Mexico Sets New US Trade Surplus Record at $96.3B
Mexico widens U.S. trade lead with record $96.3 billion in September
Mexico remained the United States’ largest trading partner in September, as two-way commerce reached a record $96.34 billion, according to WorldCity analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data.
Trade with Mexico increased 34.2% from September 2025, outpacing the overall U.S. international trade market, which grew 21.8% year over year to $561.82 billion. Mexico’s total was approximately $31.6 billion higher than Canada’s and more than twice the value of trade with China.
- Mexico: $96.34 billion
- Canada: $64.78 billion
- China: $41.10 billion
U.S. imports from Mexico totaled $62.24 billion in September, up 39.6% from $44.58 billion a year earlier. U.S. exports to Mexico rose 25.4% to $34.09 billion, compared with $27.2 billion in September 2025.
The difference between imports and exports produced a U.S. merchandise trade deficit with Mexico of approximately $28.15 billion for the month. Mexico accounted for 17.15% of total U.S. international trade during September.
The trade figures reflect the continued importance of North American manufacturing networks, particularly in manufactured goods, electronics and transportation equipment. The United States and Mexico also remain closely connected through automotive, medical device, textile and energy supply chains operating under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
Laredo returns to top trade gateway position
The growth in U.S.-Mexico commerce was especially visible at land ports. Laredo, Texas, reclaimed its position as the nation’s busiest international trade gateway in September, handling $38.87 billion in two-way commerce.
Laredo’s total increased 31.2% from $29.63 billion a year earlier. Imports through the South Texas crossing rose 40.8% to $26.87 billion, while exports increased 13.8% to $12 billion.
The crossing accounted for 6.92% of all U.S. international merchandise trade during the month. Mexico represented $38.05 billion, or about 98%, of Laredo’s total trade.
September’s result was the highest trade value recorded for Laredo in that month since at least 2013, based on WorldCity’s historical data. For carriers and drivers, the numbers underscore the scale of freight moving through the South Texas border region and the importance of capacity, customs processing and cross-border coordination along the route.
Chicago O’Hare International Airport ranked second among U.S. trade gateways, with $36.08 billion in September trade, down 17.9% from a year earlier. The Port of Los Angeles ranked third at $28.31 billion, followed by the Port of Houston at $22.72 billion and Los Angeles International Airport at $22.53 billion.
Other border crossings also post gains
Several other U.S.-Mexico crossings recorded substantial year-over-year increases.
The Ysleta-Zaragoza International Bridge in El Paso, Texas, handled $16.23 billion in total international trade, up 53.5% from September 2025. Trade through the Santa Teresa crossing in New Mexico reached $7.54 billion, an increase of nearly 248.5%.
Otay Mesa in California recorded $6.02 billion in trade, up 5.9%. Eagle Pass, Texas, handled $3.97 billion, an increase of 5.8%, while the Pharr International Bridge in South Texas recorded $3.91 billion, up 7% year over year.
These crossings serve different freight flows, but together they show how broadly integrated the two countries’ supply chains have become. Much of the traffic involves parts and finished goods moving between manufacturing facilities on both sides of the border, creating repeated cross-border movements rather than one-time shipments.
Mexico’s broader trade position
Mexico’s September performance builds on its position as one of the United States’ top trading partners in recent years. U.S. goods and services trade with Mexico totaled an estimated $964.1 billion in 2025, up 3.7% from 2024.
Mexico surpassed Canada as the United States’ top trading partner in 2024 and maintained that position in 2025. The countries’ geographic proximity, established trade agreement and integrated production networks continue to support substantial truck freight moving through border crossings.
For the trucking industry, the September data provides a clear measure of the freight relationship’s scale. Mexico’s expanding share of U.S. trade is translating into strong activity at Laredo and other border gateways, where carriers handle the cross-border movement of components, finished products and industrial goods tied to North American manufacturing.
