Mexico: fuelling the future of shipping

Mexico is well-positioned to become a hub for zero-carbon shipping fuels due to its abundant renewable energy resources and strategic location as a trading hub between North and South America. The report identifies green hydrogen and green ammonia as the most suitable fuels for large commercial vessels, while electrification is recommended for smaller port service vessels. Implementing these technologies could attract between 36.7 and 52.8 billion pesos in onshore infrastructure investment by 2030. Beyond shipping, the development of a green hydrogen economy could improve Mexico's energy security, create green jobs, and decarbonize other industrial sectors such as steel and cement production.

• Mexico possesses significant renewable energy potential that exceeds its domestic electricity demand and can support the production of zero-carbon fuels. The 'moderate uptake scenario' estimates a generation potential of 864 TWh per year, while the 'high uptake scenario' suggests 4,904 TWh per year.
• Green hydrogen and green ammonia are identified as the most appropriate zero-carbon fuels for large commercial vessels, including tankers, containers, and bulk carriers. In contrast, smaller vessels such as port service vessels are best served through electrification.
• Adopting zero-carbon propulsion technologies could attract significant investment in Mexico's onshore infrastructure by 2030, estimated between 36.7 billion and 52.8 billion pesos. This includes 23.8 to 35.8 billion pesos specifically for solar and wind farms.
• To support a 5% uptake of zero-carbon fuels by vessels visiting Mexican ports by 2030, approximately 3.47 TWh/year of renewable generation would be required.
• The transition to zero-carbon shipping fuels offers co-benefits beyond the maritime sector, including the creation of green jobs, increased energy independence by reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels, and the ability to decarbonize heavy transport, mining, and agriculture.
• Mexico's strategic geography and trade agreements, such as the USMCA and its observer status in MERCOSUR, position it to become a global bunkering hub and exporter of green hydrogen to markets in the United States, Japan, and Western Europe.
• The report evaluates three specific port types as models for transition: Manzanillo (large commercial), Cozumel (small/tourism-focused), and Coatzacoalcos (industrial/export-focused).
• While blue hydrogen and ammonia are considered low-carbon, the report focuses on green fuels because current carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies are deemed immature and unlikely to achieve the necessary lifecycle emission reductions by 2030.

APA

Ricardo (2021). Mexico: fuelling the future of shipping. World Economic Forum. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/Mexico_fuelling_the_future_of_shipping_2021.pdf

Chicago

Ricardo. Mexico: fuelling the future of shipping. World Economic Forum, 2021. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/Mexico_fuelling_the_future_of_shipping_2021.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Ricardo |title=Mexico: fuelling the future of shipping |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=2021 |url=https://www3.weforum.org/docs/Mexico_fuelling_the_future_of_shipping_2021.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{ricardo2021mexico, author = {Ricardo}, title = {{Mexico: fuelling the future of shipping}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2021}, url = {https://www3.weforum.org/docs/Mexico_fuelling_the_future_of_shipping_2021.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }