Northern, Bajío States Drive Mexico’s Export Growth: INEGI

Mexico’s export sector remains highly concentrated geographically, with a handful of northern and Bajio states accounting for most of the country’s external trade momentum, supported primarily by manufacturing activity, according to official data. Six states, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Baja California, Jalisco, and Tamaulipas, continue to anchor Mexico’s integration into global trade, reflecting a strong dependence on specific industrial hubs for export growth.

Data from INEGI, through its Quarterly Exports by State report, show that total state-level exports reached US$152.6 billion in 3Q2025, marking a 9.2% increase from a year earlier. Results underscore the resilience of Mexico’s export sector despite an international environment shaped by economic deceleration and financial volatility.

Chihuahua remained the country’s leading exporting state, with shipments totaling US$28.9 billion, representing 18.9% of national exports. It was followed by Coahuila at 11.6%, Nuevo Leon at 9.7%, Baja California at 9.3%, and Jalisco at 9.1%. Including Tamaulipas, with 6.2%, the six states accounted for 64.8% of Mexico’s total exports during the period.

On an annual growth basis, Quintana Roo posted the largest increase at 120%, followed by Jalisco at 89.1%, Chihuahua at 42.9%, Zacatecas at 36.6%, and Chiapas at 27.7%. INEGI noted that in several cases the sharp increases reflect a low comparison base.

By economic sector, manufacturing continued to dominate, accounting for 93.8% of total export value in the quarter. Mining contributed 4.2%, while agriculture and livestock represented 2.0%.

In most of the leading exporting states, including Nuevo Leon, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Baja California and Jalisco, foreign sales are driven by manufacturing activity, closely tied to industrial supply chains and exports to the United States. However, the report also highlights notable exceptions. States such as Campeche, Tabasco, Zacatecas, Guerrero and Baja California Sur rely more heavily on mining or agricultural exports, reflecting a more diversified export structure that is, in some cases, more exposed to international commodity price volatility.

Overall, INEGI’s data confirm that Mexico’s export performance continues to rest on the manufacturing strength of a limited group of states. Expanding the regional and sectoral base of exports remains a key medium-term challenge to support broader and more sustainable economic growth.

Mexico Posts Trade Surplus in November 

MBN reported that Mexico’s merchandise trade balance registered a surplus of US$663 million in November 2025, widening slightly from US$606 million in October, as exports expanded by 7.9% year over year while imports increased 5.2%, according to INEGI’s latest Merchandise Trade Balance of Mexico (BCMM) bulletin.

Total exports reached US$56,412 million, while imports totaled US$55,749 million. The month-to-month improvement in the headline balance was driven by a larger non-oil surplus and a slightly deeper oil deficit.

According to INEGI, the non-oil trade surplus grew from US$2,736 million in October to US$2,838 million in November, while the oil trade deficit widened from US$2,129 million to US$2,175 million during the same period.

By export category, non-oil exports rose 10.5% year-on-year to US$54,865 million, while oil exports dropped 40.4% to US$1,547 million. Within non-oil shipments, exports to the United States increased 8.5%, and exports to the rest of the world surged 20.9%, reflecting strong demand diversification beyond Mexico’s primary trade partner.

Mexico’s export performance was primarily driven by the manufacturing sector. Manufactured goods exports rose 10.9% year-on-year to US$52,085 million, with notable gains in specialized machinery and industrial equipment, metal products for domestic use, and electrical and electronic devices.

In contrast, automotive exports fell 2.1% year-on-year to US$15,768 million, as shipments to the United States declined 4.8%, partially offset by 13.3% growth in exports to other destinations.

On the import side, growth was mainly concentrated in production inputs. Intermediate goods imports grew 8.7% year-on-year to US$42,949 million, reflecting strong industrial activity. Consumer goods imports increased 2.5% to US$8,437 million, while capital goods imports fell 16.7% to US$4,364 million, marking a notable contraction in investment-related purchases.