Xifres de comerç exterior de Mèxic

Foreign Trade in Figures

Mexico is highly dependent on foreign trade, which represented 78% of its GDP in 2020 (World Bank, latest available data). The country mainly exports cars (11.1%), computers (6.7%), vehicle parts (6.5%), delivery trucks (5.5%), and crude petroleum (5.5%). As for imports, Mexico’s main purchases include integrated circuits (6.8%), refined petroleum (6.7%), vehicle parts (6.3%), office machine parts (3.8%), and cars (2.2%). According to IMF Foreign Trade Forecasts, the volume of exports of goods and services increased by 7.7% in 2021 and is expected to reach 5.6% in 2022, while the volume of imports of goods and services increased by 17.3% in 2021 and is expected to increase by 7.3% in 2022.

Mexico is heavily dependent on the commercial relations with its main trading partner – the United States – which account for more than three-quarters of the country’s exports. Other destinations for Mexican exports include the EU (6.7%) and Canada (4.4%). As per imports, the main origins include the US (54.4%), China (14.4%), the EU (11.3%) and Japan (2.9%). Mexico has signed a dozen free-trade agreements with about forty different countries of the world. Other trade advantages of Mexico include the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (which replaced NAFTA in 2020), its free-trade agreement with the European Union since 2000, a trade agreement with Japan since 2005 and the 2012 foundation of the Pacific Alliance along with Colombia, Chile and Peru.

Although Mexico's trade balance is structurally negative, the country has been seeing a trade surplus in recent years. In 2020, exports of goods and services decreased by 7.3%, reaching USD 434.4 billion; while imports decreased by 14.8%, reaching USD 418.2 billion - taking trade balance to a surplus of USD 34.4 billion. That was largely due to the continued strength of the automotive industry - both motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts - and the impact on U.S.- China trade war, which increased Mexican exports to the United States.