United States Department of Agriculture

Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

a quarterly publication of the Agricultural Marketing Service 

www.ams.usda.gov/services/transportation-analysis

Second Quarter 2019 (April, May, June) 

Published November 14, 2019

Summary: What Happened

Transportation Costs to Mexico Remained Relatively Stable, 

but Landed Costs Were Mixed

Transportation Costs: Compared to the previous quarter, the transportation 

costs of shipping bulk grains (corn, soybeans, and wheat) to Mexico 

remained relatively stable during the second quarter of 2019. The 

transportation costs of shipping grains to Mexico, through both water and 

land routes, fluctuated within a 1-percent range. While the costs of shipping 

seaborne corn and soybeans fell 1 percent, the costs of shipping seaborne 

wheat and all grains by the land route rose 1 percent (see August 15, 2019 

Grain Transportation Report (GTR)). All told, the changes in landed costs 

were mixed, as costs for corn increased while those for soybeans and wheat 

decreased. Along the water route, barge rates fell by 11 percent because 

of reduced demand from persistent flooding and navigation disruptions 

during the second quarter (see April 4, 2019 and June 27, 2019 GTR). 

From the first to the second quarter, truck rates for waterborne corn and 

soybeans increased 25 percent while remaining relatively unchanged for 

seaborne wheat and grains transported through the land route. Rail tariff 

rates also remained relatively stable during the second quarter. Despite 

significant effort and considerable progress in restoring services, railroads 

were affected by inclement weather and flood conditions during the second 

quarter (June 27, 2019 GTR).

As an increase in the farm value of corn from the first to the second quarter 

pushed up landed costs for corn, the farm value for soybeans and wheat 

decreased, resulting in lower landed costs for these commodities in the 

second quarter. Year-to-year landed costs were down for all grains shipped 

through the water route, as well as for soybeans and wheat transported 

through the land route. However, the landed cost for corn transported 

through the land route increased from last year. The landed costs for the 

water route ranged from $193 to $356 per metric ton (mt) (see table 1 and 

figure 1), and $241 to $391 per mt (see table 1 and figure 2) for the land 

route. The transportation share of the landed costs fell for corn, did not 

change for soybeans, and increased for wheat. The transportation share 

Contac

Informatio

Surajudeen Olowolayemo, 

Coordinator/Ocean Bulk 

Shipments/Livestock Analyst

Jesse Gastelle, Rail/Fruit and 

Vegetables Analyst

April Taylor, Container Shipments/ 

Fruit and Vegetables Analyst

Content

Summary: 

What Happened? 1

Quarterly Bulk Grain 

and Soybeans 5

Fruit and Vegetable 9

Subscription Information 13

Data Sets 13
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Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

of the landed costs ranged from 13 to 27 percent for the water route and 25 to 40 percent for the land route (see 

table 1). change for soybeans, and increased for wheat. The transportation share of the landed costs ranged from 

13 to 27 percent for the water route and 25 to 40 percent for the land route (see table 1). 

More corn and wheat, but less soybeans, were inspected for export to Mexico during the second quarter of 2019 

than in the previous quarter (USDA’s grain inspection data). However, less corn and soybeans were inspected 

for export to Mexico than in the same period last year. During the second quarter of 2019, 3.39 million metric 

tons (mmt) of corn, .87 mmt of wheat, and 1.03 mmt of soybeans were inspected for export to Mexico. In 

contrast, inspections of corn, wheat, and soybeans for export to Mexico were 3.06 mmt, .70 mmt, and 1.13 mmt, 

respectively, during the first quarter of 2019. During the second quarter of 2019, total inspections of corn and 

wheat for export to Mexico were higher than in the first quarter by 11 and 24 percent, respectively. However, 

soybeans inspected for export to Mexico were lower by 8 percent than in the first quarter. In the second quarter of 

2019, there was 51 percent more wheat, 14 percent less corn, and 12 percent less soybeans inspected for export 

to Mexico than in the second quarter of 2018. Lower transportation costs helped boost the competitiveness of U.S. 

grain exports to Mexico.

