Mexico Customs Revenue Falls as Ports Lose Momentum

Mexico’s customs revenue fell for a second consecutive month in early 2026, reflecting weaker performance across both land border ports and seaports. ANAM data shows that while maritime customs remained the country’s largest revenue source, both segments posted declines in revenue, operations, pedimentos and, in several cases, the value of goods handled, highlighting growing pressure on Mexico’s trade collection performance.

Mexico’s customs revenue remained under pressure at the start of 2026, extending a downward trend that now spans two consecutive months. According to the National Customs Agency of Mexico (ANAM), customs revenue from foreign trade reached MX$207.59 billion (US$11.49 billion) in January-February 2026, a 13.0% real annual decline versus the same period in 2025. 

While trade activity did not collapse, ANAM’s figures show the fiscal side of customs weakened more sharply than volumes. The agency also reported that revenue had already fallen in January, confirming that February marked the second straight monthly contraction.

VAT was the main drag on collections. ANAM reports that VAT revenue fell 22.6% in real terms in January-February, although it still represented 64.9% of total customs revenue. Import duty revenue also declined, with IGI down 7.0% in real terms. By contrast, IEPS revenue rose 40.1% in real terms, accounting for 18.7% of total revenue, which ANAM linked to higher hydrocarbon import volumes.

The broader trade backdrop was more mixed. ANAM says the declared value of foreign trade merchandise increased 0.9% in real terms in the first two months of the year. Within that total, imports fell 0.7% while exports rose 2.5%. That suggests customs activity remained relatively resilient, but the tax base tied to imports weakened enough to hit collections, especially as the peso appreciated against the US dollar. 

Operational indicators also softened. ANAM reports that customs operations fell 2.1% YoY in January-February, with exports showing the sharpest decline at 2.9%, while import operations fell 1.6%. Meanwhile, customs processed 1,639,094 customs declarations, a 5.5% decline compared with the same period of 2025. Import customs declarations represented 74% of the total, while exports accounted for 26%.

By customs type, maritime customs offices remained the largest revenue contributors, collecting MX$105,850.6 million, though that still represented a 9.2% real decline. Border customs collected MX$67,705.9 million, down 18.2%, while inland customs generated MX$34,034.7 million, down 13.5% in real terms. 

The border segment showed weakness not only in revenue but also in activity. ANAM reported that land border customs operations totaled 2,282,687, down 2.0% year over year. Nuevo Laredo led with 808,097 operations and a 35.4% share of all border operations, followed by Ciudad Juarez, Tijuana, Reynosa, Nogales and Piedras Negras, which together accounted for 81.4% of border operations. Border customs also processed 859,757 customs declarations, a 6.1% decline, while the declared value of goods handled at border customs fell 8.1% in real terms. That value was concentrated in Ciudad Juarez, Nuevo Laredo, Tijuana, Reynosa, Colombia and Piedras Negras, which together represented 80.6% of the total.

Maritime customs remained the largest collection platform, but their operating indicators also weakened. ANAM reported that maritime customs operations fell 6.5% year over year. Manzanillo handled 181,700 operations, equivalent to 43.9% of total maritime operations, with a 4.4% decline. Maritime customs also processed 296,506 customs declarations, down 7.6%, with Manzanillo again leading at 136,772 customs declarations, or 46.1% of the total, followed by Lazaro Cardenas with 49,782 and Veracruz with 43,361. Together, Manzanillo, Lazaro Cardenas, Veracruz and Altamira concentrated 90.2% of all maritime customs declarations.

By declared goods value, maritime customs recorded a 13.4% real decline. Manzanillo led with MX$303,139 million, followed by Veracruz with MX$190,152 million, Altamira with MX$121,214 million, Lázaro Cárdenas with MX$100,087 million and Mazatlán with MX$95,405 million. Together, those five seaports accounted for 83.4% of the value handled by maritime customs. In annual terms, Manzanillo fell 7.3%, Veracruz 9.0%, Altamira 16.5% and Lazaro Cardenas 48.8%, while Mazatlan rose 466.4%.

Macroeconomic conditions also shaped the result. ANAM notes that the average exchange rate in February 2026 was MX$17.24 per US dollar, compared with MX$20.46 in February 2025, meaning the peso appreciated 15.7% year over year. A stronger peso lowers the peso-denominated value of imported goods, reducing the taxable base for customs duties and VAT. At the same time, lower fuel reference prices also influenced collection patterns, even as hydrocarbon-related IEPS revenue increased.