No. 1 Inland Port along US-Mexico Border
The Port of Laredo is the number 1 inland port along the US-Mexico border and the nation’s fourth-busiest port among more than 450 airports, seaports and border border crossings with $205.88 billion in total trade with the world in 2020 according to U.S. Census Bureau data analyzed by WorldCity.
- Approximately 4,457,547 trucks crossed the border in 20120 north and south bound
- Home to 220* freight forwarders, 650 trucking 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 reflects organization members only
Port Laredo’s trade increases 33.35 percent through May
Port Laredo’s trade with the world rose 33.35 percent, from $74.15 billion to $98.88 billion through the first five months of 2021 when compared to the same period the previous year, according to WorldCity analysis of the latest U.S. Census Bureau data.
During the same time period, the nation’s total trade was $1.79 trillion, with exports at $692.28 billion and imports at $1.09 trillion. The nation’s total trade increased 20.62 percent compared to the same period last year. Exports rose 18.92 percent and imports rose 21.72 percent.
Port Laredo ranked No. 3 for total trade among the nation’s roughly 450 airports, seaports and border crossings through May of 2021. During the same period of 2020 it ranked No. 4. It finished No. 4 in the last full year.
The nation’s top five “ports” — airports, seaports and border crossings — so far this year, by value, are Port of Los Angeles; Chicago O’Hare International Airport; Port Laredo; John F. Kennedy International Airport and Port of Newark.
Through May Port Laredo’s top trade partners were No. 1 Mexico, No. 2 China, No. 3 France, No. 4 Japan and No. 5 Nicaragua. Through the same period of the previous year, the top trade partners were held by Mexico, China, France, Japan and Malaysia, respectively.
Taking a closer look at its leading trade partners:
- Trade with No. 1 Mexico rose 33.48 percent to $96.79 billion.
Exports rose 34.28 percent to $40.08 billion. Imports rose 32.92 percent to $56.72 billion. - Trade with No. 2 China rose 21.33 percent to $513.77 million.
Exports rose 72.25 percent to $1 million. Imports rose 21.26 percent to $512.77 million. - Trade with No. 3 France fell 13.75 percent to $227.9 million.
Exports rose 236.7 percent to $43,050. Imports fell 13.76 percent to $227.86 million. - Trade with No. 4 Japan rose 84.33 percent to $207.82 million.
Exports rose 252.59 percent to $481,901. Imports rose 84.12 percent to $207.33 million. - Trade with No. 5 Nicaragua rose 365.47 percent to $206.82 million.
Exports rose 927.71 percent to $10.42 million. Imports rose 352.35 percent to $196.41 million.
Port Laredo’s top five trading partners through May accounted for 99.06 percent of its trade with the world.
Port Laredo had trade surpluses with 27 countries and deficits with 103 through May. That compares with 36 surpluses and 93 deficits for the same period one year earlier. The top three surpluses through May of this year were with United Arab Emirates, $2.77 million; Panama, $686,484; and Montserrat, $540,690. The top three deficits through May of this year were with Mexico, $16.64 billion; China, $511.77 million; and France, $227.81 million.
Through May its top exports were Motor vehicle parts; Gasoline, other fuels; Diesel Engines from Internal Combustion engines; LNG, other petroleum gases; and Plastics, in that order. Those accounted for 23.91 percent of its total outbound trade. The Port’s top imports were Motor vehicle parts; Passenger vehicles; Tractors; Commercial vehicles; and Cell phones, related equipment, accounting for 32.99 percent of all inbound shipments.
Looking more closely at Port Laredo’s exports:
- Motor vehicle parts rose 41.75 percent compared to last year to $4.13 billion.
- Gasoline, other fuels rose 107.35 percent compared to last year to $2.15 billion.
- Diesel Engines from Internal Combustion engines rose 93.28 percent compared to last year to $1.9 billion.
- LNG, other petroleum gases rose 344 percent compared to last year to $734.25 million.
- Plastics rose 56.43 percent compared to last year to $678.86 million.
On the import side:
- Motor vehicle parts rose 64.04 percent compared to last year to $7.84 billion.
- Passenger vehicles rose 32.31 percent compared to last year to $4.16 billion.
- Tractors rose 73.6 percent compared to last year to $2.78 billion.
- Commercial vehicles rose 30.92 percent compared to last year to $2.36 billion.
- Cell phones, related equipment rose 10.99 percent compared to last year to $2.25 billion.
Last year Port Laredo posted total trade with the world of $205.88 billion. The Port’s deficit was $45.86 billion. Exports totaled $80.01 billion and imports came to $125.87 billion.