Ocean Freight Rates: Compared to the previous quarter, ocean freight rates for shipping bulk grains to Mexico 

were relatively stable during the first quarter. However, the rates were above the 4-year average. During the 

quarter, the cost of shipping a metric ton of grain, via 25,000 ton-capacity vessel, from the U.S. Gulf to Veracruz, 

Mexico, averaged $16.65 per mt. This is just about 2 percent higher than the previous quarter, 3 percent more 

than the same period last year, and 13 percent more than the 4-year average. The cost of shipping in a 35,000-

40,000 ton-capacity vessel averaged $14.01 per mt. This represents about a 1-percent increase over the previous 

quarter, unchanged from the same quarter last year, and is 11 percent above the 4-year average. Although strong 

movements of coal and iron ore slightly pushed up the rates for shipping bulk commodities, including grain in the 

second quarter, ocean freight rates were moderated by the excess vessel supply in the market (see July 25, 2019 

GTR).

Railroad: During the second quarter of 2019, railroads transported 31,844 carloads of grain and oilseeds to Mexico, 

unchanged from the previous quarter and down 25 percent from the second quarter of 2018. Tariff rail rates per 

grain car averaged $7,534, unchanged from the first quarter of 2019 and up 2 percent from the second quarter of 

2018 and from the prior-3-year average. Fuel surcharges per railcar averaged $210, up 5 percent from the previous 

quarter, up 27 percent from the second quarter 2018, and up 116 percent from the prior-3-year average. Overall, 

rail transportation costs (tariff rates plus fuel surcharges) were unchanged from the previous quarter, up 3 percent 

from second quarter 2018, and up 4 percent from the prior 3-year average.

Fruit and Vegetables

During the second quarter of 2019, total reported shipments of fruits and vegetables from Mexico were 3.05 million 

tons, a 7-percent increase from the same quarter last year. The sum of the top five commodities increased nearly 

60,000 tons, or 5 percent. Seedless watermelons had the largest shipments to the United States, with 366,000 tons, 

a 15-percent increase from last year.

Truck rates for shipping distances between 501 and 1,500 miles—through the Texas border crossings—averaged 

$2.28 per mile, which is 7 percent lower than last quarter and 27 percent lower than the same quarter last year. 

Rates for distances between 501 and 1,500 miles—through the Arizona border crossings—averaged $2.70 per mile, 

which is up 7 percent from last quarter, but 16 percent lower than the same quarter last year.

Diesel fuel prices for border crossings through Texas averaged $2.88 per gallon. Diesel fuel prices for border 

crossings through Arizona averaged $3.28 per gallon. Truck availability through both Arizona and Texas crossings in 

April and May were reported as surplus to adequate. Shippers reported shortage conditions in early June but ended 

the month adequate through Texas crossings and slight surplus through Arizona.
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Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

Water route (to Veracruz) Land route (to Guadalajara)

1st qtr 2nd qtr 3rd qtr 4th qtr Avg. 1st qtr 2nd qtr 3rd qtr 4th qtr Avg.

US$/metric ton US$/metric ton

Corn

Origin IL IA

Truck 8.78 10.98 9.88 4.37 4.38 4.38

Rail1 91.00 91.96 91.48

Barge 24.50 21.74 23.12

Ocean2 13.89 14.01 13.95

Total transportation cost 47.17 46.73 46.95 95.37 96.34 95.86

Farm price3 141.20 145.79 143.50 139.49 145.01 142.25

Landed cost4 188.37 192.52 190.45 234.86 241.35 238.11

Transport % of landed cost 25.0 24.3 24.7 40.6 39.9 40.3

Soybeans

Origin IL NE

Truck 8.78 10.98 9.88 4.37 4.38 4.38

Rail1 94.21 95.11 94.66

Barge 24.50 21.74 23.12

Ocean2 13.89 14.01 13.95

Total transportation cost 47.17 46.73 46.95 98.58 99.49 99.04

Farm price3 321.87 308.77 315.32 302.89 291.26 297.08

Landed cost4 369.04 355.50 362.27 401.47 390.75 396.11

Transport % of landed cost 12.8 13.1 13.0 24.6 25.5 25.0

Wheat

Origin KS KS

Truck 4.37 4.38 4.38 4.37 4.38 4.38

Rail1 42.66 42.88 42.77 79.65 80.31 79.98

Ocean2 13.89 14.01 13.95

Total transportation cost 60.92 61.27 61.10 84.02 84.69 84.36

Farm price3 181.39 167.67 174.53 181.39 167.67 174.53

Landed cost4 242.31 228.94 235.63 265.41 252.36 258.89

Transport % of landed cost 25.1 26.8 26.0 31.7 33.6 32.6

1

Rail rates include U.S. and Mexico portions of the movement. Mexico rail rates are estimated based on actual quoted market rates. BNSF 

and Union Pacific quoted rail tariff rates are through rates for shuttle trains. Rail rates include fuel surcharges, but do not include the cost of 

purchasing empty rail cars in the secondary market, which could exceed the rail tariff rate plus the fuel surcharge shown in the table.

