Mexican imports of lithium-ion batteries from the United States broke records in 2025. They reached $1.627 billion, according to data from the Department of Commerce.
These purchases had previously risen from $636 million in 2023 to $1.406 billion in 2024.
Mexican Imports of Lithium-Ion Batteries
What are they? Rechargeable batteries that store energy through the movement of lithium ions between the anode and cathode. They also offer high energy density, long service life, and widespread use in electronics, electric vehicles, and energy storage.
Mexico imported lithium-ion batteries worth $612 million from China in 2025. This followed a trend of ups and downs in this indicator.
After increasing its purchases of these Chinese products from $494 million in 2022 to $727 million in 2023, Mexico reduced these imports to $582 million in 2024. This occurred according to figures from China’s General Administration of Customs.
Regulations in Mexico
In April 2022, the Mexican government enacted a law amending the National Mining Law. This law establishes greater state control over the country’s lithium resources.
The amendments place the exploration, mining, and use of Mexican lithium under the exclusive control of the state-owned company LitioMx, and bar private companies from obtaining concessions, licenses, contracts, permits, and authorizations to carry out such activities.
The amendments also authorize the government to designate other minerals as strategic resources. This would allow for greater state control in the future. As of December 31, 2025, the Mexican government was still drafting the measures to implement the amendments.
Manufacturers in the People’s Republic of China dominate the global and U.S. supply of lithium-ion batteries, with a market share of 70 to 90 percent. Furthermore, their exports grew rapidly in the 2020s, driven by low prices resulting from subsidies, economies of scale, and vertical integration.
In 2025, Chinese exports of lithium-ion batteries totaled $76.754 billion, while U.S. exports of these products amounted to $4.234 billion.
Mexico was the top destination for U.S. exports of lithium-ion batteries in 2025, while it ranked 23rd among destinations for corresponding exports from China.