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TOP 10
List of Mexico’s Top 10 Imports

Mexico imported US$387.1 billion worth of goods from around the globe in 2016, up by 65.1% since 2009 but down by -2.1% from 2015 to 2016

Mexico’s top 10 imports accounted for almost three-quarters (72.6%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.

Mexican imports represent 2.3% of total global imports which totaled $16.473 trillion one year earlier in 2015.

From a continental perspective, 49% of Mexico’s total imports by value in 2016 were purchased from the United States and Canada–fellow signatories to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Trade partners in Asia accounted for 35.5% of Mexican import purchases while 11.8% worth originated from Europe.

Given Mexico’s population of 123.2 million people, its total $387.1 billion in 2016 imports translates to roughly $3,100 in yearly product demand from every person in the country.

TOP 10

The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Mexico’s import purchases during 2016. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Mexico.

  1. Electrical machinery, equipment: US$84.2 billion (21.8% of total imports)
  2. Machinery including computers: $67.1 billion (17.3%)
  3. Vehicles: $37.2 billion (9.6%)
  4. Mineral fuels including oil: $25.1 billion (6.5%)
  5. Plastics, plastic articles: $22.1 billion (5.7%)
  6. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $14.5 billion (3.7%)
  7. Articles of iron or steel: $8.7 billion (2.3%)
  8. Iron, steel: $8.6 billion (2.2%)
  9. Organic chemicals: $7.3 billion (1.9%)
  10. Rubber, rubber articles: $6.1 billion (1.6%)

Imported vehicles had the fastest-growing increase in value among Mexico’s top 10 import categories, up 101.4% for the 7-year period starting in 2009.

In second place for improving import purchases was rubber and articles made from rubber, up 95.8%. Close behind were Mexican imports of machinery including computers up 83.4% trailed by plastics up 74.4%.

Organic chemicals was the laggard albeit its category did move ahead in value by 11.6%.

Please note that the results listed above are at the 2-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level. Information presented under other virtual folder tabs is at the more granular 4-digit level.

Electronics

In 2016, Mexican importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electronic equipment:

  1. Integrated circuits/microassemblies: US$15 billion (up 93.5%)
  2. Phone system devices including smartphones: $14.6 billion (up 48%)
  3. Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $5.9 billion (up 76.9%)
  4. Insulated wire/cable: $5.3 billion (up 81%)
  5. TV/radio/radar device parts: $5.3 billion (down -46.8%)
  6. Electric circuit parts, fuses, switches: $3.5 billion (up 144.9%)
  7. Electrical converters/power units: $3.5 billion (up 60.9%)
  8. Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $3.2 billion (up 104.3%)
  9. TV receivers/monitors/projectors: $2.6 billion (up 42.5%)
  10. Printed circuits: $2.2 billion (up 59.5%)

Among these import subcategories, Mexican purchases of electric circuit parts, fuses and switches (up 144.9%), solar power diodes or semi-conductors (up 104.3%) and integrated circuits or microassemblies (up 93.5%) grew at the fastest pace from 2009 to 2016.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported electronics among Mexican businesses and consumers.

Fuel

In 2016, Mexican importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels-related products:

  1. Processed petroleum oils: US$18 billion (up 53.9%)
  2. Petroleum gases: $5.6 billion (up 96.4%)
  3. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $502 million (down -21.2%)
  4. Petroleum oil residues: $350.1 million (up 85.9%)
  5. Coke, semi-coke: $228.7 million (up 220%)
  6. Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $189.9 million (up 8.6%)
  7. Electrical energy: $91 million (up 452.1%)
  8. Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $29.7 million (down -27.4%)
  9. Peat: $24.9 million (up 131.8%)
  10. Asphalt/petroleum bitumen mixes: $8.5 million (down -9.2%)

Among these import subcategories, Mexican purchases of electrical energy (up 452.1%), coke or semi-coke (up 220%) and peat (up 131.8%) grew at the fastest pace from 2009 to 2016.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of mineral fuels-related imports among Mexican businesses and consumers.

Machines

In 2016, Mexican importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery:

  1. Computers, optical readers: US$10.1 billion (up 94.8%)
  2. Computer parts, accessories: $5.9 billion (up 75.1%)
  3. Engines (diesel): $3.8 billion (up 181.5%)
  4. Piston engine parts: $3.6 billion (up 115.3%)
  5. Air or vacuum pumps: $3.3 billion (up 88.1%)
  6. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $3.1 billion (up 87.3%)
  7. Transmission shafts, gears, clutches: $3.1 billion (up 162%)
  8. Miscellaneous machinery: $2.7 billion (up 110.2%)
  9. Turbo-jets: $2.5 billion (up 148.1%)
  10. Piston engines: $2.2 billion (up 92.5%)

Among these import subcategories, Mexican purchases of computers and optical readers (up 94.8%), computer parts and accessories (up 75.1%) and diesel engines (up 181.5%) grew at the fastest pace from 2009 to 2016.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported machinery among Mexican businesses and consumers.

Vehicles

In 2016, Mexican importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles:

  1. Automobile parts/accessories: US$22.8 billion (up 110.8%)
  2. Cars: $9.9 billion (up 109.1%)
  3. Trucks: $2.2 billion (up 14.9%)
  4. Trailers: $762.2 million (up 228.4%)
  5. Motorcycle parts/accessories: $318.9 million (up 136.6%)
  6. Tractors: $316.2 million (up 112.4%)
  7. Public-transport vehicles: $285.1 million (up 366.2%)
  8. Motorcycles: $256.3 million (up 154.7%)
  9. Special purpose vehicles: $138.1 million (down -26.7%)
  10. Chassis fitted with engine: $135 million (up 104.7%)

Among these import subcategories, Mexican purchases of public-transport vehicles (up 366.2%), trailers (up 228.4%) and motorcycles (up 154.7%) grew at the fastest pace from 2009 to 2016.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported vehicles among Mexican businesses and consumers.