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 third-busiest port among more than 450 airports, seaports, and border crossings with $299.4 billion in total trade with the world in 2022 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
Port Laredo’s trade was up 16.18 percent in January from last January
Trade at Port Laredo for the month of January increased 16.18 percent from the same month one year ago and was up 0.91 percent compared to the previous month, according to ustradenumbers.com analysis of the most recent U.S. government data.
Breaking it down, exports increased 18.39 percent compared to the same month in the previous year and were up 6.8 percent from the previous month. Imports increased 14.77 percent compared to the same month in the previous year and declined 2.62 percent when compared to the previous
Year-to-date, Port Laredo’s trade is up 16.18 percent
On a year-to-date basis, trade at Port Laredo was valued at $24.76 billion, an increase of 16.18 percent through January.
Exports totaled $9.81 billion, up 18.39 percent while imports were valued at $14.95 billion, up 14.77 percent.
The deficit at Port Laredo was $5.14 billion.
As the chart at the top in the middle shows, through January, 39.63 percent of that trade at Port Laredo was an export and 60.37 percent was an import. The national average is 39.42 percent for exports and 60.58 percent for imports for the same 1 month of the year. Port Laredo ranked No. 2 by value among all of the nation’s 450-plus airports, seaports, and border crossings. Ranking it just against other border crossings, it ranked No. 1 by value and No. 10 by tonnage.
Port Laredo’s trade with top trade partner Mexico has increased 16.25 percent YTD
Port Laredo’s top five trade partners accounted for 98.89 percent of its total trade through January. By way of comparison, the United States’ top five trade partners accounted for 51.03 percent.
Taking a closer look at its leading trade partners:
- Trade with No. 1 Mexico rose 16.25 percent to $24.17 billion.
Exports rose 18.39 percent to $9.81 billion. Imports rose 14.84 percent to $14.37 billion. - Trade with No. 2 China fell 2.92 percent to $120.42 million.
Exports rose 49.52 percent to $197,986. Imports fell 2.98 percent to $120.22 million. - Trade with No. 3 France rose 62.59 percent to $86.06 million.
There were no exports. Imports rose 62.61 percent to $86.06 million. - Trade with No. 4 Nicaragua rose 16.66 percent to $53.46 million.
Exports fell 70.21 percent to $208,816. Imports rose 18.01 percent to $53.25 million. - Trade with No. 5 Japan fell 20.51 percent to $50.77 million.
Exports rose 11.77 percent to $43,525. Imports fell 20.53 percent to $50.73 million.
Port Laredo had trade surpluses with 17 countries and deficits with 86 through January. That compares with 14 surpluses and 80 deficits for the same period one year earlier. The top three surpluses through January of this year were with Sweden, $902,759; Australia, $178,750; and Panama, $107,567.The top three deficits through January of this year were with Mexico, $4.56 billion; China, $120.02 million; and France, $86.06 million.
At this time a year ago, the top five trade partners were Mexico, China, Japan, France, and Nicaragua.
By tonnage, the top five trade partners year-to-date are Mexico, Nicaragua, India, Canada, and China.
At this time a year ago, the top five by tonnage were Mexico, Nicaragua, China, Chile, and El Salvador.
The most valuable Port Laredo export, Motor vehicle parts, has increased 20.8 percent YTD
Port Laredo’s top five exports accounted for 22.01 percent of all its exports through January. By way of comparison, the United States’ top five exports accounted for 23.3 percent.
Here’s a closer look at the top five, by value:
- Motor vehicle parts rose 20.8 percent compared to last year to $1.21 billion.
- Gasoline and other fuels rose 28.36 percent compared to last year to $333.91 million.
- Diesel engines rose 15.46 percent compared to last year to $265.7 million.
- Corn rose 48.73 percent compared to last year to $192.63 million.
- Chemical reaction accelerators rose 17.35 percent compared to last year to $156.11 million.
At this time a year ago, the top five exports were Motor vehicle parts; Diesel engines; Gasoline, other fuels; Plastics; and Corn.
By tonnage, the top five exports year-to-date are Motor vehicle parts; Hardware for fixtures; Catalytic converters, air, and oil filters; Transmission shafts, bearings, and gears; and Air-conditioning machines.
At this time a year ago, the top five by tonnage were Motor vehicle parts; Hardware for fixtures; Transmission shafts, bearings, gears; Catalytic converters, air, and oil filters; and Engine parts.
The most valuable Port Laredo import, Motor vehicle parts, has increased 22.01 percent YTD
Port Laredo’s top five imports accounted for 32.64 percent of all its imports through January. By way of comparison, the United States’ top five imports accounted for 21.92 percent.
Here’s a closer look at the top five, by value:
- Motor vehicle parts rose 22.01 percent compared to last year to $1.93 billion.
- Passenger vehicles fell 8.11 percent compared to last year to $941.33 million.
- Tractors rose 27.11 percent compared to last year to $871.72 million.
- Commercial vehicles rose 56.32 percent compared to last year to $616.57 million.
- Insulated wire and cable rose 26.59 percent compared to last year to $516.21 million.
At this time a year ago, the top five imports were Motor vehicle parts; Passenger vehicles; Tractors; Computers; and Commercial vehicles.
By tonnage, the top five imports year-to-date are Motor vehicle parts; Electrical boards, panels, and switches; Speedometers and tachometers; Insulated wire, cable; and Transmission shafts, bearings, and gears.
At this time a year ago, the top five by tonnage were Motor vehicle parts; Electrical boards, panels, and switches; Miscellaneous electrical machinery; Insulated wire, cable; Cell phones, and related equipment.
By value, Port Laredo was responsible for 5.9 percent of U.S. trade through January, ranking No. 2 among all ports and No. 1 among all border crossings.
Last year Port Laredo posted total trade with the world of $299.45 billion. The Port’s deficit was $67.57 billion. Exports totaled $115.94 billion and imports came to $183.51 billion.
