Mexico increased its share of U.S. trade to a record high of 16.3% in the first quarter of 2026, according to the Census Bureau.
This achievement comes amid a realignment of the main foreign suppliers to the U.S. market. China and Canada saw their shares decline, while Taiwan and Vietnam saw significant increases. And Japan and Germany were displaced from fourth and fifth place by these two Asian nations.
Share of U.S. Trade
From January to March 2026, Mexico’s exports to the U.S. market totaled $138.031 billion. Its imports from the United States totaled $93.269 billion.
Mexico possesses advantages that have enabled this leadership, such as its growing integration into North American production chains and its skilled and cheaper labor force compared to the United States for the production of certain manufactured goods. For example, the United States may be competitive in the production of high-end cars, but not for mid-range cars.
In addition, Mexico complements the U.S. economy in various ways. One example is the agricultural sector. Mexico’s tropical regions enable exports to North America of a wide variety of fruits, such as pineapples, bananas, watermelons, and pineapples. Sugar is also exported. The United States is a major player in corn production, ranking first globally as an exporter. Its main market is Mexico, with corn exports totaling over $6 billion in 2025.
Trends in U.S. Trade
Mexico increased its share of U.S. trade from 14.6% in 2018, with its previous peak occurring in the first quarter of 2024, when it reached 15.8%.
These figures correspond to bilateral trade in goods, excluding services.
Behind Mexico, Canada ranked as the United States’ second-largest trading partner in the first three months of the current year. Its share was 12.4% of bilateral trade flows. The next tiers included China (6.2%), Taiwan (5.8%), and Vietnam (4.2%).
During the first quarter of 2026, the U.S. trade balance with the rest of the world showed a significant improvement. Merchandise exports reached $602.888 billion, marking a robust year-over-year increase of 15.1 percent.
In contrast, demand for foreign goods contracted by 13.9%, bringing imports to $816.499 billion. This trend suggests a reconfiguration of supply flows and a strengthening of export competitiveness compared to the previous period.
Automotive firms such as General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis lead trade between Mexico and the United States, alongside technology companies like Dell and Samsung. Logistics and energy giants such as Walmart, Valero, and Pemex also stand out, forming critical supply chains in the North American region.