Mexico in Numbers: How Mexico overtook Canada, Japan and China as top exporter to the US

In 2023, Mexico dethroned China arsenic the apical exporter to the United States, the world’s largest economy.

Since then, Mexico has remained the apical exporter to the U.S., occupying the No. 1 presumption successful 2024, 2025 and the archetypal 5 months of 2026.

Before Mexico ascended to the enviable presumption of No. 1 overseas supplier to the U.S., China held the apical spot for implicit a decade. China archetypal became the starring exporter to the U.S. successful 2007. Canada snatched backmost the apical spot successful 2008 earlier ceding the presumption to the East Asian state erstwhile again successful 2009.

For 14 consecutive years betwixt 2009 and 2022, China was the apical exporter to the United States. China was capable to get to that presumption acknowledgment to its vast, low-cost, export-oriented manufacturing sector, the constitution of imperishable mean commercialized relations with the U.S. successful 2000 and its rank successful the World Trade Organization from 2001 onwards.

In the aboriginal 2000s, the state became known arsenic “the world’s factory,” and successful 2013, China became the planet’s largest trading nation.

But China’s stock of the U.S. marketplace for imports began to diminution during the archetypal Trump administration, chiefly owed to the U.S. government’s imposition of caller tariffs connected Chinese goods.

Mexico, among different countries, benefited from the U.S.-China commercialized war, arsenic the United States “decoupled” from a state it had grown to trust connected heavy for each mode of products.

Mexico — which has emerged arsenic a large nearshoring destination successful caller years — accrued exports to its bluish neighbour to the constituent where, arsenic mentioned above, it became the apical exporter to the United States successful 2023.

Meanwhile, the shares of the U.S. marketplace for imports held by Canada and China — each of which was erstwhile the largest exporter to the United States — declined arsenic the U.S. spent much connected goods made successful lower-cost economies, specified arsenic Mexico and China.

In this “Mexico successful Numbers” article, we look astatine however Mexico, Canada, Japan and China’s shares of the U.S. marketplace for imports person changed implicit the past 30 years oregon so.

We statesman successful 1993 — the twelvemonth earlier the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) took effect — past analyse the information for 1995 earlier continuing successful five‑year steps close up to 2025.

*All the information successful this nonfiction comes from the United States Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

1993: Canada is the pre-NAFTA supremo 

In 1993 — the twelvemonth earlier a North American escaped commercialized portion was established with NAFTA — the United States imported goods worthy US $580.65 billion.

Canada was the apical exporter to the United States that year, shipping goods worthy $111.21 billion to its confederate neighbor. Thus, Canada had a 19.1% share of the United States full marketplace for imports.

In 1993, neither Mexico nor China was the second-largest exporter to the United States. That favoritism went to Japan, which exported goods worthy $107.25 billion to the U.S. successful 1993, giving the Asian federation an 18.5% share of the U.S. marketplace for imports.

Mexico exported goods worthy $39.92 billion to the United States successful 1993, giving it a 6.9% share of the U.S. marketplace for imports.

China’s exports to the United States were worthy $31.54 billion, giving it a 5.4% share of the U.S. marketplace for imports — conscionable one-quarter of the percent it would execute astir 2 decades later.

NAFTA opened the doorway to year-round avocado availability successful the U.S., fueling a booming marketplace for Mexican avocados present worthy implicit $3 cardinal a year. (Juan José Estrada Serafín/Cuartoscuro)

1995: Canada inactive connected top, but Mexico makes up ground

In 1995, the United States imported goods worth $743.44 billion, an increase of 28% compared to 1993.

Canada was again the apical exporter to the United States, sending goods worthy $145.35 billion to its confederate neighbor, an increase of 30.7% compared to pre-NAFTA 1993.

Canada frankincense had a 19.5% share of the U.S. marketplace for imports, an increase of 0.4 percent points compared to 1993.

In 1995, Japan was inactive the second-largest exporter to the United States, shipping goods worthy $123.48 billion to the U.S. Japan frankincense had a 16.6% share of the U.S. marketplace for imports, a decline of 1.9 percent points compared to 1993.

Mexico was the third-largest exporter to the United States successful 1995. It shipped goods worthy $61.68 billion north, an increase of 54.5% successful the abstraction of conscionable 2 years. Mexico had an 8.3% of the U.S. marketplace for imports successful 1995, an increase of 1.4 percent points compared to 1993.

China besides accrued its exports to the U.S. and its stock of the U.S. marketplace for imports successful 1995. Its exports were worthy $45.54 billion, a 44.4% increase compared to 2 years earlier. China’s stock of the U.S. marketplace for imports accrued to 6.1% from 5.4% successful 1993.

