Mexico Border Trade Tops $87 Billion in May

Mexico remained the United States’ largest overall trading partner in May, recording $87.23 billion in two-way commerce and extending its lead over Canada and China as cross-border supply chains continued to power North American trade.

Trade between the U.S. and Mexico increased 17.06% compared with May 2025, fueled by $33.05 billion in U.S. exports and $54.18 billion in imports from Mexico, according to an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data by WorldCity. Mexico accounted for 16.77% of all U.S. international commerce during the month, which saw total global trade hit $520.06 billion.

Year to date through May, Mexico also retained its position as the United States’ largest trading partner with $404.57 billion in total trade, ahead of Canada, China, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Laredo leads as the busiest border gateway

The port of entry in Laredo, Texas, remained the nation’s busiest international trade gateway, handling $36.33 billion in imports and exports during May. That’s a 19.36% increase from the same month last year. Mexico accounted for roughly 97% of Port Laredo’s international trade.

Chicago O’Hare International Airport ranked second among U.S. international gateways for May at $32 billion, followed by Port Houston at $24 billion. Laredo processed $12.09 billion in exports and $24.24 billion in imports, serving as the primary conduit for automotive products, electronics, machinery and industrial goods crossing the border.

They handled a significant portion of Mexico-related trade, with Laredo processing $35.29 billion of this trade during May. The Ysleta-Zaragoza International Bridge in El Paso followed at $12.09 billion, with Otay Mesa in California at $4.99 billion, Eagle Pass at $4.15 billion and the Pharr International Bridge at $3.83 billion.

Canada ranked as the United States’ second-largest trading partner in May with $66.1 billion in two-way trade, followed by China at $32.6 billion. The gap between Mexico and its nearest competitor has widened steadily as nearshoring and supply chain realignment continue to benefit cross-border logistics networks, including intermodal freight operations.

Top trade commodities

Top U.S. exports to Mexico in May included gasoline and other fuels at $3.28 billion, computer parts at $2.30 billion, computers at $2.08 billion, and motor vehicle parts at $1.85 billion. Low-value shipments, computer chips, and digital storage devices also appeared in the top export categories.

On the import side, computers led at $13.52 billion, followed by passenger vehicles at $3.57 billion, commercial vehicles at $3.50 billion, and motor vehicle parts at $3.22 billion. Insulated wire and cable, cell phones, medical instruments, and oil rounded out the top import commodities.

The data shows that the two countries aren’t just trading finished goods — they’re deeply integrated in intermediate supply chains, with components and parts crossing the border in both directions before final assembly. It is a pattern that has intensified over the past decade, and the numbers suggest it’s still accelerating, making supply chain management critical for modern businesses.