2

Source: O’Neil Commodity Consulting, Inc.

3

Source: USDA/NASS

4

Landed cost is total transportation cost plus the farm price.

Table 1. Quarterly costs of transporting U.S. grain and soybeans to Mexico, 2019
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Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

Source: USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service

Figure 1. Water route shipment costs ($/mt) to Veracruz, Mexico

Figure 2. Land route shipment costs ($/mt) to Guadalajara, Mexico

Barge

$21.74

Rail

$42.88

Ocean

$14.01

Ocean

$14.01

Truck

$10.98 Truck

$4.38 Farm value

$145.79

Farm value

$308.77

Farm value

$167.67

0.00

50.00

100.00

150.00

200.00

250.00

300.00

350.00

400.00

450.00

500.00

IL: Corn IL: Soybean KS: Wheat

Total=$192.52

Total=$228.94

Total=$355.50

Rail

$91.96

Rail

$95.11 Rail

$80.31

Farm value

$145.01

Farm value

$291.26

Farm value

$167.67

0.00

50.00

100.00

150.00

200.00

250.00

300.00

350.00

400.00

450.00

IA: Corn NE: Soybean KS: Wheat

Total=$390.75

Total=$252.36 Total=$241.35

Truck

$4.38

Truck

$4.38

Source: USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service 
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Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

Quarterly Bulk Grain and Soybe

Table 2. Quarterly tariff rail rates for U.S. bulk grain shipments to Mexico (US$/car), 2019

Tariff rate/car1 Fuel surcharge per car2

Commodity Origin 

State

Destination 1st 

qtr

2nd 

qtr

3rd 

qtr

4th 

qtr Avg

1st 

qtr

2nd 

qtr

3rd 

qtr

4th 

qtr Avg

Wheat

 MT Chihuahua, CI 7,284 7,284 7,284 0 0 0

 OK Cuautitlan, EM 6,743 6,710 6,726 149 137 143

 KS Guadalajara, JA 7,371 7,371 7,371 424 489 457

 TX Salinas Victoria, NL 4,329 4,329 4,329 91 84 87

Corn

 IA Guadalajara, JA 8,528 8,578 8,553 378 422 400

 SD Celaya, GJ 7,880 7,880 7,880 0 0 0

 NE Queretaro, QA 8,207 8,207 8,207 311 287 299

 SD Salinas Victoria, NL 6,905 6,905 6,905 0 0 0

 MO Tlalnepantla, EM 7,573 7,573 7,573 303 279 291

 SD Torreon, CU 7,480 7,480 7,480 0 0 0

Soybeans

 MO Bojay (Tula), HG 8,284 8,355 8,319 350 395 373

 NE Guadalajara, JA 8,842 8,888 8,865 379 420 400

 IA El Castillo, JA 9,110 9,110 9,110 0 0 0

 KS Torreon, CU 7,714 7,747 7,730 277 299 288

Sorghum

 NE Celaya, GJ 7,527 7,570 7,549 346 380 363

 KS Queretaro, QA 8,000 8,000 8,000 186 171 178

 NE Salinas Victoria, NL 6,633 6,633 6,633 149 137 143

 NE Torreon, CU 6,962 6,997 6,980 262 279 270

1

Rates are based upon published tariff rates for high-capacity shuttle trains. Shuttle trains are available for qualified shipments of 75-110 

cars that meet railroad efficiency requirements. The cost of obtaining empty grain cars in the Secondary Grain Car markets, which in times 

of high demand may exceed the tariff rate plus fuel surcharge, is not included.

