Mexico Posts Record High Trade Deficit

2026-02-27 12:24 By Isabela Couto 1 min. read

Mexico posted a trade deficit of $6.48 billion in January 2026, a record high, widening from $5.21 billion a year earlier and well above forecasts of $2.20 billion.

Merchandise imports totaled $54.49 billion, up 9.8% year-over-year, driven primarily by intermediate goods at $43.12 billion (14.2%), particularly strong growth in non-petroleum intermediates (16.5%).

Capital goods imports fell 4.4% to $4.38 billion, while consumer goods imports declined 3.8% to $6.99 billion, largely due to a sharp drop in petroleum consumer goods (-35.2%).

Merchandise exports reached $48.01 billion, up 8.1% year-over-year, as non-oil exports rose 9.8%, offsetting a 33.5% decline in oil exports.

Non-oil exports to the US increased 7.9%, while those to the rest of the world surged 19.6%.

Manufactured goods exports climbed 9.4% to $43.51 billion, though automotive exports fell 9.0% due to a 16.7% drop in US shipments.

Agricultural and fishing exports totaled $1.85 billion, down 11.6%.



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Mexico Posts Record High Trade Deficit
Mexico posted a trade deficit of $6.48 billion in January 2026, a record high, widening from $5.21 billion a year earlier and well above forecasts of $2.20 billion. Merchandise imports totaled $54.49 billion, up 9.8% year-over-year, driven primarily by intermediate goods at $43.12 billion (14.2%), particularly strong growth in non-petroleum intermediates (16.5%). Capital goods imports fell 4.4% to $4.38 billion, while consumer goods imports declined 3.8% to $6.99 billion, largely due to a sharp drop in petroleum consumer goods (-35.2%). Merchandise exports reached $48.01 billion, up 8.1% year-over-year, as non-oil exports rose 9.8%, offsetting a 33.5% decline in oil exports. Non-oil exports to the US increased 7.9%, while those to the rest of the world surged 19.6%. Manufactured goods exports climbed 9.4% to $43.51 billion, though automotive exports fell 9.0% due to a 16.7% drop in US shipments. Agricultural and fishing exports totaled $1.85 billion, down 11.6%.
2026-02-27
Mexico Trade Surplus Widens in December
Mexico posted a $2.43 billion trade surplus in December 2025, up from $1.85 billion a year earlier but slightly below forecasts of $2.50 billion. Exports rose 17.2% year on year to $60.65 billion, driven by a 20.6% increase in manufactured goods shipments. In contrast, oil exports plunged 32.9%, while agricultural and fishing exports fell 12.7%. Merchandise imports totaled $58.22 billion, marking a 16.7% annual increase. Consumer goods imports surged 25.3%, intermediate goods rose 17.3%, and capital goods edged down 0.6%. For full-year 2025, Mexico recorded a $0.77 billion trade surplus, swinging from an $18.54 billion deficit in 2024.
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Mexico Records Trade Surplus for 2nd Month
Mexico posted a $0.6 billion trade surplus in November of 2025, swinging from the $0.7 billion deficit from the corresponding period of the previous year and loosely in line with expectations of a $0.5 billion. Exports expanded by 7.9% annually to $56.4 billion. Sales grew for manufacturing (10.9% to $52.1 billion amid a sharp increase in non-auto manufacturing exports (17.7% to $36.3 billion) and a surge in extractive goods (51.6% to $1.3 billion), supported by the surge in silver prices. These offset the 2.1% drop (to $15.8 billion) for auto exports, pressured by the tariffs on the sector from top destination United States, which fell by 4.8%. Still, exports to the US, which account for 83% of sales, grew 8.5% annually. Meanwhile, imports rose 5.2% to $55.7 billion, as gains for intermediate goods (8.7% to $42.9 billion) offset a decline for capital goods (-16.7% to $4.4 billion).
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