API de Coatzacoalcos S.A. de C. V.

What API de Coatzacoalcos S.A. de C. V. does

API de Coatzacoalcos S.A. de C.V. (legal name: Administracion del Sistema Portuario Nacional Coatzacoalcos, S.A. de C.V.) is a Mexican state-owned parastatal entity operating the Port of Coatzacoalcos under the oversight of SEMAR (Secretaria de Marina) and the Coordinacion General de Puertos y Marina Mercante. Created by federal decree on October 8, 1825, the port is located on the Gulf of Mexico side of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and self-positions as Mexico's leader in bulk cargo handling. The entity manages multimodal cargo operations including bulk, liquid, containerized, and oversized/project cargo through maritime, rail, and road intermodal connections, supported by specialized infrastructure such as a mechanized bulk unloading system (Bodega No. 3), five hydrodynamic buoys rated for currents up to 13 knots, a real-time river current and tide monitoring station, and a grid-connected solar photovoltaic system. The port also operates the SOP (Port Operations System) and PIS (Puerto Inteligente Seguro) digital platforms for scheduling, access control, and security monitoring.

The business model is a regulated port administration generating revenue from four primary streams: port administration and infrastructure service fees, terminal concessions and lease income (to operators including Vopak Mexico and Smart Pass), cargo handling and manoeuvring services, and real estate and facilities rental. The go-to-market is enterprise-direct sales targeting petrochemical, oil & gas, agricultural, engineering/construction, and manufacturing clients in central, southern, and southeastern Mexico, complemented by promotional journeys, trade shows (Expo Carga), and industry forums (APPAMEX-NAEGA, Encuentro de Transporte y Logistica). The port's Ferrobuque service, a unique rail-barge intermodal service connecting to the US Gulf and East Coast with door-to-door single-document logistics, is the only one of its kind in Mexico's national port system. Development of the new 270-meter berth and 20-hectare terminal precinct at Laguna de Pajaritos (970 million peso federal investment) and integration with the Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec position the port as a strategic Atlantic-Pacific logistics platform.

Name

API de Coatzacoalcos S.A. de C. V.

Legal name

Administración del Sistema Portuario Nacional Coatzacoalcos, S.A. de C.V.

Website

https://puertocoatzacoalcos.com.mx

Company type

Private

Founded year

1825

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

API de Coatzacoalcos is a Mexican state-owned port administration operating the Port of Coatzacoalcos on the Gulf of Mexico side of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. It serves petrochemical, oil & gas, agricultural, and manufacturing exporters with multimodal bulk, liquid, containerized, and project cargo handling, plus the unique Ferrobuque rail-barge service to the US Gulf and East Coast.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Port Administration and Maritime Logistics Services

NAICS

Port and Harbor Operations (488310), Port and Harbor Operations (48831), Marine Cargo Handling (488320), Marine Cargo Handling (48832), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400), Wholesale-Petroleum Bulk Stations & Terminals (5171), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Maritime & Port Authorities (Public Ports, Harbors, Ferries Terminals) (BPAIALAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Port Dues, Permitting & Regulatory Clearances (TLAHAFAD), Terminal Cargo Handling & Yard Operations (Receiving, Staging, Delivery) (TLAHALAB), Liquid Bulk Chemical & Petrochemical Terminals (Base Chemicals, Solvents) (TLAHABAI), Port Equipment Operations (Crane Operators, RTG/RMG, Straddle Carrier Operations) (TLAHALAE), Marine Terminals & Cargo Handling Infrastructure (RoRo, Bulk, Container) (IMAFAJAF)

Keywords

• Port administration services
• Bulk cargo handling
• Maritime logistics
• Intermodal transport
• Petrochemical terminal operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Coatzacoalcos

HQ country

Mexico

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Port Administration and Infrastructure Services: Fees charged for port infrastructure use, berth assignments, navigation services, and regulatory oversight of port operations within the Coatzacoalcos port jurisdiction.
2. Terminal Concessions and Lease Income: Revenue from long-term concessions granted to terminal operators such as Vopak México (petrochemicals), Smart Pass (liquid chemicals), and other specialized terminals within the port precinct.
3. Cargo Handling and Manoeuvring Services: Services including loading, unloading, storage in port-owned warehouses (Bodegas), and specialized operations for bulk, project/oversized cargo, and sugar.
4. Real Estate and Facilities Rental: Rental income from port-owned facilities including warehouses, open storage areas, and buildings within the port precinct.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

API de Coatzacoalcos operates the Port of Coatzacoalcos on Mexico's Gulf of Mexico coast, providing integral port administration services including cargo handling for bulk, liquid, containerized, and oversized/project cargo, terminal concessions for petrochemical and chemical operators (Vopak México, Smart Pass), warehousing and storage facilities, and the unique Ferrobuque rail-barge intermodal service connecting to the US Gulf and East Coast. The authority manages public port infrastructure, berth assignments, navigation services, and regulatory oversight for industrial clients including petrochemical, oil & gas, agricultural, and engineering/construction firms.

