MEXICO CITY, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Tropical storm Kiko spun along Mexico's Pacific coast on Thursday and was forecast to hit land close to the port and resort town of Manzanillo toward the weekend.

Kiko carried maximum sustained winds near 40 mph (65 km) with stronger gusts. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said the storm was expected to touch the coast on Friday close to Manzanillo, one of Mexico's biggest ports and a tourist resort popular with U.S. sports fishers.

The forecasters warned Kiko had the potential to become a hurricane if it changed course.

"Kiko could become a hurricane if the center stays farther offshore," the Miami-based center said.

Manzanillo does not export oil, most of which leaves ports on the Gulf coast.

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