Mexico Remains Top US Trading Partner in September
Two-way trade with Mexico hit a record $96.34 billion in September 2026, with Laredo, Texas regaining its spot as the busiest U.S. trade gateway.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in International Trade
Mexico remained the United States' largest trading partner in September 2026, with two-way trade reaching $96.34 billion, up 34.2% from a year earlier. Laredo, Texas regained its position as the nation's busiest international trade gateway that month.
Why it matters
Mexico's share of total U.S. international trade reached 17.15%, underscoring how central cross-border commerce with its southern neighbor has become to the U.S. economy. The growth outpaced overall U.S. trade, which rose 21.8%, pointing to a notable acceleration in trade flows between the two countries.
Two-way U.S.-Mexico trade reached $96.34 billion in September 2026, up 34.2% from September 2025, while the U.S. merchandise trade deficit with Mexico was roughly $28.15 billion. The breakdown of which product categories drove the increase was not detailed in the available extraction.
The players
Laredo, Texas
A South Texas border city on the Rio Grande that serves as one of the largest land ports of entry between the United States and Mexico.
Chicago O'Hare International Airport
A major Chicago airport that is one of the busiest air cargo and passenger hubs in the United States, which fell to second place in trade ranking that month.
The details
U.S. imports from Mexico totaled $62.24 billion in September 2026, up 39.6% from a year earlier, while exports to Mexico reached $34.09 billion, up 25.4%. Laredo, Texas handled $38.87 billion in two-way trade that month, up 31.2%, with Mexico accounting for about $38.05 billion, or roughly 98%, of that total.
Timeline
September 2025: baseline month for year-over-year trade comparisons.
September 2026: record U.S.-Mexico trade volume and Laredo regains its top gateway ranking.
Market Dynamics
The September figures are drawn from the Census Bureau's monthly trade series, which reports bilateral totals by country and port of entry. The record $96.34 billion in U.S.-Mexico trade and Laredo's return to the top gateway ranking extend that series with a strong year-over-year gain of 34.2%.
Businesses that import Mexican-made goods or rely on border logistics may see shifts in shipping costs and sourcing decisions as trade volumes climb. Investors tracking trade-exposed sectors can use the widening U.S.-Mexico trade flows as one input when evaluating companies with heavy cross-border supply chains.
The takeaway
Trade with Mexico is now growing faster than overall U.S. trade and anchors the country's international commerce. Watching how border gateways like Laredo perform can offer an early read on where those flows are heading.
Further reading
For broader context on cross-border commerce, explore more coverage in International Trade.
Source note: This article includes information reported by FreightWaves.
