Mexico Import & Export Toolkit

Price shipments into and out of Mexico with correct IGI duty + 16% IVA math (8% in border zones), TIGIE 8-digit HS, USMCA rules of origin and LC math.

Currency

MXN (Mexican Peso)

IVA (VAT)

16% standard / 8% in northern & southern border zones

Base = CIF + IGI duty + DTA + IEPS excise (if any). Fully recoverable by registered VAT payers.

Duty regime

IGI (General Import Tax) under TIGIE + 0.8% DTA. Zero-duty preferential access under USMCA (T-MEC), CPTPP, updated Mexico-EU FTA (2024) and 12+ bilateral FTAs.

Regulatory deep-dive

Mexico import & export regulations →

Mexico import/export rules: ANAM customs, Padrón de Importadores, NOM standards, USMCA origin, IVA & IEPS.

Authorities · Licensing · Sanctions

Also see compare Mexico vs other markets →

Free calculators for Mexico trade

LC Cost Calculator →

All-in bank charges on a Letter of Credit.

Usance LC Interest →

Deferred payment cost with correct ACT/360 or ACT/365 basis.

Import Duty & Tax →

Duty, VAT/GST and landed cost per HS code.

Landed Cost by HS & Country →

Interactive duty + VAT/GST + Incoterm split for this destination.

CIF ↔ FOB Converter →

Convert between CIF, FOB and landed cost.

HS Code Lookup →

Search harmonised classification codes.

CBM & Container →

Volume, weight and container utilisation.

Incoterms 2020 Visualiser →

Cost, risk and document split across all 11 rules.

Multi-Currency Invoice →

FX spread and cross-currency invoice value.

Major ports & gateways

· Manzanillo
· Lázaro Cárdenas
· Veracruz
· Altamira
· Ensenada

Key trading partners· 6 linked toolkits

Top exports

· Cars & auto parts
· Electronics (TVs, computers, phones)
· Machinery
· Crude petroleum
· Medical instruments
· Beer, tequila & agri products
· Silver & minerals

Top imports

· Refined petroleum & gasoline
· Auto parts & semiconductors
· Machinery
· Natural gas (from USA)
· Plastics & chemicals
· Corn & grains
· Steel

Trade finance in Mexico

· MXN LCs use ACT/360. USD LCs dominate cross-border trade given dollarised flows with USA.
· Mexican banks (BBVA México, Banorte, Santander, HSBC, Citibanamex) quote 0.20-0.35% per quarter plus 16% IVA on fees.
· Bancomext (Banco Nacional de Comercio Exterior) provides export credit and buyer credit for capital goods.

Customs & duty in Mexico

· TIGIE: 8-digit code (HS 6 + 2 national digits) managed by SAT/ANAM.
· IMMEX / Maquiladora programme allows temporary duty-free import of inputs for re-export - key driver of Mexican manufacturing.
· PROSEC schemes reduce IGI on inputs for specific industries (electronics, auto, textile).
· USMCA (T-MEC): 75% RVC for autos plus labour value content test; yarn-forward rules for textiles.

Incoterms 2020 practice in Mexico

· DAP / DDP overland from USA via Laredo / El Paso is dominant for cross-border flows.
· CIF Manzanillo / Veracruz for Asian and European seaborne imports.
· USMCA-qualifying goods use a certification of origin (no prescribed form) signed by exporter, producer or importer.

HS commodity guides for Mexico

Classification, duty and worked landed-cost examples for the commodity families most active on Mexico's trade lanes.

HS 85Electronics

HS Code for Electronics (Chapter 85) →

HS 84Industrial

HS Code for Industrial Machinery (Chapter 84) →

HS 72Metals

HS Code for Iron & Steel (Chapter 72) →

HS 39Chemicals

HS Code for Plastics & Polymers (Chapter 39) →

HS 1006Agricultural

HS Code for Rice (HS 1006) →

HS 2709Energy

HS Code for Crude Oil (HS 2709) →

HS 2710Energy

HS Code for Petroleum Products (HS 2710) →

HS 71Metals

HS Code for Precious Metals (Chapter 71) →

Mexico's key trading partners

China toolkit →

Import VAT · 13% standard, 9% reduced, 6% services

United States toolkit →

No federal VAT / GST · 0% federal

Germany toolkit →

VAT (Umsatzsteuer / Einfuhrumsatzsteuer) · 19% standard, 7% reduced

Japan toolkit →

Consumption Tax (JCT) · 10% standard / 8% reduced (food, newspapers)

South Korea toolkit →

VAT · 10%

India toolkit →

IGST on imports · 5% / 12% / 18% / 28%

Frequently asked questions

Do goods from the USA enter Mexico duty-free?

Yes - USMCA (T-MEC) provides duty-free access for originating goods. Non-originating goods pay Mexico's MFN tariff. Correct certification of origin is critical to defend the claim on audit.

What is IMMEX?

A programme allowing temporary import of raw materials, components and machinery duty- and VAT-free for goods that will be re-exported. Widely used by auto, electronics and aerospace manufacturers in northern Mexico.