2

Approximate load per car = 97.87 mt: corn & sorghum 56 lbs/bu, wheat & soybeans 60 lbs/bu

Sources: www.bnsf.com; www.uprr.com; www.kcsouthern.com
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Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

Table 3. Quarterly tariff rail rates plus fuel surcharges for U.S. bulk grain shipments 

to Mexico, 2019

Tariff1 plus fuel surcharge per:

US$/metric ton US$/bushel2

Commodity Origin 

State

Destination 1st 

qtr

2nd 

qtr

3rd 

qtr

4th 

qtr Avg

1st 

qtr

2nd 

qtr

3rd 

qtr

4th 

qtr Avg

Wheat

 MT Chihuahua, CI 74.43 74.43 74.43 2.02 2.02 2.02

 OK Cuautitlan, EM 70.42 69.96 70.19 1.91 1.90 1.91

 KS Guadalajara, JA 79.65 80.31 79.98 2.17 2.18 2.17

 TX Salinas Victoria, NL 45.16 45.08 45.12 1.23 1.23 1.23

Corn

 IA Guadalajara, JA 91.00 91.96 91.48 2.31 2.33 2.32

 SD Celaya, GJ 80.51 80.51 80.51 2.04 2.04 2.04

 NE Queretaro, QA 87.03 86.78 86.90 2.21 2.20 2.21

 SD Salinas Victoria, NL 70.55 70.55 70.55 1.79 1.79 1.79

 MO Tlalnepantla, EM 80.48 80.23 80.35 2.04 2.04 2.04

 SD Torreon, CU 76.43 76.43 76.43 1.94 1.94 1.94

Soybeans

 MO Bojay (Tula), HG 88.22 89.40 88.81 2.40 2.43 2.41

 NE Guadalajara, JA 94.21 95.11 94.66 2.56 2.59 2.57

 IA El Castillo, JA 93.08 93.08 93.08 2.53 2.53 2.53

 KS Torreon, CU 81.64 82.21 81.92 2.22 2.24 2.23

Sorghum

 NE Celaya, GJ 80.44 81.24 80.84 2.04 2.06 2.05

 KS Queretaro, QA 83.64 83.49 83.56 2.12 2.12 2.12

 NE Salinas Victoria, NL 69.29 69.17 69.23 1.76 1.76 1.76

 NE Torreon, CU 73.81 74.34 74.08 1.87 1.89 1.88

1

Rates are based upon published tariff rates for high-capacity shuttle trains. Shuttle trains are available for qualified shipments of 75-110 

cars that meet railroad efficiency requirements. The cost of obtaining empty grain cars in the Secondary Grain Car markets, which in times 

of high demand may exceed the tariff rate plus fuel surcharge, is not included.

2

Approximate load per car = 97.87 mt: corn & sorghum 56 lbs/bu, wheat & soybeans 60 lbs/bu

Sources: www.bnsf.com; www.uprr.com; www.kcsouthern.com
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Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

Table 4. Quarterly exports of U.S. distillers’ dried grains with soluble (DDGS) to Mexico*

Thousand metric tons 

Year 1st qtr 2nd qtr 3rd qtr 4th qtr Total

2009 316 377 371 395 1,459

2010 439 399 424 383 1,645

2011 506 430 476 369 1,781

2012 426 388 352 332 1,498

2013 284 329 290 381 1,285

2014 356 420 366 435 1,577

2015 497 276 413 463 1,649

2016 483 467 470 490 1,910

2017 604 475 551 551 2,181

2018 516 516 514 467 2,013

2019 410 574 984

*Data are for brewers’ and distillers’ dregs and waste, of which Distillers’ Dried Grains with Soluble is a principal component. 

Source: USDA, Economic Research Service (ERS), Feed grains database
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Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

