
Mexico
Global Trade Profile β’ Rank #9 Exporter
$605.37B
Total Exports (2023)
$538.39B
Total Imports (2023)
$66.98B
Trade Surplus
#9
Export Ranking
Trade Flow Visualization
Interactive map showing Mexico's top trading partners. Green lines represent exports, red lines represent imports.
#9
Export Rank
$605.37B
Total Exports
$538.39B
Total Imports
+$66.98B
Trade Balance
29
Trade Partners
π Top Export Destinations
USA
Canada
China
Germany
Spain
Brazil
United Kingdom
Japan
IndiaTop Export Products
π₯ Top Import Sources
USA
China
Germany
Rep. of Korea
Japan
Viet Nam
Brazil
Canada
ItalyTop Import Products
π Historical Trade Trends (1995-2023)
29 Years
Data Coverage
29
Data Points
π
Trend Direction
π Featured Analysis
Mexico is featured in our detailed study: Top Car Exporters: Germany Leads $1.8T Market β
Mexico Trade Analysis 2023
π Overview
Mexico stands as the world's #9 largest exporter and #12 largest importer, demonstrating significant global trade influence.
The trade profile reveals a robust surplus of 66.98 billion, indicating strong export competitiveness.
The country maintains active trading relationships with 20 major partners, creating a highly diversified trade network.
Monthly trade flows average $95.31B, generating continuous economic activity across logistics, finance, and trade services.
π’ Export Markets
Export Market Concentration
Export concentration shows USA as the dominant market at 75.7%. The top three markets control 83.7% of exports.
Market Concentration Risk
Regional patterns reveal globally balanced access. Secondary markets (Spain, Brazil, United Kingdom) provide $25.80B in additional trade.
π¦ Import Sources
Import Source Concentration
Mexico relies heavily on USA for imports (52.9%),creating supply chain concentration risk.
Manufacturing inputs come primarily from China, Rep. of Korea, Viet Nam, Malaysia, reflecting deep integration into Asian production networks. China's dominant position at 91.52 billion encompasses electronics components, textiles, machinery parts, and consumer goods, creating both efficiency benefits and concentration risks.
The USA provides 284.84 billion (52.9%) in imports, concentrated in agricultural products, aircraft, pharmaceuticals, and advanced technology.The top 10 import sources account for 86.4% of total imports, with the remaining 14% distributed among 10 other suppliers.
Regional sourcing patterns reveal strong ASEAN integration with 6 Southeast Asian nations providing 27.85 billion (5.2%) of imports. European suppliers including Germany (20.11B), Italy (6.71B), France (3.62B) focus on luxury goods, machinery, and specialized chemicals.
Supply chain resilience strategies increasingly emphasize "China Plus One" approaches, with Viet Nam, India, Thailandemerging as alternative manufacturing bases. The geographic proximity of major suppliers balances efficiency with risk diversification.
π¦ Product Composition
π Export Products
Top Export Products
Mexico's export economy centers on diversified industrial production, with the leading export being petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crudeat $32.19 billion, accounting for 5.3% of total exports.
Vehicle-related products including passenger cars, hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, and automotive parts total approximately 111.70 billion or 18.5% of exports, encompassing 8 distinct product categories. Electronics, semiconductors, and machinery contribute 77.53 billion or 12.8% of exports.
The automotive sector's dominance is evident in the export portfolio, with with only spark-ignition internal combustion recip... (32.04B), spark-ignition internal combustion piston engine, ... (24.07B), with only spark-ignition internal combustion recip... (14.36B), ignition wiring sets and other wiring sets of a ki... (11.16B), parts and accessories, of bodies, other than safet... (9.38B). This automotive specialization reflects decades of manufacturing excellence, continuous innovation in fuel efficiency and hybrid technology, and established global brand recognition.
The transition to electric and hybrid vehicles is captured in export data, with 3 categories specifically related to alternative propulsion systems, totaling $25.90B.
Beyond automotive, Mexico maintains strong positions in industrial machinery (2 categories totaling 33.13B), electronic components (44.40B), and Oils, Medical, surgical or dental instruments and appliances, Seat.
The top 20 export products collectively account for 42.4% of total exports, revealing healthy product diversification across multiple sectors.
π Import Products
Top Import Products
Import requirements center on preparations n.e.c. containing by weight 70% or more of petroleum oils or oils from bituminous minerals at 37.95 billion (7.0%), indicating resource dependency.
Beyond energy, critical imports include processors and controllers, whether or n... (15.08B, 2.8%), parts and accessories (other than covers... (12.77B, 2.4%), Telephones for cellular networks or for ... (9.48B, 1.8%), machines for the reception, conversion a... (6.72B, 1.2%), maize (corn), other than seed (5.90B, 1.1%).Electronic components and devices total 48.28 billion (9.0% of imports), supporting domestic manufacturing and assembly operations.
The import product mix reveals structural characteristics of Mexico's economy: integration into global electronics supply chains, food security dependencies, and sophisticated consumption patterns.
The ratio of raw materials to finished goods in imports (4 : 16among top 20 products) indicates balanced import composition. Import substitution potential exists in technology sectors through targeted industrial policies and investment.
Product diversification metrics reveal focused product specializationwith implications for economic resilience and growth potential. The technology ladder progression from 4 primary products to 16 high-tech goods indicates the economy's structural transformation and industrial upgrading trajectory.
