Mexico doubles imports from China, breaking a historic record

Over the past ten years, the economic relationship between Mexico and China has changed dramatically. What began as a moderate flow of goods has become an avalanche of goods arriving at Mexican ports and borders each year. According to data from the Mexico City Chamber of Commerce, the volume of imports from China increased from $32.811 billion in 2015 to $62.127 billion in 2025. This growth reflects not only the importance of the Asian giant as a global supplier, but also Mexico's growing dependence on its inputs and products.

With this new record, China consolidates its position as Mexico's second-largest trading partner in terms of imports, behind only the United States. Containers arriving from Shanghai, Shenzhen, or Guangzhou not only transport mass consumer goods, but also essential parts that enable Mexican industry to remain competitive in sectors such as automotive, textiles, and electronics. The current picture of trade shows a two-way, but very uneven, flow: while Mexico receives manufactured and high-value-added products, its exports to China are primarily raw materials such as copper ore.

The list of products flooding the Mexican market from China is divided into two broad categories. On the one hand, final goods that compete directly with domestic production, such as automobiles, household appliances, computers, and mobile phones. On the other, intermediate goods that are essential to Mexican manufacturing chains: inputs, parts, and components used in production processes. In 2024 alone, mobile phones and wireless network devices represented a value of $9.443 billion. In this context, Mexican industry not only depends on consumers who purchase in stores and on digital platforms, but also on manufacturers who assemble parts from the Asian market.

The Concanaco analysis highlights a paradox that defines the relationship between Mexico and China. On the one hand, Chinese imports lower costs, improve efficiency, and allow Mexican products to compete in international markets. On the other hand, this dependence creates vulnerability. In strategic sectors such as electronics and light machinery, China has become an almost exclusive supplier of key components. In the event of logistical disruptions, geopolitical tensions, or tariff measures, Mexico would face difficulties replacing this trading partner.

If we look at the trade in reverse, the asymmetry is evident. While Mexico imports technology, auto parts, and devices, what it exports to China is primarily copper ore and concentrates. This dynamic confirms that the relationship is based on a classic pattern of unequal trade: one country sends raw materials and receives high-value-added finished goods. The consequence is that Mexico becomes dependent not only on the flow of trade, but also on the technological innovation and industrial pace of the Asian giant.

Experts warn that the challenge lies in diversifying suppliers and strengthening domestic production of strategic inputs. Failure to do so will leave Mexico trapped in a relationship of dependence that limits its productive autonomy. However, there is also an opportunity: taking advantage of its proximity to the United States and its participation in international treaties to become a bridge for integration that combines the best of both worlds. The future of Mexico will depend on how it manages to balance this relationship, which today makes it a privileged customer of China, but also a vulnerable partner.