No. 1  Port in the Nation

The Port of Laredo is the number 1 port in the nation among more than 450 airports, seaports, and border crossings with $320 billion in total trade with the world in 2023  according to the U.S. Census Bureau data analyzed by WorldCity.

  • Approximately 5,546,575 trucks crossed the border in 2022 north and southbound
  • Home to 251* freight forwarders, 656 trucking/transportation companies, and 120* U.S. Customs Brokers
  • 1 Rail Bridge and 4 vehicle bridges: 2 for commercial, 3 for private vehicles
  • Goods shipped through Laredo travel to more than 60 countries

* Numbers reflect ALFA & LLUSCBA members only

Year-to-date, Port Laredo’s trade up 6.08 percent

On a year-to-date basis, trade at Port Laredo was valued at $313.52 billion, an increase of 6.08 percent through November.

Exports totaled $119.22 billion, up 4.56 percent while imports were valued at $194.31 billion, up 7.04 percent.

The deficit at Port Laredo was $75.09 billion.

In 2024, Port Laredo’s trade up 5.98 percent

In 2024, trade at Port Laredo was valued at $339.03 billion, an increase of 5.98 percent through December.

Exports totaled $128.26 billion, up 4.12 percent while imports were valued at $210.77 billion, up 7.14 percent.

The deficit at Port Laredo was $82.52 billion.

Port Laredo’s trade with top trade partner Mexico increased 5.89 percent

Port Laredo’s top five trade partners accounted for 98.82 percent of its total trade through December. By way of comparison, the United States’ top five trade partners accounted for 49.66 percent.

Taking a closer look at its leading trade partners:

Trade with No. 1 Mexico rose 5.89 percent to $330.64 billion.
Exports rose 4.05 percent to $128.07 billion. Imports rose 7.08 percent to $202.57 billion.

Trade with No. 2 China rose 1.13 percent to $1.83 billion.
Exports rose 1461 percent to $1.08 million. Imports rose 1.07 percent to $1.83 billion.

Trade with No. 3 France fell 12.98 percent to $1.07 billion.
Exports rose 672.05 percent to $192,000. Imports fell 12.99 percent to $1.07 billion.

Trade with No. 4 Nicaragua rose 21.79 percent to $816.21 million.
Exports rose 528.64 percent to $129.52 million. Imports rose 5.71 percent to $686.68 million.

Trade with No. 5 Japan rose 16.04 percent to $676.6 million.
Exports rose 5371 percent to $13.15 million. Imports rose 13.83 percent to $663.45 million.

Port Laredo had trade surpluses with 22 countries and deficits with 127 through December. That compares with 22 surpluses and 129 deficits for the same period one year earlier. The top three surpluses through December of this year were with Moldova, $2.04 million; Panama, $1.75 million; and Ecuador $1.29 million.The top three deficits through December of this year were with Mexico, $74.5 billion; China, $1.83 billion; and France, $1.07 billion.

At this time a year ago, the top five trade partners were Mexico, China, France, Nicaragua and Japan.

By tonnage, the top five trade partners year-to-date are Mexico, China, France, Nicaragua and Japan.

At this time a year ago, the top five by tonnage were Mexico, China, France, Nicaragua and Japan.

Exports Market Share

The most valuable Port Laredo export, Motor vehicle parts, decreased 8.89 percent

Port Laredo’s top five exports accounted for 21.64 percent of all its exports through December. By way of comparison, the United States’ top five exports accounted for 23.72 percent.

Here’s a closer look at the top five, by value:
  • Motor vehicle parts fell 8.89 percent compared to last year to $14.01 billion.
  • Gasoline, other fuels rose 2.85 percent compared to last year to $3.88 billion.
  • Electric storage batteries rose 286.19 percent compared to last year to $3.51 billion.
  • Diesel engines rose 13.63 percent compared to last year to $3.49 billion.
  • Passenger vehicles rose 48.4 percent compared to last year to $2.87 billion.

At this time a year ago, the top five exports were Motor vehicle parts; Gasoline, other fuels; Diesel engines; Passenger vehicles; and Cell phones, related equipment.