US$/metric ton

Vessel capacity 

(metric ton) 1st qtr 2011 2nd qtr 2011 3rd qtr 2011 4th qtr 2011 Average

25,000 21.71 21.13 21.96 23.29 22.02

35-40,000 18.75 18.86 19.89 21.21 19.68

Vessel capacity 

(metric ton) 1st qtr 2012 2nd qtr 2012 3rd qtr 2012 4th qtr 2012 Average

25,000 20.28 20.79 20.68 18.73 20.12

35-40,000 18.37 18.62 18.53 16.73 18.06

Vessel capacity 

(metric ton) 1st qtr 2013 2nd qtr 2013 3rd qtr 2013 4th qtr 2013 Average

25,000 20.19 19.59 20.47 20.01 20.07

35-40,000 17.89 17.58 17.85 17.13 17.61

Vessel capacity 

(metric ton) 1st qtr 2014 2nd qtr 2014 3rd qtr 2014 4th qtr 2014 Average

25,000 20.08 17.48 15.75 16.32 17.41

35-40,000 17.53 15.48 13.56 13.96 15.13

Vessel capacity 

(metric ton) 1st qtr 2015 2nd qtr 2015 3rd qtr 2015 4th qtr 2015 Average

25,000 13.67 14.23 14.59 13.95 14.11

35-40,000 11.63 11.89 12.85 12.12 12.12

Vessel capacity

(metric ton) 1st qtr 2016 2nd qtr 2016 3rd qtr 2016 4th qtr 2016 Average

25,000 12.34 13.47 15.00 14.85 13.92

35-40,000 10.44 11.65 13.20 13.26 12.14

Vessel capacity 

(metric ton) 1st qtr 2017 2nd qtr 2017 3rd qtr 2017 4th qtr 2017 Average

25,000 16.03 14.85 15.16 16.69 15.68

35-40,000 14.27 12.95 12.98 14.26 13.62

Vessel capacity

 (metric ton) 1st qtr 2018 2nd qtr 2018 3rd qtr 2018 4th qtr 2018 Average

25,000 16.11 16.20 16.68 17.94 16.73

35-40,000 13.97 14.07 14.68 15.63 14.59

Vessel capacity

(metric ton) 1st qtr 2019 2nd qtr 2019 3rd qtr 2019 4th qtr 2019 Average

25,000 16.37 16.65 16.51

35-40,000 13.89 14.01 13.95

Source: O’Neil Commodity Consulting

Table 5. Quarterly ocean freight rate for bulk grain shipments 

from the U.S. Gulf to Veracruz, Mexico
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Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

Fruit and Veget

Table 6. Fruit and vegetable truck rates for shipments between 501 to 1,500 miles crossing 

the U.S.-Mexico border 

US$/mile

Origin/border crossing 1st qtr 2011 2nd qtr 2011 3rd qtr 2011 4th qtr 2011 Average

Nogales, Arizona 1.87 2.38 1.85 1.80 1.97

Pharr, Texas 1.84 2.12 1.77 1.87 1.90

Origin/border crossing 1st qtr 2012 2nd qtr 2012 3rd qtr 2012 4th qtr 2012 Average

Nogales, Arizona 2.00 2.57 1.84 1.92 2.08

Pharr, Texas 1.97 2.26 1.89 2.09 2.05

Origin/border crossing 1st qtr 2013 2nd qtr 2013 3rd qtr 2013 4th qtr 2013 Average

Nogales, Arizona 2.34 2.59 1.63 2.33 2.22

Pharr, Texas 2.15 2.33 2.02 2.01 2.13

Origin/border crossing 1st qtr 2014 2nd qtr 2014 3rd qtr 2014 4th qtr 2014 Average

Nogales, Arizona 2.46 2.69 1.74 2.31 2.30

Pharr, Texas 2.32 2.53 2.12 2.13 2.28

Origin/border crossing 1st qtr 2015 2nd qtr 2015 3rd qtr 2015 4th qtr 2015 Average

Nogales, Arizona 2.41 2.49 2.71 2.51 2.53

Pharr, Texas 2.26 2.23 2.50 2.27 2.32

Origin/border crossing 1st qtr 2016 2nd qtr 2016 3rd qtr 2016 4th qtr 2016 Average

Nogales, Arizona 2.31 2.43 2.53 2.65 2.48

Pharr, Texas 2.98 2.17 2.24 2.34 2.43

Origin/border crossing 1st qtr 2017 2nd qtr 2017 3rd qtr 2017 4th qtr 2017 Average

Nogales, Arizona 2.05 2.32 2.45 2.38 2.30

Pharr, Texas 2.16 2.21 2.00 2.36 2.18

Origin/border crossing 1st qtr 2018 2nd qtr 2018 3rd qtr 2018 4th qtr 2018 Average

Nogales, Arizona 2.92 3.21 2.75 2.47 2.84

Pharr, Texas 2.95 3.13 2.27 2.34 2.67

Origin/border crossing 1st qtr 2019 2nd qtr 2019 3rd qtr 2019 4th qtr 2019 Average

