86% of US Imports from Mexico Pass Through Tamaulipas, Baja California, and Chihuahua

Between Mexico and the United States, there are 47 operational border crossings, of which 27 are for freight transportation. These international bridges are not just infrastructure; they are economic powerhouses, driving a significant portion of trade across the two nations. Between 80% and 85% of the value of goods that the United States imports from Mexico are transported by trucks and trains through these crossings. From January to April 2024 alone, these land imports accounted for a staggering 13% of U.S. imports, valued at a whopping $163 billion, underscoring the immense economic impact of these crossings.

The placement of these international bridges is not arbitrary; they are strategically positioned near major highways that cross Mexico and connect with the entire United States, as well as near the most important industrial clusters in both countries. This strategic positioning is key to ensuring efficient logistics and a constant flow of goods, thereby reducing transportation costs and delivery times.

According to U.S. government data, 86% of land-based containers pass from Mexico through Tamaulipas, Baja California, and Chihuahua to the United States via Texas, California, and New Mexico. The remaining 14% is distributed between Sonora and Coahuila, which connect with Arizona and Texas.

The highest-traffic border crossing is between Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, and Laredo, Texas. This point serves as a crucial link, connecting major industrial markets such as Monterrey (Nuevo Leon), Saltillo (Coahuila), and Reynosa (Tamaulipas) with the Southern U.S. industrial region. A diverse range of industries, including consumer goods, electronics, energy, machinery, furniture, chemicals, and textiles, all flow through this bustling crossing, painting a vivid picture of the trade dynamics.

Nuevo Laredo is a hub for capital goods, electronics, medical supplies, and machinery, with 99% destined for the United States. This productivity converges with products from Monterrey, Saltillo, and Reynosa, which export vehicles and auto parts, computer and electronic inputs, as well as chemicals and communication equipment used in the production chains of the Southern U.S. industrial market.

Following the Laredo-Nuevo Laredo bridge, the border crossings of Ciudad Juarez, Tijuana, and Reynosa stand out for concentrating another 36% of Mexico's land exports to the United States. These regions represent some of the most important industrial areas in Mexico. Data from SiiLA Market Analytics indicates that together, they have nearly 20 million square meters of industrial gross leasable area, accounting for 43% of the industrial space in the northern part of the country. These markets stand out for their transportation and logistics services and the production of capital goods, electronics, health sector supplies, vehicles, and automotive parts.

Through the Ciudad Juarez-El Paso, Ciudad Juarez-Ysleta, between Chihuahua and Texas, Ciudad Juarez-Santa Teresa, between Chihuahua and New Mexico, Tijuana-Otay Mesa, between Baja California and California, and the Reynosa-Hidalgo crossing, between Tamaulipas and Texas, these industrial markets are among the leading Mexican distributors to the Southern and Pacific Coastal U.S. industrial regions. The Pacific Coastal region includes Los Angeles, Oregon, San Diego, San Francisco, and Washington industries.

Finally, among the ten busiest bridges for manufacturing and production chain materials are Nogales, between Sonora and Arizona; Piedras Negras-Eagle Pass, between Coahuila and Texas; Mexicali-Calexico East, between Baja California and California; and Matamoros-Brownsville, between Tamaulipas and Texas. These crossings account for 19% of land traffic. They are gateways to the Southern and Pacific Coastal regions and the Western industrial market, including Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming in the United States. Through these crossings flow manufactured goods such as integrated electronic circuits, high-tech components, appliances, machinery, medical supplies, auto parts, and metal and electrical products.

It is crucial to understand that these international land bridges are not just facilitators of trade between Mexico and the United States; they are vital for both nations' industrial and economic development. They serve as strategic hubs in global supply chains, playing a pivotal role in the growth and prosperity of the industrial sectors in both countries, a testament to their importance and impact.

For more information on topics related to Mexico's industrial real estate market, explore SiiLA REsource or contact us at contacto@siila.com.mx.