Mexico-US Freight Rises as Bilateral Trade Consolidates Lead

Mexico-US freight rose 7.1% year over year to US$73.2 billion in February 2026, according to BTS, even as total North American transborder freight declined. The data reinforces Mexico’s position as the United States’ top trading partner, with trucks moving US$55.6 billion in goods and key border gateways such as Laredo, El Paso, and Otay Mesa driving cross-border flows.

Mexico’s trade relationship with the United States continued to gain ground in early 2026, supported by resilient cross-border freight flows and a shift in US trade patterns away from other major partners such as Canada and China.

Mexico-US trade continued to grow in early 2026, with bilateral goods trade reaching US$147.3 billion in the first two months of the year, positioning Mexico as the United States’ largest trading partner. The trend was reinforced in February, when cross-border freight between both countries grew 7.1% year over year to US$73.2 billion, even as total North American transborder freight declined.

According to the US Census Bureau, Mexico remained the United States’ largest trading partner in the first two months of 2026, with total bilateral goods trade reaching US$147.3 billion. The figure included US$60.5 billion in US exports to Mexico and US$86.8 billion in imports from Mexico, representing 16.4% of total US goods trade during the period. Canada followed with US$110.3 billion, while China ranked third with US$56.3 billion.

The data highlights Mexico’s growing weight within the US trade network at a time when overall trade with other major partners has weakened. Mexico was also the top source of US imports in the January-February period, accounting for US$86.8 billion, or 16.9% of total US goods imports. Canada ranked second with US$57.5 billion, while Taiwan and China followed with US$42.8 billion and US$40 billion, respectively.

The same trend was visible in February’s freight data. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported that total North American transborder freight between the United States, Canada, and Mexico reached US$130.8 billion in February 2026, down 0.7% compared with February 2025. However, freight between the United States and Mexico rose 7.1% to US$73.2 billion, while US-Canada freight fell 9% to US$57.5 billion.

The performance underscores the growing role of Mexico-US supply chains in North American trade. While the overall regional figure was dragged down by weaker flows with Canada, Mexico’s freight expansion reflected continued demand for cross-border manufacturing, automotive, electronics, machinery, and industrial goods movements.

Road transport remained the dominant mode for Mexico-US freight. Trucks moved US$55.6 billion in goods between the two countries in February, far ahead of rail, which carried US$7.2 billion. Vessel freight totaled US$4.6 billion, air freight reached US$3.1 billion, and pipeline shipments stood at US$600 million.

The concentration of freight in trucking also reinforces the strategic importance of border infrastructure. BTS identified Laredo, El Paso, and Otay Mesa as the top truck ports for US-Mexico freight, while Laredo, Eagle Pass, and El Paso led rail connections between the two countries.

Laredo remained the leading North American freight gateway in February, with US$29.15 billion in trade, according to BTS data. Other major ports included Detroit, Ysleta, Port Huron, Buffalo, Otay Mesa, Eagle Pass, Hidalgo, and Santa Teresa. The leading commodities in North American transborder flows included computer-related machinery and parts, vehicles, electrical machinery, mineral fuels, plastics, measuring instruments, and aircraft parts.

Mexico’s rise comes amid a broader reconfiguration of US trade. In February alone, US goods trade with Mexico reached US$73.2 billion, ahead of Canada’s US$57.5 billion and China’s US$26.9 billion. Mexico also ranked first in both US exports and imports for the month, with US$28.9 billion in US exports to Mexico and US$44.3 billion in imports from Mexico.

While total North American freight softened in February, Mexico’s performance shows that its integration with the US economy continues to deepen. The country’s position as the United States’ top trading partner is increasingly reflected not only in annual trade rankings, but also in the monthly movement of goods across roads, rail lines, ports, and border crossings.