2000: Canada remains No. 1 contempt losing stock of the US marketplace for imports

The worth of the United States’ full imports erstwhile again exceeded $1 trillion successful 2000, having archetypal surpassed that level successful 1999. In 2000, the U.S. imported goods to the tune of $1.22 trillion.

Canada was erstwhile again the largest exporter to the United States, shipping goods worthy $230.84 billion to its confederate neighbor, an summation of 58.8% compared to 1995. However, Canada’s stock of the U.S. marketplace for imports fell to 18.9%, a diminution of 0.6 percent points compared to 5 years earlier.

In 2000, Japan was erstwhile again the second-largest exporter to the United States, sending goods worthy $146.48 billion to the U.S., an summation of 18.6% compared to 1995. However, Japan’s stock of the U.S. marketplace for imports fell to 12%, a diminution of 4.6 percent points compared to 5 years earlier.

In contrast, Mexico’s stock of the U.S. marketplace for imports accrued to 11.1%, an increase of 2.8 percent points compared to 1995. Mexico’s exports to the United States were worthy $135.92 billion successful 2000, an summation of an awesome 120.4% compared to 5 years earlier. Mexico was closing successful connected Japan.

China was connected the determination arsenic well. The worth of China’s exports to the U.S. exceeded $100 billion for the archetypal clip ever successful 2000, coming successful astatine $100.02 billion. China had an 8.2% share of the U.S. marketplace for imports successful 2000, up 2.1 percent points compared to 1995.

Japan outranked Mexico arsenic 1 apical exporters to the U.S. successful the aboriginal 2000’s, led by products similar the Sony Walkman and Toyota vehicles. (Lcarsdata/CC BY-SA 2.5)

2005: Canada inactive successful beforehand arsenic China moves up of Japan and Mexico

In 2005, the United States imported goods worthy $1.67 trillion, a 36.9% increase compared to 5 years earlier.

Canada remained the apical exporter to the U.S., sending goods worthy $290.38 billion to its confederate neighbor, a 25.8% summation compared to 2000. However, Canada’s stock of the U.S. marketplace for imports continued to fall, declining 1.5 percent points successful the abstraction of 5 years to 17.4%.

Meanwhile, China’s exports to the United States reached $243.47 billion successful 2005, an summation of 143.2% compared to 2000. Thus China was the second-largest exporter to the United States, up of some Mexico and Japan. China archetypal moved into 2nd spot successful 2003, beating retired Mexico for that spot aft exceeding Japan’s export full the erstwhile year. In 2005, China had a 14.6% share of the U.S. marketplace for imports, an summation of 6.4 percent points compared to 5 years earlier.

Mexico’s exports to the United States were worthy $170.1 billion successful 2005, a 25.1% increase compared to 5 years earlier. However, its stock of the U.S. marketplace for imports fell to 10.2%, a diminution of 0.9 percent points compared to 2000.

Japan’s stock of the U.S. marketplace for imports was 8.3% successful 2005, down 3.7 percent points from 2000. Japan shipped exports worthy $138 billion to the U.S. successful 2005.

2010: China is the caller leader; Mexico gains marketplace stock arsenic Canada continues to retreat 

The United States spent a full of $1.91 trillion connected imports successful 2010, a 14.4% increase compared to 2005.

China was easy the apical exporter to the U.S. successful 2010, shipping goods worthy $364.94 billion to the world’s largest economy. China frankincense had a 19.1% share of the U.S. marketplace for imports, up 4.5 percent points from 5 years earlier.

As noted successful the instauration to this article, China archetypal became the apical exporter to the U.S. successful 2007 earlier relinquishing the presumption to Canada successful 2008. China retook the apical spot successful 2009 and maintained an robust grip connected it done 2022.

In 2010, Canada recovered itself successful 2nd spot successful the database of largest exporters to the United States, sending goods worthy $277.65 billion to its confederate neighbor. That dollar fig represented a 4.4% decrease compared to Canada’s income to the U.S. 5 years earlier. Canada’s stock of the U.S. marketplace for imports was 14.5% successful 2010, down 2.9 percent points from 5 years earlier.

Meanwhile, the worth of Mexico’s exports to the U.S. accrued 35.2% compared to 2005 to scope $229.91 billion. Mexico’s stock of the U.S. marketplace for imports was 12% successful 2010, an summation of 1.8 percent points compared to 2005. In 2010, Mexico remained the third-largest exporter to the United States.

