Highway 57 runs south to San Luis Potosí and central Mexico. The CPKC rail line between central Mexico and Nuevo Laredo passes through Monterrey. We arrange pick-up and delivery across the metropolitan area, including Apodaca, Escobedo, Santa Catarina, Pesquería and Salinas Victoria.
Operational logistics facts for Monterrey
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Monterrey International Airport (MTY) | Automotive parts, machinery spares, Next Flight Out | Air gateway located next to the Apodaca and Escobedo industrial parks |
| Nuevo Laredo and Colombia bridge crossings | Cross-border road freight to and from the US | Short road distance from Monterrey plants to the US border |
| Port of Altamira | FCL and LCL to and from Europe and the US Gulf | Closest container port for north-east Mexico |
| Nuevo León industrial parks | Nearshoring plants, appliances, automotive, steel processing | Inbound tooling and components combined with clearance in one shipment file |
Industries in Monterrey and how we support them
Monterrey is an established base for steel, cement and glass, and its industrial parks host automotive suppliers, a Kia car plant in Pesquería, household appliance makers and electrical equipment producers. Nearshoring has brought new plants from Asian, European and US companies that import machinery, tooling and components while exporting to the United States. Ziem Logistics supports these supply chains with air freight on our own air waybills via MTY, Next Flight Out when a line is at risk, On-Board Courier for critical parts and sea freight via Altamira or Manzanillo. Customs clearance is handled by a partner team in the Ziem network, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures.
From the port to your door in Monterrey
We arrange collection of the container or the LCL cargo at Altamira, and road to the US border at Laredo, customs clearance and delivery to your site in the Monterrey area. For exports we organise the pick-up and the delivery to the terminal before the cut-off.
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
Which port is used for sea freight to and from Monterrey?
Usually Altamira, and road to the US border at Laredo. Depending on the shipping line and the destination, another port can be faster or more economical; we compare the options when quoting.