Mexican Export Trade Trends 2007

Exports drive the Mexican economy, representing over 30% of Mexico’s estimated Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at the official exchange rate for 2007.

Since 1994 when the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was implemented, Mexican trade with the United States and Canada has tripled.

The U.S. is by far Mexico’s largest trade partner. According to the CIA World Factbook, Mexico exported an estimated US$272 billion worth of merchandise to the world in 2007. More than three-quarters of that total were shipped to America compared to 6% of Mexican exports sent to Canada.

While the U.S. is a dominant player in Mexican trade, Mexico’s exports to the U.S. represent about 11% of total American imports.

Mexico’s Trade Surplus with U.S.

Robust growth in Mexican exports have resulted in Mexico’s healthy US$74.3-billion trade surplus with its America in 2007. The most recent surplus statistic is 83% higher than the Mexico-US surplus in 2003 and represents a 15.5% increase from Mexico’s $64.3-billion surplus in 2006.

Exports from Mexico to U.S.

With a population of 110 million, Mexico exported US$210.8 billion worth of merchandise to the United States in 2007, a 6.3% increase from 2006 and up by 52.7% in 4 years. The following product categories represent about 59% of Mexican exports to America.

1. Crude oil … US$30.3 billion (14.4% of Mexico-to-U.S. exports) – down 0.1% from 2006
2. Other automotive parts and accessories … $23.5 billion (11.1%) – up 7.7%
3. Video equipment including DVD players … $19 billion (9%) – up 29.6%
4. New and used passenger cars … $13.5 billion (6.4%) – down 5%
5. Trucks, buses and special purpose vehicles … $10 billion (4.8%) – up 4.8%
6. Electric apparatus and parts … $8.9 billion (4.6%) – up 4.2%
7. Telecommunications equipment … $7.9 billion (3.8%) – up 13.2%
8. Other household goods including clocks … $5.15 billion (2.4%) – up 22.2%
9. Automotive engines and engine parts … $5.12 billion (2.4%) – up 2.7%
10. Computers … $4.7 billion (2.2%) – up 10.3%.

Fastest-Growing Mexican Exports to U.S.

Below are selected Mexican exports to America in 2007 among those with the highest percentage sales increases from 2006.

1. Natural gas … US$339 million (up 531.1% from 2006)
2. Miscellaneous non-ferrous metals … $120.4 million (up 196.7%)
3. Civilian aircraft engines … $252.1 million (up 101.2%)
4. Feedstuffs and food grains … $78.4 million (up 92.6%)
5. Copper ... $532 million (up 85.6%).

Fastest-Decreasing Mexican Exports to U.S.

Below are selected Mexican exports to America in 2007 among those with the highest percentage sales declines from 2006.

1. Cane and beet sugar … US$103.5 million (down 72.7% from 2006)
2. Non-farm tractors and parts … $79.1 million (down 40.5%)
3. Photographic and optical equipment … $123.9 million (down 35.7%)
4. Dental, medicinal and pharmaceutical preparations … $335 million (down 32.5%)
5. Other non-agricultural foods and food additives … $21.7 million (down 30.3%).

Mexican Gold Exports Down Short-Term but up Long-Term

While shipments of non-monetary gold from Mexico was down 26.1% to $733.8 million last year, Mexican gold exports to the U.S. have increased by a remarkable 511% since 2003.

Sources for this Article

This article presents independent calculations and insights based on data drawn from the CIA World Factbook, the U.S. Census Bureau – Foreign Trade Statistics and the CRS Report For Congress.

Church in Tepatitlan, Jalisco. Mexico

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