Mexico recorded its highest-ever export value for the first half of a year, with shipments reaching US$389.7 billion between January and June 2026. Driven by strong manufacturing performance and sustained demand from the United States, the results underscore the country’s resilience as a North American manufacturing and trade hub despite ongoing uncertainty surrounding USMCA negotiations and tariffs.
Mexico’s exports reached a historic high during the 1H26, underscoring the resilience of the country’s manufacturing sector despite ongoing trade uncertainty surrounding the USMCA review and US tariff policies. According to the latest data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), merchandise exports totaled US$389.72 billion between January and June, a 24.6% year-on-year increase and the highest level ever recorded for the period.
June was particularly strong, with exports climbing 34.4% year over year to US$72.55 billion, setting a new monthly record. Imports also expanded, reaching US$379.87 billion during the first six months of the year, resulting in a trade surplus of approximately US$9.86 billion.
Manufacturing Continues to Drive Export Growth
Manufacturing remained the backbone of Mexico’s export sector, accounting for 91.3% of total exports during 1H26. Manufacturing shipments increased 25.8% compared to the same period last year, reflecting sustained demand from North American markets and continued integration of regional supply chains.
Within the sector, non-automotive manufacturing recorded the strongest performance, expanding 37.6% annually, while automotive exports posted a more modest 1% increase. INEGI also reported significant gains in extractive exports, which rose 78.6%, partially offsetting declines in petroleum exports (which contracted by 2.9%) and agricultural exports (which contracted by 4%).
The United States remained Mexico’s dominant export destination. During January-June, 84.16% of Mexico’s non-oil exports were shipped to the US, where non-oil exports increased 25.7% year over year. Non-automotive exports to the US rose an even stronger 38.5%, highlighting continued demand for manufactured goods despite an increasingly uncertain trade environment.
The record export performance comes as Mexico navigates growing uncertainty surrounding the review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and renewed US tariff measures affecting products outside the agreement. While recent US trade actions have increased pressure on North American supply chains, Mexico has continued to benefit from its position as a key manufacturing hub serving the US market.