Nogales, Arizona 2.52 2.7 2.61

Pharr, Texas 2.45 2.28 2.36

Source: USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Specialty Crops Program, Market News Division
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Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

Table 7. Quarterly U.S.-Mexico border crossing fresh fruit and vegetables truck availability

2nd quarter 2019

Legend: 1 =Surplus 2 = Slight surplus 3 = Adequate 4 = Slight shortage 5 = Shortage

Truck availability

Mexico border crossings/month April May June

Week ending 4/2 4/9 4/16 4/23 4/30 5/7 5/14 5/21 5/28 6/4 6/11 6/18 6/25

Through 

Nogales, AZ

Tomatoes, Squash, 

Cucumbers, 

Mangoes, Honeydew, 

Watermelons, Mixed 

Fruits, Vegetables

2 2 3 3 3 3 2 3 2 4 5 3 2

Through TX

Vegetables, Limes, 

Mangoes, Onions, 

Tomatoes, Broccoli, 

Mixed Fruits

2 2 2 3 3 3 1 1 1 4 3 3 3

Source: USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS),Specialty Crop Program, Market News Division, Fruit and Vegetable Truck Rate Report

Table 8. Top ten commodities shipped by truck to the U.S. from Mexico, 2019 (10,000 lbs)

Commodity 2nd qtr 2019 Rank

Watermelons, Seedless 366 1

Tomatoes, Plum Type 214 2

Avocados 206 3

Grapes 199 4

Cucumbers 195 5

Mangoes 179 6

Tomatoes 164 7

Limes 163 8

Peppers, Other 135 9

Squash 127 10

Source: USDA, AMS, Specialty Crops Program, Market News Division
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Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

Table 9. Top five commodities shipped by truck to the U.S. from Mexico (10,000 lbs)

Commodity 1st qtr 2012 2nd qtr 2012 3rd qtr 2012 4th qtr 2012 Total 2012

Tomatoes (all varieties) 99,264 69,282 41,120 57,099 266,765

Peppers (all varieties) 56,506 33,399 25,990 33,073 148,968

Cucumbers 42,668 25,798 11,919 30,383 110,768

Onions (dry and green) 29,949 20,020 8,122 8,744 66,835

Squash 26,776 16,033 3,401 19,556 65,766

Subtotal 255,163 164,532 90,552 148,855 659,102

Other 200,550 256,945 122,889 190,616 771,000

Total 455,713 421,477 213,441 339,471 1,430,102

Commodity 1st qtr 2013 2nd qtr 2013 3rd qtr 2013 4th qtr 2013 Total 2013

Tomatoes (all varieties) 88,753 75,505 43,373 52,154 259,785

Peppers (all varieties) 55,952 35,111 27,341 51,481 169,885

Avocados 38,933 26,387 15,049 30,766 111,135

Cucumbers 38,877 30,555 11,592 31,523 112,547

Onions (dry and green) 24,818 22,138 7,584 8,070 62,610

Subtotal 247,333 189,696 104,939 173,994 715,962

Other 206,944 271,688 126,051 168,680 773,363

Total 454,277 461,384 230,990 342,674 1,489,325

Commodity 1st qtr 2014 2nd qtr 2014 3rd qtr 2014 4th qtr 2014 Total 2014

Tomatoes (all varieties) 102,175 77,596 40,598 56,783 277,152

Peppers (all varieties) 62,356 33,083 27,349 48,167 170,955

Cucumbers 47,565 30,978 12,150 35,905 126,598

Avocados 37,085 26,363 26,044 39,140 128,632

Squash 29,622 16,334 3,814 22,495 72,265

Subtotal 278,803 184,354 109,955 202,490 775,602

Other 214,020 306,544 126,219 160,627 807,410

Total 492,823 490,898 236,174 363,117 1,583,012

Source: Data is obtained from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) through USDA, AMS, 

Market News

Commodity 1st qtr 2015 2nd qtr 2015 3rd qtr 2015 4th qtr 2015 Total 2015

Tomatoes (all varieties) 99,053 73,537 42,002 61,571 276,163

Peppers (all varieties) 61,334 34,579 28,060 46,690 170,663

Cucumbers 50,114 34,601 14,335 35,947 134,997

Avocados 44,510 37,667 39,582 49,063 170,822

Squash 29,026 18,088 3,527 23,863 74,504

Subtotal 284,037 198,472 127,506 217,134 827,149

Other 225,053 334,134 130,249 179,649 869,085

Total 509,090 532,606 257,755 396,783 1,696,234
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Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

