Tuscor Lloyds Hits the Beach

Just in time for the summer, Tuscor Lloyds has launched a brand new sea freight service to Puerto Morelos. It’s not all about bikinis and sun tan lotion though...

Building on an already formidable reputation in Mexico, Tuscor Lloyds has begun to send and receive cargo at this popular tourist and leisure destination. The main point of interest for the NVOCC is that Yucatan is thirsty for shipping containers. There is a growing demand for related freight support services, including storage projects, and Tuscor Lloyds has become increasingly involved since winning a major storage contract with the country’s largest grocery retailer some years back. Progresso on the north coast is well known for its container industry and this employs a large and growing proportion of the local population. In addition there is plenty of opportunity in the large conurbation of Merida, with its long established textile manufacturing and bicycle component industries.

Overland freight systems, road and rail networks are excellent in Mexico, but the cost of land movements, especially road haulage can be prohibitively expensive. This is why carriers are looking to feeder vessels and modernised port facilities to help deliver reliable, cost efficient services to provinces like the Yucatan Peninsula.

With the Gulf of Mexico oilfields opening up (albeit stringently regulated since the recent deepwater rig accident) there is likely to be further regional development of industry and support services. Tuscor Lloyds is reporting a higher demand for projects and out of gauge cargos in the region. Port operators are starting to gear up for increased volumes and local authorities are planning a modernisation programme to improve the local infrastructure.

After capitalising on the first Mexico-EU FTA in the early nineties, Tuscor Lloyds has come to dominate the regional freight market. The company controls significant market shares, both import and export, and more recently they are winning trade in the trans-Pacific lanes, especially from China and the far eastern bloc of manufacturing nations. An ever larger foothold is being gained by the company mainly through expertise and high service levels.

Mexican economic policy has changed dramatically over the past 15 years, moving from localised protectionism to an open, regionalised and market-based economy. The country is now attracting increased foreign investment as firms take advantage of the cheap workforce and its geographical proximity to the largest consumer block in the world. This has fed through to large scale infrastructure projects as the provinces modernise and more natural resources are discovered and extracted. The signs are good for Mexico. The country has negotiated more FTA’s than any other in the world and this is providing real benefits as the global recovery takes hold and economic development continues apace.

Tuscor Lloyds’ business is diversified in two key areas, general cargo project work and liner work comprising full and part load containers. The company also arranges out-of-profile shipments for the oil, gas and construction industries. Its liner division is heavily involved in the South American, Central American and North African markets, offering weekly shipments from various North European Ports. For further information and full details of their activities, visit www.tuscorlloyds.com.