By tonnage the top five exports year-to-date are Nickel waste, scrap; Copper mattes, cement copper; Misc. cements, mortars, concretes; Tin waste, scrap; and Plastic baths, washbasins, toilets.

At this time a year ago, the top five by tonnage were Cereal groats, meal, pellets; Machine tools for drilling, boring, milling; Maps, atlases, wall maps; Crude olive oil; and Electromagnets, permanent magnets and parts.

Imports Market Share

The most valuable Port Laredo import, Motor vehicle parts, increased 3.51 percent

Port Laredo’s top five imports accounted for 36.54 percent of all its imports through December. By way of comparison, the United States’ top five imports accounted for 22.87 percent.

Here’s a closer look at the top five, by value:
  • Motor vehicle parts rose 3.51 percent compared to last year to $26.36 billion.
  • Passenger vehicles rose 2.27 percent compared to last year to $16.56 billion.
  • Computers rose 121.83 percent compared to last year to $13.43 billion.
  • Commercial vehicles rose 38.15 percent compared to last year to $11.25 billion.
  • Tractors fell 18.18 percent compared to last year to $9.43 billion.

At this time a year ago, the top five imports were Motor vehicle parts; Passenger vehicles; Tractors; Commercial vehicles; and Computers.

By tonnage the top five imports year-to-date are Cereal groats, meal, pellets; Lathes for removing metal; Children’s picture, drawing or coloring books; Olive oil; and Power supplies, transformers.

At this time a year ago, the top five by tonnage were Nickel waste, scrap; Copper mattes, cement copper; Misc. mixed alkylbenzenes, alkylnaphthalene; Tin bars, rods, profile, wire; and Plastic boxes, containers.

Port Market Share

By value, Port Laredo was responsible for 6.36 percent of U.S. trade in 2024, ranking No. 1 among all ports and No. 1 among all border crossings.

Last year Port Laredo, posted total trade with the world of $319.91 billion. The Port’s deficit was $73.54 billion. Exports totaled $123.18 billion and imports came to $196.73 billion.

Source: U.S. Trade Numbers

More likely to devise novel products and processes 92%
Greater employee productivity 52%
Better response to customer needs 53%

International Bridges

Bridge 1- Gateway to the Americas Bridge Non-commercial and Pedestrian

Bridge 2- Lincoln-Juarez International Bridge Non-commercial

Bridge 3- Columbia Solidarity Bridge Non-commercial and Commercial

Bridge 4- World Trade Bridge Commercial

Between the World Trade Bridge and Columbia, about 14,000 commercial trucks cross the bridges each day.  This is only about 40% of the capacity of these bridges.

Rail Service

International rail service is provided by Union Pacific and Kansas City Southern.

Union Pacific provides Intermodal3 service within 8 miles of most industrial parks as well as service to Dallas and the Midwest.

Kansas City Southern Railroad (KCSR) interchanges with Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) and Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) and owns the Laredo International Railroad Bridge and Kansas Southern de Mexico (KCSM) that has interchange service at Laredo and Brownsville, Texas.  KCSM serves the Ports of Veracruz, Tampico, Lazaro Cardenas, Bulkmatic Transload Service at Monterrey, Mexico, and will serve a Plastic, Steel, and Industrial product tans-loading center in Toluca.

In 2024, 214,727 rail cars crossed through the Port of Laredo from Mexico.

Air Cargo

The Laredo International Airport is a USMCA gateway for air cargo.  In 2023, 671,077,289 pounds of air cargo landed via the Port of Laredo.  FedEx and UPS.

There are 30+ Air Cargo charter operators that offer on-demand service from Laredo including Northern Air Cargo, USA Jet, USA TSM, Kalita Charters, IFL, Everts Air, Freight Runners, and many others

For CBP Border Wait Times visit http://apps.cbp.gov/bwt/

Laredo Trade Numbers Statistics from the Trade Numbers Magazine.

Click on the image below to visit the Trade Numbers Webpage.