Americas
Container Shipping from the UK to Mexico
Veracruz serves the Gulf coast and Mexico City, with Manzanillo covering the Pacific side and the Bajío manufacturing corridor.
Container shipping from the UK to Mexico runs full container load to Veracruz (MXVER) and Manzanillo (MXZLO). There is no scheduled less than container load service to Mexico at present. Sea transit is 18–34 days port to port and air freight 2–4 days. We collect from any UK address and handle UK export clearance; customs charges in Mexico are not included.
Where we ship
Ports in Mexico
Full container load and groupage both go to Veracruz and Manzanillo. Select a port for its location, code and indicative transit.
- UK door
- UK port
- Veracruz or Manzanillo
Packed and sealed at your premises, then straight to the port — usually Southampton.
Less than container load
There is no scheduled groupage service to Mexico at present. Smaller consignments are quoted case by case — tell us the volume and we will say which option is genuinely cheaper.
Get a price for Mexico
The three modes are quoted separately — they are priced on different things entirely: a container, a cubic metre and a kilo.
Indicative pricing
Starting points for sea freight from the UK, not port-specific figures — the rate for your shipment depends on the arrival port, the sailing and the commodity. Customs charges, duty and taxes in Mexico are payable there and are not included.
| Service | From | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| FCL — 20ft General Purpose | £1,720.00 | per 20ft container |
| FCL — 40ft General Purpose | £2,720.00 | per 40ft container |
| LCL groupage | £88.00 | per cubic metre |
| Air freight | Please check with our team | per 100kg chargeable weight |
These are starting prices for the freight, not shipment totals. A groupage rate is what one cubic metre of cargo costs, so a 10 cubic metre consignment costs roughly ten times the figure shown. Figures are indicative, in GBP, and cover the sea freight from the UK only — customs charges, duty and taxes in the destination country are payable there and are not included. Your firm quote depends on the exact route, the cargo and the sailing.
What can you ship to Mexico?
Industrial machinery and spares, automotive components, electronics manufacturing equipment, medical devices and construction materials move through Veracruz and Manzanillo.
Cargo needs to be palletised, shrink-wrapped and labelled with the consignee, because groupage is handled several times between your loading bay and the delivery address. Anything containing lithium batteries, aerosols, paints, solvents or compressed gas needs declaring at booking — it usually still travels, it just changes the packing and the paperwork rather than simply the price.
What tax and duty applies on import into Mexico?
Mexico charges IVA at a standard rate of 16%, charged on the customs value plus duty plus the customs processing fee. Customs duty is separate and runs at 0–20% under the TIGIE tariff schedule, set by the commodity code of the specific goods.
Mexico requires a licensed customs broker (agente aduanal) by law — an importer cannot self-clear, and the broker's involvement is a legal requirement rather than a convenience. The consignee must also be listed on the Padrón de Importadores, the official importers' register, and sector-specific registration applies on top for categories such as textiles, footwear and steel.
What are the import restrictions in Mexico?
Four things are worth checking before you book rather than after the vessel sails.
What documents do I need to import into Mexico?
These cover the far end of the journey and belong to your consignee. We prepare and file the transport and commercial paperwork, but their own registrations are issued to them by their own authorities and cannot be obtained on their behalf.
What documents do you need in the UK to export?
A second, separate set of paperwork — and this one is yours rather than your consignee's. It is the part first-time exporters are most often caught by, because the destination requirements get all the attention and the British side looks like a formality until it stops a booking.
Duty depends on the commodity code of the specific goods, and rates change. This is general guidance, not tax or legal advice. Customs charges, duty and taxes in the destination country are payable there and are not included in our freight quote. Rates last reviewed .
Shipping to Mexico: FAQs
How long does shipping from the UK to Mexico take?
Sea freight runs about 18–34 days port to port, and air freight 2–4 days airport to airport. Veracruz is the quickest sea gateway on this lane at around 18 days. These are indicative figures measured port to port; the transit for your exact collection address and delivery address, including the inland legs at both ends, is confirmed at quote stage.
Which ports do you ship to in Mexico?
We move cargo through 2 ports in Mexico: Veracruz (MXVER), Manzanillo (MXZLO). Full container load goes to Veracruz and Manzanillo. We have no scheduled groupage service to Mexico at present, so part loads are quoted case by case. Each port page lists its location, code and indicative transit.
Do you handle customs clearance for Mexico?
We handle the UK side: we file your export declaration with HMRC against your GB EORI number and raise the transport and commercial documents that travel with the shipment. Customs charges in Mexico — duty, import tax and any local clearance fees — are payable there by the consignee and are not included in our rates, unless you have agreed a DDP Incoterm that puts them on you. Budget for them separately; they are the most common reason a landed cost comes in above the freight quote.
What should I know before shipping on the Mexico lane?
Coming from Europe, Veracruz is usually the right gateway even when the consignee is nearer the Pacific — the Atlantic crossing is direct, whereas Manzanillo requires a canal transit and a much longer sea leg. Cargo commonly moving on this lane includes industrial machinery and equipment, automotive and aerospace components, chemicals and industrial inputs.
Compare lanes
Other countries we ship to and from
Rates and transit times for countries near Mexico — each one works as an origin or a destination.
United States
Import & export · Los Angeles
LCL from
£88.00
per cubic metre
12+ days
View lane
Canada
Import & export · Vancouver
LCL from
£85.00
per cubic metre
10+ days
View lane
Brazil
Import & export · Santos
LCL from
£92.00
per cubic metre
20+ days
View lanePlan the rest of the move
Shipping to Mexico? Get a quote.
Any country to any country, import or export — send us the origin, destination and cargo details and we'll come back with a competitive rate within one business day.