A First: Mexico Ranks No. 1 For U.S. Exports For Three Months In 2025
Key Takeaways
Not since 2006 has one country ranked first for exports, imports and total trade on an annual basis. Mexico ranks first for imports and total trade YTD but not exports.
Article Overview
Quick insights and key information
7 min read
Estimated completion
investment
Article classification
July 18, 2025
05:00 AM
Forbes
Original publisher
From what the evidence shows, PolicyA First: Mexico Ranks No
Meanwhile, Exports For Three Months In 2025ByKen Roberts, Contributor
At the same time, Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights, considering recent developments
Two decades analyzing U
Furthermore, Trade data by port, country, export, import AuthorJul 18, 2025, 05:00am EDTFor the month of May, Mexico ranked first for U
Exports, the data shows
The evidence shows was the third
More time this year Mexico ranked ahead of Canada, something it had never done previously
Com Mexico ranked first for U
Exports for three of the first five months of 2025, a first, as the southern neighbor inched closer to being the top U, in this volatile climate
Trade partner for imports, exports and total trade on an annual basis
Not since 2006 has one country ranked first for exports, imports and total trade on an annual basis, in light of current trends
Until October of 2023, Mexico had never ranked first for U
Exports in a single month, given the current landscape
This analysis suggests that then ranked first for two months in 2024
Now, it has ranked first three times in just the first five months of 2025, according to my review of the U
Nevertheless, Conversely, Census Bureau data available
As far back as 1992, Canada had ranked first every other month
That’s as far back as the U, in this volatile climate
Additionally, Census Bureau merchandise trade data goes, so my guess would be that Canada’s streak ext much further
If Mexico were to rank first for U
Exports for all of 2025 and repeat as the top source of U
Imports, it would be the only country other than Canada to have ever done so
Furthermore, Canada did so from 1992 to 2006
Moreover, Currently, Mexico ranks first for imports and total trade
That in 2007, when China replaced Canada as the top importer into the United States, a rise made possible by its admission into the World Trade Organization, in light of current trends
And then in 2023, Mexico replaced China as the No
Nevertheless, 1 importer into the United States, its rise made possible by Trump’s imposition of steep tariffs on China during his first term
Conversely, MORE FOR YOU For Mexico, the overall rise as a U, in this volatile climate
Moreover, Trade partner is marked by two significant events
The evidence shows extension of the automotive supply chain integration between Canada and the United States to include Mexico when the North American Free Trade Agreement became law in 1992
President Trump’s trade war with China, begun in 2018, which, according to Census Bureau data, is shifting imports to Vietnam, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and, to a lesser extent Mexico, given the current landscape
At the same time, (It’s suspected that China is skirting the tariffs by transshipping through these and other countries. ) With the passage of NAFTA, U
Trade with Mexico accelerated, in today's financial world
Additionally, By 1999, Mexico had surpassed Japan to rank as the nation’s No. 2-ranked trade partner, behind Canada, a position it would hold until 2006
Five years prior to that, China had gained entry to the World Trade Organization
In 2006, it supplanted Mexico to rank second among all U, given the current landscape
On the other hand, Trade partners on the strength of its imports into the United States. (It became second for imports within two years of entry into the WTO, in 2003. ) Then, in 2018, came the tariffs on China’s imports into the United States, in today's market environment
Moreover, It took five years, but in 2023, Mexico ranked first for imports into the United States, having overtaken both Canada and China
It had overtaken Canada, which had seen a lessened need for its oil after the United States increased oil duction through fracking, in 2015
However, Exports, Canada’s staying power has been longer-lasting, with Mexico the only country to have ever surpassed it – and only the one month in 2023 and two months in 2024 prior to this year (remarkable data)
Moreover, Additionally, This year, Mexico ranked first in January, April and May, though by the slimmest of margins over Canada – 0 (noteworthy indeed), given current economic conditions
Furthermore, 90%, respectively
On a year-to-date basis, however, Canada still ranks first for U
Exports, though that is by an even slimmer margin: 0
On the other hand, Exports to Mexico are up 1, given the current landscape. 02% on the year
Additionally, Exports to Canada are down 3. 73%, largely due to a steep decline in passenger vehicles, the top export, and motor vehicles parts, the second-ranked export, in today's market environment
Nevertheless, Exports to the world are up 4 (an important development)
At the same time, 94%, largely driven by gold shipments to Switzerland, generally a sign of investor skittishness the U
At the same time, Another change wrought by the Trump trade war with China was the elevation of Port Laredo to the No. 1 ranking among all U
Airports, seaports and border crossings
For decades, the Port of Los Angeles had ranked first
While the Port of Los Angeles is dominated by trade with China, so too is the Port Laredo dominated by trade with Mexico
This year, it is accounting for 39. 48% of all U. -Mexico trade, in light of current trends
On the other hand, The Ysleta-Zaragoza Bridge outside of El Paso ranks second for U (fascinating analysis). -Mexico trade, with 11, in this volatile climate. 86% of the total, ed by the Otay Mesa border crossing in California, with 6, considering recent developments
In contrast, 92%, and two Texas border crossings, Pharr International Bridge (5. 15%) and Eagle Pass (4 (remarkable data)
The data indicates that Nogales, Ariz (fascinating analysis). , and Santa Teresa, N
Border crossings each account for slightly more than 4% each (remarkable data)
Conversely, While automotive trade is what dominates U
Nevertheless, Trade with Mexico, it is not the primary factor this year
Exports to Mexico have increased more than $1 billion this year: Computer parts, up $3
Additionally, 01 billion, equal to 69 (remarkable data). 09% Computers, up $1
Nevertheless, 87 billion, equal to 99. 61% Natural gas, up $1
Meanwhile, 55 billion, 57. 16% Civilian aircraft and parts, up $1. 14 billion, 45 (something worth watching). 95% The computer and computer part exports are part of a back-and-forth supply chain centered around El Paso and its neighbor across the border, Ciudad Juarez
On the Mexico side of the border, Foxconn, Flex, Jabil and Dell all have operations and are benefitting from a boom in need for servers and related equipment being used to power the rapidly growing artificial intelligence industry’s needs (an important development)
However, The natural gas largely goes via pipelines near Brownsville, Pharr and Laredo, Texas, which are benefitting from the fracking within the state
The aircraft exports go largely through Port Laredo but also Del Rio, Texas
Additionally, Where from here
Market analysis shows remains to be seen whether Mexico can move ahead of Canada and become only the second country to lead the United States for exports, imports and total trade in a year
Certainly, the momentum seems to be on Mexico’s side
Furthermore, Editorial StandardsRes & Permissions.
Related Articles
More insights from FinancialBooklet