Product overview

API de Coatzacoalcos S.A. de C.V. operates as an Integral Port Administration managing the Port of Coatzacoalcos, Mexico's leader in bulk cargo handling. The company offers a comprehensive port operations ecosystem consisting of the main Coatzacoalcos port facility and the new Laguna de Pajaritos development, supported by specialized terminals operated by partners (Vopak México and Smart Pass). Core services include cargo handling for bulk, liquid, and project cargo; the unique Ferrobuque rail-ship service; real-time port operations systems (SOP); and the Puerto Inteligente Seguro digital platform. The port also operates the Parque del Bicentenario public recreation facility and provides environmental monitoring services including river current measurement and meteorological/oceanographic data collection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Puerto de Coatzacoalcos - Recinto Portuario (Main Port Facility)
• Ferrobuque Intermodal Rail-Barge Service
• SOP - Sistema de Operaciones Portuarias (Port Operations System)
• PIS - Puerto Inteligente Seguro (Smart Secure Port)
• Laguna de Pajaritos Port Precinct
• Real-Time River Current Monitoring Service

Quantifiable outcome

• 826,880 tons of agricultural bulk cargo handled by September 2011, representing 10% of Mexico's national port system agricultural bulk throughput.
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• API Salina CruzcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Strategic collaboration between the two Mexican Pacific and Gulf ports to jointly promote the 'Plataforma Logística del Istmo de Tehuantepec' (Isthmus of Tehuantepec Logistics Platform), offering an intermodal alternative connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans for international trade operations. Directors of both APIs jointly present at promotional events.
• Vopak México S.A. de C.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTerminal operator handling liquid petrochemical storage and transfer operations at the port. Expanded terminal capacity by 50% (8,400 m³) in 2010, enabling reactivation of Methyl Methacrylate Monomer (MMA) exports. Also participates in port emergency response drills.
• Smart Pass S.A. de C.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChemical liquid products terminal operator with 7,326 m² facility, 5 tanks (7,200 m³ total capacity), 300 m² warehouse, rack pipelines for direct discharge from docks 7 and 8, 70-ton truck scale, and simultaneous loading for 5 tanker trucks. Three-phase expansion planned reaching 20,000 m³ total capacity. Inaugurated March 2011, began operations July 2011.
• Van Oord de México S.A. de C.V.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDredging contractor that brought the 'Ham 316' (129m, 9,500 m³ hopper capacity) to perform construction dredging at Laguna de Pajaritos. Also providing a second dredge using innovative water injection process for annual maintenance dredging of the Coatzacoalcos River.
• Ica FluorminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering and construction company importing oversized refinery equipment through Coatzacoalcos for the Lázaro Cárdenas refinery reconfiguration in Minatitlán. Chose Coatzacoalcos for its proven oversized cargo handling capability and the expertise of the Sociedad Cooperativa de Estibadores.
• PrologisticsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLogistics company partnering with API Coatzacoalcos in promotional journeys (e.g., Tlaxcala 2011) to present integrated logistics solutions for exporters using the port's services.
• FreyssinetminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStructural engineering company awarded the contract by SCT for major rehabilitation of Puente Coatzacoalcos I, including re-foundation of pile 29, reinforcement of steel beams, re-levelling of bridge decks, and installation of the bascule leaf mechanism.
• CG Railway / FerrosurcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRailway operators providing the ferrobuque intermodal service from Coatzacoalcos to US Gulf and East Coast. CG Railway Vice President George A. Nahas participated in Mexico City promotional events. Service offers unique door-to-door and single-document features. Used by 14 new companies in 2011.
• Obras Portuarias de Coatzacoalcos S.A. de C.V. (OPC)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPort construction company awarded the escollera (breakwater) reconstruction contract worth over 27 million pesos, involving reinforcement with 10-30 ton igneous rock and 400 meters of breakwater body restoration.
• Sociedad Cooperativa de EstibadorescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPort stevedoring cooperative performing all cargo loading/unloading operations including specialized oversized cargo maneuvers, fertilizer bagging, and sugar operations. Recognized for expertise in handling pieces over 1,000 tons.
• Secretaría de Marina (SEMAR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOversees the Capitanía de Puerto (Port Captaincy), coordinates port security under the PBIP/ISPS code, conducts annual protection drills, and jointly operates maritime rescue and emergency response. The port operates under Navy administration.
• Instituto Mexicano del TransporteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical partner under a coordination agreement with the Coordinación General de Puertos y Marina Mercante for the installation of oceanographic and meteorological measurement equipment (tide gauge, directional buoy, weather station, high-frequency sensors) contributing to the RENEOM national network.
• Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes (SCT)coreOthersFederal agency responsible for federal highway infrastructure including Puente Coatzacoalcos I (150 million peso rehabilitation), port development oversight, and harmonization of port accounting standards.
• CemexminorOthersProvided pallets for humanitarian aid shipments to Haiti following the 2010 earthquake, coordinated through the port's community relief efforts.
• Oxiteno México S.A. de C.V.minorOthersChemical company that donated pallets for Haiti humanitarian aid and participates in the port's emergency response committee (CLAM) and joint drills.
• PROFEPA (Procuraduría Federal de Protección al Ambiente)minorOthersFederal environmental enforcement agency that coordinates wildlife seizure operations with the port, donating rescued animals to the Parque del Bicentenario's UMA. Receives environmental compliance oversight at the port.
• Presidencia de la República / Coordinación General de Puertos y Marina MercantecoreOthersFederal government oversight body for the national port system. The Coordinator General of Ports and Merchant Marine visited in November 2011 to chair the LXXII Port Administration Council session and inspect Laguna de Pajaritos development.
• Centro Mexicano para la Filantropía (Cemefi) / Alianza por la RSE (AliaRSE)minorOthersPhilanthropy center that awards the ESR (Empresa Socialmente Responsable) distinction to companies demonstrating voluntary social responsibility practices. API Coatzacoalcos received this distinction for 8 consecutive years through 2011.

