Mexico truck exports soar 145% as US demand accelerates

Mexican producers produced 15,181 heavy-duty autos throughout September, in contrast with 6,857 in the identical month final yr.

Exports totaled 12,707 models, up 144.6% from September 2025, marking a big acceleration in cross-border business car shipments, in accordance with figures from Mexico’s Nationwide Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) introduced by the Nationwide Affiliation of Bus, Truck and Tractor-Trailer Producers (ANPACT).

The September rebound comes as Mexico’s home heavy-duty car market continues to battle with weak gross sales, delayed fleet alternative choices and uncertainty surrounding U.S. commerce insurance policies.

Rogelio Arzate, govt president of ANPACT, mentioned rising demand from U.S. prospects making ready for brand new emissions requirements has been a significant factor behind the rise in manufacturing and exports.

“The rationale why manufacturing and exports are rising on the ranges they’re is exactly as a result of the US, our predominant buying and selling associate, is at present present process this know-how shift,” Arzate mentioned throughout an October information convention.

Arzate pointed to the transition towards U.S. Environmental Safety Company emissions requirements scheduled for 2027, which is prompting producers and prospects to regulate their buying and manufacturing plans.

“Purchasers are at present requesting a big variety of models as properly, and that’s the reason this manufacturing and export towards the US is rising,” Arzate mentioned.

The expansion highlights Mexico’s position as a significant manufacturing hub for business vans bought all through North America, whilst producers navigate tariffs, evolving emissions necessities and the upcoming overview of the United States-Mexico-Canada Settlement.

US stays Mexico’s largest heavy-duty truck export market

Mexico exported 98,394 heavy-duty autos throughout the first 9 months of 2026, a rise of roughly 12% in contrast with the identical interval final yr, in accordance with ANPACT.

Of these shipments, 98,389 have been freight autos, representing a 12.1% year-over-year enhance.

The U.S. remained the business’s dominant export vacation spot, receiving 90,967 Mexican-built heavy-duty autos from January via September, up 9.6% from the comparable 2025 interval.

Which means the U.S. accounted for about 92.5% of Mexico’s heavy-duty car exports throughout the first 9 months of the yr.

Canada additionally recorded good points, with shipments rising 47.6% yr over yr via September. Throughout September alone, Mexico exported 680 heavy-duty autos to Canada, greater than doubling the quantity recorded a yr earlier.

Different markets displaying year-to-date progress included Colombia, Peru, Honduras and Guatemala, whereas exports to Chile, El Salvador, Ecuador and Costa Rica declined.

The export good points accompanied a broader restoration in Mexican business car manufacturing.

Throughout the January-through-September interval, Mexican factories produced 117,121 heavy-duty autos, a rise of 10.3% from the identical interval in 2025.

Freight autos accounted for 114,443 models of that manufacturing.

Diesel-powered autos continued to dominate the business’s manufacturing and export exercise. ANPACT reported no electrical or pure gas-powered heavy-duty autos produced or exported throughout September.

Home truck gross sales proceed to battle

Regardless of stronger manufacturing and export exercise, Mexico’s home heavy-duty car market remained underneath stress.

Cristina Vázquez, coordinator of financial research on the Mexican Affiliation of Automotive Distributors (AMDA), mentioned retail gross sales totaled 2,980 heavy-duty autos in September, down 11.3% from the identical month in 2025.

The decline marked the eighth consecutive month of year-over-year decreases in Mexico’s heavy-duty car retail market.

By means of the primary 9 months of 2026, retail gross sales totaled 25,289 autos, a 17.5% decline from the comparable interval final yr.

Gross sales of tractor-trailers have been significantly weak.

Mexican sellers bought 1,153 tractor-trucks throughout September, down 14% yr over yr. Gross sales of different freight vans elevated barely, rising 0.5% to 1,378 models.

Mixed, the freight car phase recorded 2,531 retail gross sales, down 6.7% from September 2025.

Passenger car gross sales, together with buses, fell 30.5% to 449 models.

Vázquez mentioned Mexico’s business car market has but to recuperate from a surge in purchases throughout 2024, when fleet operators accelerated acquisitions forward of regulatory adjustments.

The report gross sales that yr successfully pulled ahead demand that in any other case may need occurred in 2025 and 2026.

She additionally cited uncertainty surrounding U.S. commerce insurance policies and the upcoming USMCA overview as elements discouraging fleet operators from making main investments.

The market’s continued weak spot comes regardless of indicators of enchancment in Mexico’s broader financial system, together with a rebound in mounted funding.

AMDA projected annual heavy-duty car retail gross sales of roughly 36,051 models in 2026 however cautioned that precise outcomes might fall under that estimate if buying exercise stays subdued.

ANPACT pushes for tariff reduction, fleet renewal packages

Arzate mentioned ANPACT is working with Mexican authorities to deal with U.S. tariffs on business autos and parts because the North American automotive business prepares for the USMCA overview.

The affiliation is searching for decrease tariffs and desires to protect present regional guidelines of origin, which require producers to fulfill rising North American content material thresholds.

Arzate mentioned producers have made substantial investments of their provide chains and manufacturing services to adjust to the settlement.

He mentioned the business’s most well-liked consequence could be eliminating U.S. tariffs imposed underneath Part 232 of the Commerce Growth Act, though lowering these duties could also be a extra achievable near-term aim.

“In a great world, we should always have zero tariffs,” Arzate mentioned.

ANPACT can be working with Mexico’s Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Financial system on packages geared toward encouraging home fleet alternative.

The initiatives embrace accelerated depreciation, financing ensures and a proposed scrappage program designed to take away older business autos from service.

Arzate mentioned the affiliation is coordinating with Nacional Financiera, Mexico’s growth financial institution, on further monetary incentives to assist carriers buy newer gear.

September 2026: Key business figures

Why it issues: The surge underscores Mexico’s significance to North American truck manufacturing as fleets put together for regulatory adjustments and commerce uncertainty.

Extra BigRig articles by Noi Mahoney:

• Mexico trucker shortages, visa restrictions squeeze cross-border capability
• Texas trucking agency sued over age limits on drivers
• New Jersey CDL faculty lawsuit questions proof behind FMCSA shutdown

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