Commodity 1st qtr 2016 2nd qtr 2016 3rd qtr 2016 4th qtr 2016 Total 2016

Tomatoes (all varieties) 122,571 105,099 49,289 66,534 343,493

Peppers (all varieties) 57,984 46,626 33,631 65,270 203,511

Cucumbers 45,829 37,791 14,670 39,803 138,093

Avocados 57,605 40,197 34,993 40,457 173,252

Squash 31,051 26,672 5,322 30,711 93,756

Subtotal 315,040 256,385 137,905 242,775 952,105

Other 242,834 350,555 162,307 204,561 960,257

Total 557,874 606,940 300,212 447,336 1,912,362

Commodity 1st qtr 2017 2nd qtr 2017 3rd qtr 2017 4th qtr 2017 Total 2017

Tomatoes (all varieties) 107,194 82,449 48,893 73,581 312,117

Peppers (all varieties) 67,337 38,757 30,928 59,131 196,153

Cucumbers 47,202 32,892 16,021 44,297 140,412

Avocados 49,557 36,996 31,683 47,011 165,247

Squash 31,937 20,737 5,099 33,126 90,899

Subtotal 303,227 211,831 132,624 257,146 904,828

Other 289,814 339,353 170,127 206,746 1,006,040

Total 593,041 551,184 302,751 463,892 1,910,868

Source: Data is obtained from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) through USDA, AMS, 

Market News

Commodity 1st qtr 2018 2nd qtr 2018 3rd qtr 2018 4th qtr 2018 Total 2018

Tomatoes (all varieties) 105,274 80,008 49,400 62,553 297,235

Peppers (all varieties) 73,682 46,268 35,266 57,763 212,979

Cucumbers 44,297 36,450 36,046 50,126 190,506

Avocados 47,011 49,914 14,131 43,301 145,721

Squash 33,126 22,075 6,150 27,782 137,900

Subtotal 303,390 234,715 140,993 241,525 984,341

Other 304,695 335,630 156,881 205,849 939,337

Total 608,085 570,345 297,874 447,374 1,923,678

Commodity 1st qtr 2019 2nd qtr 2019 3rd qtr 2019 4th qtr 2019 Total 2019

Tomatoes (all varieties) 98,631 81,296 179,927

Peppers (all varieties) 68,655 50,059 118,714

Cucumbers 66,751 88,960 114,717

Avocados 50,934 41,293 10,044

Squash 36,760 39,066 90,000

Subtotal 321,731 300,674 61,1402

Other 284,125 310,400 605,528

Total 605,856 611,074 1,216,930
13

Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

Preferred Citation:

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service. Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Reports.

October 2019. Web. <http://dx.doi.org/10.9752/TS054.11-2019>

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Related Websites:

• U.S. Grain and Soybean Exports to Mexico — A Modal Share Transportation Analysis (PDF)

• Grain Transportation Report

• Agricultural Refrigerated Truck Quarterly

Data Sets (all XLS files):

• Figure 1: Water route shipment costs ($/mt) to Veracruz, Mexico 

• Figure 2: Land route shipment costs ($/mt) to Guadalajara, Mexico

• Table 1: Quarterly costs of transporting U.S. grain and soybeans to Mexico, 2019

• Table 2: Quarterly tariff rail rates for U.S. bulk grain shipments to Mexico (US$/car), 2019

• Table 3: Quarterly tariff rail rates plus fuel surcharge for U.S. bulk grain shipments to Mexico, 2019

• Table 4: Quarterly exports of U.S. Distillers’ Dried Grains with Soluble (DDGS) to Mexico

• Table 5: Quarterly ocean freight rate for bulk shipments from the U.S. Gulf to Veracruz, Mexico

• Table 6: Fruit and vegetable truck rates for shipments between 501 and 1,500 miles crossing the U.S.-

Mexico border

• Table 7: Quarterly U.S.-Mexico border crossing fresh fruit and vegetables truck availability

• Table 8: Top ten commodities shipped by truck to the U.S. from Mexico, 2019 (10,000 lbs)

• Table 9: Top five commodities shipped by truck to the U.S. from Mexico (10,000 lbs)