Scale indicators20 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Port of Houston Authority: Largest US Gulf port and a key destination for cargo transiting through Coatzacoalcos via the Ferrobuque service. Comparable in cargo mix (petrochemicals, bulk, containers) and operational scale.
• Administración del Sistema Portuario Nacional Lázaro Cárdenas: Major Mexican Pacific port authority handling containers, bulk, and liquid cargo. Comparable in scale and federal API structure, with overlapping industrial customers in steel, energy, and automotive.
• Administración del Sistema Portuario Nacional Manzanillo: Mexico's largest Pacific port and a fellow API in the national port system. Comparable in governance structure and federal oversight, with a much larger containerized throughput base that provides strategic context.

Direct peers

• Port of Corpus Christi: Major US Gulf port handling large volumes of petroleum, petrochemicals, and bulk cargo. Reaches the US Gulf and East Coast via the Ferrobuque service and competes for the same energy and agricultural flows.
• Administración del Sistema Portuario Nacional Veracruz (ASIPONA Veracruz): Sister Mexican Gulf port authority also under SEMAR coordination, with overlapping petrochemical, container, and bulk cargo traffic. Operates the Maritime Bridge to Coatzacoalcos and is the most direct comparable in Mexico's national port system.
• Administración del Sistema Portuario Nacional Tampico: Nearby Gulf port authority serving the same southern Mexico industrial corridor. Competes for petroleum, chemical, and agricultural bulk cargo from the same hinterland as Coatzacoalcos.
• Administración del Sistema Portuario Nacional Altamira: Mexican Gulf port authority handling petrochemicals, liquid bulk, and containers. Directly competes with Coatzacoalcos for petrochemical and energy-related cargo in the Gulf of Mexico region.
• Administración del Sistema Portuario Nacional Salina Cruz (API Salina Cruz): Pacific-side Mexican port authority that is API Coatzacoalcos's official strategic partner in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec Logistics Platform. Together they form the interoceanic Pacific-Atlantic corridor.

Emerging players

• Vopak: Global independent terminal operator with a Mexican subsidiary (Vopak México) operating a dedicated petrochemical terminal within the Port of Coatzacoalcos. Provides a relevant benchmark for liquid bulk terminal economics and global terminal operator economics.

Regional players

• Grupo México Transportes (Ferromex/Ferrosur): Operates Ferrosur, the rail partner in the Ferrobuque rail-barge service linking Coatzacoalcos to US Gulf and East Coast markets. Key intermodal partner rather than a direct competitor, but a critical logistics infrastructure peer in the same value chain.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/api-de-coatzacoalcos-s-a-de-c-v-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about API de Coatzacoalcos S.A. de C. V.