Japan was the fourth-largest exporter to the United States successful 2010, sending goods worthy $120.54 cardinal to the U.S., a alteration of 12.6% compared to 5 years earlier. Japan’s stock of the U.S. marketplace for imports was 6.3%, a alteration of 2 percent points compared to 2005.

China dominated the U.S. import marketplace successful the 2010s with products including textiles, machinery, electronics and a wide scope of different manufactured goods. (Shutterstock)

2015: China remains No. 1 with a 21.5% stock of the US marketplace for imports   

In 2015, the United States spent $2.25 trillion connected imports, a 17.8% increase compared to 2010. Of each $5 spent connected imported goods, much than $1 was utilized to acquisition Chinese products.

That’s right, China’s stock of the U.S. marketplace for imports was supra 20% successful 2015 — 21.5% successful fact, an summation of 2.4 percent points compared to 5 years earlier. The full worth of the goods China shipped to the U.S. successful 2015 was $483.24 billion, an summation of 32.4% compared to 2010. Thus, China was easy the largest exporter to the United States successful 2015.

Meanwhile, Mexico pipped Canada for 2nd place. Mexico’s exports to its bluish neighbour were worthy $296.41 cardinal successful 2015, conscionable up of Canada’s exports to the U.S., which totaled $296.15 billion.

Both countries had a 13.2% share of the U.S. marketplace for imports successful 2015. Mexico’s stock accrued 1.2 percent points compared to 5 years earlier, portion Canada’s stock declined 1.3 points.

In 2015, Japan clung onto 4th spot successful the database of the largest exporters to the United States, though Germany wasn’t acold behind. Japan’s exports were worthy $131.36 billion, a 9% summation compared to 5 years earlier. However, Japan’s stock of the U.S. marketplace for imports was conscionable 5.8%, a alteration of 0.5 percent points compared to 2010.

2020: China inactive No. 1 but its stock of the US marketplace falls 

In 2020, the United States imported goods worthy $2.33 trillion, an summation of 3.6% compared to 2015.

China was the apical exporter to the United States successful 2020, shipping goods worthy $434.75 billion to the U.S. China had an 18.7% share of the U.S. marketplace for imports successful 2020, a twelvemonth of economical turmoil owed to the COVID pandemic. Its stock of the U.S. marketplace was 2.8 percent points little than successful 2015. The U.S.-China commercialized warfare was underway.

Meanwhile, Mexico sent goods worthy $325.21 billion to the United States successful 2020, an increase of 9.7% compared to 2014. It had a 14% share of the U.S. marketplace for imports, up 0.8 percent points from 2015, and remained the second-largest exporter to the United States.

Canada’s exports to the United States were worthy $270.31 billion successful 2020, a alteration of 8.7% compared to 2015. Canada had an 11.6% of the full U.S. marketplace for imports, a alteration of 1.6 percent points compared to 5 years earlier.

Japan remained the fourth-largest exporter to the United States, though the worth of its exports and its stock of the U.S. marketplace for imports some declined.

Japan sent goods worthy $119.49 billion to the U.S. successful 2020, a 9% decrease compared to 2015. Its stock of the U.S. marketplace for imports was 5.1%, a driblet of 0.7 percent points compared to 5 years earlier.

2025: Mexico is the apical exporter to the US

In 2025, the United States imported goods worthy US $3.41 trillion, a 46.4% summation compared to 2020.

Mexico was the largest exporter to the U.S. past year, shipping goods worthy $534.31 billion to its bluish neighbor, a 64.3% summation compared to 2020. Mexico had a 15.7% share of the full U.S. marketplace for imports, an summation of 1.7 percent points compared to 5 years earlier.

Canada exported goods worthy $381.92 billion to the United States successful 2025, making it the second-largest exporter to the U.S. While the dollar worth of its exports accrued 41.3%, Canada’s stock of the U.S. marketplace for imports fell 0.4 percent points from 11.8% successful 2020 to 11.2% in 2025.

China ranked arsenic the third-largest exporter to the United States successful 2025. The East Asian economical powerhouse shipped goods worthy $308.65 billion to the U.S. past year, a decline of 29% compared to 2020. China had a 9% share of the U.S. marketplace for imports, a decline of 9.7 percent points compared to 5 years earlier.

Meanwhile, Japan could lone negociate seventh spot successful the database of the largest exporters to the United States, down Mexico, Canada, China, Taiwan, Vietnam and Germany. Japan’s exports to the U.S. were worthy $145.84 billion past year, a 22% increase compared to 2020. However, Japan’s stock of the U.S. marketplace for imports was conscionable 4.3%, a diminution of 0.8 percent points compared to 2020.

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