Mexico retained its position as the United States’ largest trading partner in June, with two-way commerce reaching $89.2 billion, as Laredo, Texas, handled more than a third of all U.S.-Mexico freight through the nation’s busiest trade gateway.
U.S.-Mexico trade totaled $89.2 billion in June, according to Census Bureau data analyzed by WorldCity, keeping Mexico ahead of Canada ($67.9 billion) and China ($34.7 billion) among U.S. trading partners for the month. Laredo alone processed $36.5 billion in cross-border trade, outpacing every other U.S. gateway, including Chicago O’Hare International Airport ($35.9 billion) and the Port of Los Angeles ($25.8 billion). The volume through Laredo underscores the depth of integration between the two economies, with automotive parts, vehicles, machinery, and electronics moving continuously across the border in both directions.
Laredo’s share of more than one-third of all U.S.-Mexico commerce reflects years of nearshoring and supply chain realignment that have deepened manufacturing ties between the two countries, particularly in the automotive and electronics sectors. The city’s position at the center of trucking, rail, and customs operations along the southern border has made it a bellwether for the health of North American trade more broadly, with its performance closely tracking broader trends in cross-border manufacturing and consumer demand.
IAM Member Impact: The continued strength of U.S.-Mexico trade signals sustained relocation and workforce mobility activity tied to manufacturing investment on both sides of the border. Members supporting corporate relocation and moving services for automotive, electronics, or industrial clients with Mexico operations should expect ongoing demand for cross-border household goods and employee relocation services.
Source: FreightWaves