Mexico's Auto Exports Drop 12% in September on US Tariffs
Cubierto por 3 fuentesPublicado
- GCAPTAIN_NEWSMexican Auto Exports Slump in September as US Tariffs Take Toll
- Portal PortuarioExportaciones de automóviles de México caen en septiembre ante impacto de aranceles de EE.UU.
- mundo maritimoExportaciones automotrices de México registran su mayor caída del año por efecto de aranceles de EE.UU.
Mexico's automotive exports registered their sharpest decline so far in 2026 in September, falling 12% compared with the same month last year, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI). Analysts attributed the downturn to US tariff policies, given that the United States is the main market for Mexico's auto industry. Monthly vehicle production also contracted, dropping 15% year-on-year.
Tariff Pressure and USMCA
The data emerged as officials from Mexico and the United States review the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Despite ongoing negotiations, Mexican-made vehicles continue to face a 25% tariff when entering the US market, although Mexican authorities estimate that compliance with North American content rules can reduce that burden to between 10% and 12%. In contrast to the drop in exports, domestic car sales rose 8% in September, helping to cushion the impact on the manufacturing sector.
Janneth Quiroz, Director of Economic Analysis at Monex, noted that the situation has heightened uncertainty for manufacturers and affected production and export decisions, warning that reliance on the US market remains the sector's main risk. According to the analyst, September's figures are more of a warning sign than a crisis, but if the trend persists through 2027 it could become a structural problem for Mexican manufacturing.
Declines and Exceptions Among Automakers
Among automakers, General Motors, Ford and Nissan posted significant declines in their exports during September. General Motors had announced last year a $4 billion investment to shift part of its production from Mexico to the United States amid tariff instability. Mercedes-Benz, which closed a joint plant with Nissan in May, neither produced nor exported vehicles in September, something that had not happened since it began exporting eight years ago. Conversely, Kia, BMW and Mazda increased their monthly exports, with Mazda more than doubling its shipments.
Mexico, Leading Supplier to the US
The Mexican Automotive Industry Association (AMIA) highlighted that Mexico remains the top foreign supplier of vehicles to the United States, accounting for 16% of light vehicles in a market that has contracted 2% so far this year. According to AMIA data, exports to the United States fell 5% in the first nine months of 2026, while Canada, Mexico's second-largest market, increased its purchases by just over 9%. Alejandra Vargas, an analyst at Ve Por Más (Bx+), warned that a sustained slowdown could affect automakers' investment decisions, manufacturing activity, and Mexico's economic growth, stressing that the evolution of the bilateral trade relationship will remain the determining factor for the industry's direction.
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