Value addition opportunities exist in transitioning from raw material exports to processed goods, from components to finished products, and from standard to customized offerings. The product space connectivity, measuring relatedness between current exports and potential new products, suggests strong potential for diversification into adjacent sophisticated products.
βοΈ Trade Balance Dynamics
| Partner | Exports | Imports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | $458.43B | $284.84B | +$173.59B |
| China | $14.71B | $91.52B | $-76.80B |
| Canada | $33.37B | $6.94B | +$26.43B |
| Germany | $10.80B | $20.11B | $-9.31B |
| Japan | $4.61B | $13.80B | $-9.19B |
Export-to-import ratio of 1.124 means exports cover 112.4% of import costs.
π Key Relationships
Major Trading Partners
| Partner | Exports | Imports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | $458.43B | $284.84B | +$173.59B |
| China | $14.71B | $91.52B | $-76.80B |
| Canada | $33.37B | $6.94B | +$26.43B |
| Germany | $10.80B | $20.11B | $-9.31B |
| Japan | $4.61B | $13.80B | $-9.19B |
| Rep. of Korea | $0 | $16.48B | $-16.48B |
| Brazil | $5.74B | $8.59B | $-2.85B |
| Other Asia, nes | $6.13B | $6.41B | $-286.20M |
| Total | $533.78B | $448.69B | +$85.09B |
The Mexico-USA relationship leads at 743.27 billion in bilateral trade.View detailed analysis β
Additional major partnerships include Canada (40.31B total trade), Germany (30.91B total trade), Japan (18.40B total trade). Regional integration through Asian supply chains facilitates technology transfer, market access, and production efficiency. The diversity of trading relationshipsβ1.00T across top 10 partnersβprovides resilience against bilateral tensions and regional disruptions.
π Competitive Position
Competitive Advantage
Global rankings position Mexico as the #9 exporter worldwide,among the elite tier of global trading powers. The country's share of global exports at approximately 6.054%provides substantial market influence and pricing power.
Export sophistication, measured by the dominance of primary commodities, indicates potential for value chain upgrading. The revealed comparative advantage (RCA) index shows strongest competitiveness in sectors where Mexico's global market share exceeds its overall trade share by factors of 2 or more.
Competitive advantages emerge in sectors where export concentration exceeds import share, particularly inpetroleum oils and oils o, with only spark-ignition , processing units other th. The revealed comparative advantage is strongest in product categories representing15.2% of exports. Market positioning against regional competitors shows leadership in key product segments.
Trade complementarity with major partners suggests deep integration into global supply chains. The export quality ladder, comparing unit values to world averages, indicates premium positioning in many categories.
Competitive dynamics are shaped by factor endowments including advanced technology and skilled labor, infrastructure quality, and business environment. The export survival rate, measuring the persistence of export relationships over time, suggests need for relationship strengthening.
Innovation capacity, reflected in the technology content of exports and R&D intensity, determines long-term competitiveness trajectories. The competitive threat from emerging exporters in similar product categories requires continuous upgrading and differentiation strategies to maintain market position. Regional integration through trade agreements provides preferential access to0 markets, creating competitive advantages over non-member competitors.
π― Strategic Outlook
Strategic Priority
The trade profile presents both opportunities and challenges for economic development strategy. Key strengths include consistent trade surpluses supporting macroeconomic stability,diversified market access reducing concentration risk, and competitive positions in essential commodities.
Vulnerabilities include excessive reliance on single export markets. The intersection of these factors creates a complex strategic landscape requiring careful navigation to maximize opportunities while mitigating risks.
Strategic priorities should focus on market diversification and value chain upgrading to enhance trade competitiveness. Opportunities exist in expanding trade with Guatemala, Colombia, Switzerland, developing new product capabilities in higher technology sectors, and strengthening regional integration through new partnership frameworks.
The digital transformation of trade, including e-commerce, digital services, and blockchain-based trade finance, offers new avenues for market access and efficiency gains. Green trade opportunities in renewable energy, sustainable products, and carbon markets represent growing segments aligned with global sustainability goals.
The evolving global trade environment, characterized by technological disruption, geopolitical realignment, and sustainability imperatives, will fundamentally reshape Mexico's trade prospects. Success requires balanced policies addressing both maintaining export competitiveness while managing currency appreciation pressures.
Investment in infrastructure, education, and innovation ecosystems will determine the ability to climb value chains and capture larger shares of global value addition. The resilience agenda, emphasizing supply chain robustness, strategic autonomy in critical sectors, and economic security considerations, must be balanced with efficiency and openness principles.
As global trade patterns continue evolving, Mexico's position as the world's #9 exporter provides a platform for continued growth, requiring adaptive strategies, institutional strengthening, and sustained commitment to competitiveness enhancement in an increasingly complex and interconnected global economy.
Data Notes
Data from CEPII BACI database, harmonized using UN Comtrade methodology. All values in current USD at 2023 exchange rates. Trade statistics cover merchandise goods only, excluding services. Mirror statistics reconciliation applied for data consistency. 2024 data available January 2026. HS6 product classification follows 2017 revision.
Data source: CEPII BACI | Last updated: January 2025 | Next update: January 2026