Mexico’s US Exports Rise Despite Tariffs, Pest Ban

Mexico City — Mexico's non-petroleum exports to the United States grew by 3.9 percent year-over-year in July, according to timely data from the Bank of Mexico (Banxico) and the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi). This growth occurred despite the northern neighbor imposing tariffs on tomatoes and prohibiting the entry of cattle due to an outbreak of the screwworm pest affecting Mexico.

According to the timely foreign trade information, a commercial deficit of 16.7 million dollars (USD) was recorded in July 2025.

"Within non-petroleum exports, those directed to the United States grew at an annual rate of 3.9 percent, while those channeled to the rest of the world grew by 12.2 percent," detailed Banxico in the Balance of Trade report corresponding to the seventh month of the year.

With this result, the value of merchandise exports in July 2025 reached 56,708 million dollars, a figure composed of 54,842 million dollars in non-petroleum exports and 1,866 million dollars in petroleum exports.

It is noteworthy that 84.03 percent of total exports were made to the United States. "Thus, in the reference month, total exports showed an annual increase of 4.0 percent, a net result of a 5.2 percent increase in non-petroleum exports and a contraction of 23.0 percent in petroleum exports," the institution detailed.

On the other hand, the value of merchandise imports in July 2025 reached 56,724 million dollars, an amount that implied an annual increase of 1.7 percent. "This figure was a reflection of the combination of a 2.5 percent growth in non-petroleum imports and a 7.1 percent decline in petroleum imports," stated Banxico.

With that result, the institution highlighted that a commercial deficit of 17 million dollars was recorded that month. In other words, more was spent on importing products than was earned from selling them abroad.

Export and Import by Products

Exports of manufactured products in July 2025 were 52,373 million dollars, representing growth of 5.3 percent year-over-year. Banxico added that the most significant expansions were observed in exports of machinery and special equipment for diverse industries (28.7 percent), professional and scientific equipment (17.0 percent), electrical and electronic equipment and apparatus (10.2 percent), metal products for domestic use (8.0 percent), and mining-metallurgy products (4.2 percent).

"In contrast, exports of automotive products showed an annual decline of 7.0 percent, which was derived from the combination of a 9.2 percent drop in sales channeled to the United States and a 4.9 percent advance in those directed to other markets," it detailed.

Furthermore, the value of agricultural and fishing exports in the seventh month of 2025 was 1,504 million dollars, an amount that implied an annual decline of 5.6 percent. The most significant contractions, explained the Bank of Mexico, were recorded in exports of cattle (-93.3 percent), melon, watermelon, and papaya (-24.4 percent), onions and garlic (-23.5 percent), fresh legumes and vegetables (-22.1 percent), and tomatoes (-16.9 percent).

"In contrast, the most relevant annual expansions occurred in exports of avocados (13.7 percent) and raw coffee beans (91.8 percent)," it stated.

Regarding imports by type of good, annual advances of 0.4 percent were seen in imports of consumer goods and 2.5 percent in imports of intermediate goods, while a decrease of 2.2 percent was recorded in imports of capital goods.