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 2020 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 28.71 percent through August
Port Laredo’s trade with the world rose 28.71 percent, from $126.49 billion to $162.8 billion through the first eight 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 $2.95 trillion, with exports at $1.13 trillion and imports at $1.82 trillion. The nation’s total trade increased 22.99 percent compared to the same period last year. Exports rose 23.34 percent and imports rose 22.78 percent.
Port Laredo ranked No. 3 for total trade among the nation’s roughly 450 airports, seaports and border crossings through August 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 August Port Laredo’s top trade partners were No. 1 Mexico, No. 2 China, No. 3 Japan, No. 4 France and No. 5 Nicaragua. Through the same period of the previous year, the top trade partners were held by Mexico, China, France, Japan and Thailand, respectively.
Taking a closer look at its leading trade partners:
- Trade with No. 1 Mexico rose 31.27 percent to $138.42 billion.
Exports rose 35.83 percent to $57.4 billion. Imports rose 28.22 percent to $81.02 billion. - Trade with No. 2 China rose 18.44 percent to $740.56 million.
Exports rose 6.43 percent to $1.45 million. Imports rose 18.46 percent to $739.11 million. - Trade with No. 3 Japan rose 73.99 percent to $312.98 million.
Exports rose 265.71 percent to $771,358. Imports rose 73.77 percent to $312.21 million. - Trade with No. 4 France fell 15.43 percent to $309.02 million.
Exports rose 47.9 percent to $52,924. Imports fell 15.44 percent to $308.96 million. - Trade with No. 5 Nicaragua rose 330.74 percent to $306.54 million.
Exports rose 580.7 percent to $13.9 million. Imports rose 323.35 percent to $292.64 million.
Port Laredo’s top five trading partners through August accounted for 99.03 percent of its trade with the world.
Port Laredo had trade surpluses with 26 countries and deficits with 109 through August. That compares with 41 surpluses and 97 deficits for the same period one year earlier. The top three surpluses through August of this year were with United Arab Emirates, $2.78 million; Panama, $942,296; and Montserrat, $563,717. The top three deficits through August of this year were with Mexico, $23.63 billion; China, $737.66 million; and Japan, $311.44 million.
Through August its top exports were Motor vehicle parts; Gasoline, other fuels; Diesel engines; Plastics; and Refined copper, alloys, unwrought, in that order. Those accounted for 23.39 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 32.08 percent of all inbound shipments.
Looking more closely at Port Laredo’s exports:
- Motor vehicle parts rose 33.19 percent compared to last year to $6.91 billion.
- Gasoline, other fuels rose 77.37 percent compared to last year to $3.15 billion.
- Diesel engines rose 51.34 percent compared to last year to $3.03 billion.
- Plastics rose 88.11 percent compared to last year to $1.28 billion.
- Refined copper, alloys, unwrought rose 167.23 percent compared to last year to $1.11 billion.
On the import side:
- Motor vehicle parts rose 36.96 percent compared to last year to $12.49 billion.
- Passenger vehicles rose 2.03 percent compared to last year to $6.31 billion.
- Tractors rose 45.29 percent compared to last year to $4.49 billion.
- Commercial vehicles rose 19.26 percent compared to last year to $3.93 billion.
- Cell phones, related equipment rose 14.04 percent compared to last year to $3.76 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.
