U.S.-Mexico Trade Hits Record $94.8 Billion as Laredo Freight Surges

U.S.-Mexico trade reached a record $94.8 billion in July, reinforcing the scale of freight moving through the southern border. FreightWaves reported September 10 that two-way commerce increased 27.5% from $74.36 billion in July 2025. Mexico remained the United States' largest trading partner and represented nearly 18% of total U.S. international trade for the month.

U.S. exports to Mexico totaled $34.24 billion, up 18.1% year over year, while imports rose 33.5% to $60.55 billion. Through the first seven months of 2026, bilateral trade reached $588.52 billion, a 16.1% increase. The figures point to continued demand for cross-border transportation, warehousing, customs support and time-sensitive truck capacity across manufacturing supply chains.

Laredo remained the nation's busiest international trade gateway, handling $36.95 billion in July. Trade through the South Texas crossing grew nearly 22% from a year earlier, and $35.9 billion of the total involved Mexico. FreightWaves also reported an 11.18% Laredo outbound van tender-rejection reading on September 9, a sign that shippers may face tighter truck availability and stronger carrier pricing power in the market.

For carriers, record trade does not automatically guarantee profitable loads. Cross-border moves still require careful planning for driver qualification, customs documentation, interchange procedures, insurance, detention and empty repositioning. Fleets should compare northbound and southbound demand before committing equipment and confirm which party controls each border handoff. Shippers can improve coverage by tendering earlier, giving brokers and carriers complete documentation, and building realistic appointment windows around inspection and bridge conditions. CDL drivers entering border freight should understand that the opportunity often depends on specialized operating knowledge as much as mileage.