Mexico Sets US$664.84 Billion Export Record in 2025

Mexico posted a record year for exports in 2025, with overseas shipments rising 7.6% to an unprecedented US$664.84 billion, according to data from INEGI. The strong performance came despite a challenging global environment marked by trade tensions and renewed tariff threats from the United States. More than 80% of Mexico’s exports were destined for the US market, highlighting the deep production and supply-chain integration between the two countries.

Even so, Mexico closed the year with a US$771 million trade surplus, reversing the deficit recorded in 2024 and marking a notable shift after four consecutive years of negative trade balances.

Manufacturing Drives Export Growth

Beyond the headline figures, the composition of Mexico’s export growth reveals where momentum is truly concentrated. While external demand remained resilient overall, performance varied widely by sector, underscoring the central role of manufacturing in offsetting weakness in other areas of the export basket.

Manufacturing was the backbone of Mexico’s export expansion, accounting for 91.6% of total shipments and posting annual growth of 9.8%. Strong gains were recorded in machinery and specialized equipment for industry, minerometallurgical products, electrical and electronic devices, and professional and scientific equipment.

Within the manufacturing sector, however, performance was uneven. Automotive exports, a cornerstone of Mexico’s regional integration, declined 4.2% year over year. Analysts linked the drop to protectionist policies promoted by US President Donald Trump, which have raised the cost of key inputs and disrupted supply chains. Meanwhile, non-automotive manufacturing exports surged 17.3% and represented nearly two-thirds of total exports, consolidating their role as the primary driver of Mexico’s external growth.

Oil and Agriculture Under Pressure

Oil exports fell sharply in 2025, dropping 26.4% to US$21.25 billion. The decline reflected both a lower average price for Mexico’s crude blend, which stood at US$61.71/b, and reduced export volumes averaging 658Mb/d.

Agricultural exports also weakened, posting an annual contraction of 10.8%. The decline was influenced by tariffs and lower shipments of products such as tomatoes, avocados, onions and livestock. Some categories, including edible fruits, showed modest gains, partially offsetting broader losses in the sector.

Imports and Year-End Momentum

Imports also reached a historic high of US$664.07 billion in 2025, rising 4.4% from the previous year. Non-oil imports increased 5.3%, while oil-related imports fell 6.6%. Intermediate goods posted a solid rebound, while capital goods imports declined 8.7%.

Trade activity accelerated sharply in December, with exports jumping 17.2% year over year, driven by a 20.6% increase in manufacturing shipments. The strong finish confirmed exports as one of the main engines of Mexico’s economy throughout 2025.

Mexico Remains US Largest Export Market 

As of 2025-2026, Mexico has solidified its position as the top exporter to the United States, surpassing China and Canada. The country remained the United States’ largest export market for the fourth consecutive month and has also consolidated its position as the top source of US imports since 2023, reflecting the strength and resilience of regional supply chains, reported MBN. 

Additionally, Canada and Mexico together absorbed more than 29% of total US goods exports between January and October 2025, underscoring the growing depth of North American economic integration, according to data released by the US Department of Commerce. US exports to Mexico represented approximately 15.45% of the total during the period, while shipments to Canada accounted for about 14.49%.

The figures highlight the expanding productive integration across North America, driven by key sectors such as machinery and equipment, vehicles and auto parts, electronics, medical devices, steel, energy, and a broad range of agricultural products. Together, these industries reinforce North America’s global competitiveness and emphasize Mexico’s strategic role in supplying US industrial demand.

Agricultural Trade Strengthens Regional Food Security

Agricultural trade between Mexico and the United States has expanded significantly over three decades of economic integration and trade liberalization. From January to October 2025, Mexico emerged as the leading agricultural supplier to the United States and the second-largest global destination for US agricultural exports.

Mexico and the United States have developed a complementary agricultural partnership that supports regional food security. Mexico has positioned itself as a reliable supplier of high-quality food products in large volumes, including avocados, berries, beer, tomatoes,and limes. At the same time, Mexico is a major buyer of US agricultural exports such as pork, poultry and beef, dairy products, apples and pears, corn, wheat, legumes, and rice, making it a key economic partner for farmers across multiple US states.

Mexico Leads Latin America in High Tech Manufacturing Exports 

MBN previously reported that Mexico ranked among the world’s Top 10 exporting nations in 2024 after recording US$617 billion in total exports, cementing its position as Latin America’s leading exporter of high-technology manufactured goods, according to data from the World Trade Organization.

Mexico’s export performance is underpinned by structural advantages, including deep integration into North American supply chains, geographic proximity to the United States and Canada, and preferential access under USMCA. Economists also point to competitive production costs, strong logistics infrastructure and a growing pool of specialized talent as key factors supporting sustained export growth in the coming years.