1

Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

a quarterly publication of the Agricultural Marketing Service

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

Summary: What Happened

Transportation Costs to Mexico Rose From Third to Fourth Quarter 2023

Low transportation and landed costs for U.S.-Mexico routes are vital to the competitiveness of U.S. grain in 

Mexico (a top importer of U.S. grain) and globally. U.S. grain is transported to Mexico either by cross-border land 

movements or by sea movements to Mexican ports for inland distribution. This article examines the costs of 

transporting U.S. grain to Mexico over land to Guadalajara (land routes) and by sea to Veracruz (water routes), 

tracking changes over time (table 1). 

Quarter-to-quarter transportation costs. From third quarter 2023 to fourth quarter 2023 (quarter to quarter), total 

transportation costs increased for U.S. corn, soybeans, and wheat, shipped both by water and land routes.1 For 

both water and land routes, rising transportation costs reflected rising costs of all modes of transportation. Truck 

rates rose partly because of a strong demand for trucking and a slight increase in diesel prices. Barge rates rose 

because of continuing navigation challenges posed by the Mississippi River System’s low water levels

(GTR, October 19, 2023). However, barge rates did not rise as high as they had risen from third to fourth quarter 

2022. 

Rail rates (public tariff, plus fuel surcharge) rose partly because of an increase in fuel surcharges. Likewise, 

responding to higher demand for shipping bulk items such as iron ore, coal, and grain, ocean freight rates rose 

quarter to quarter. The drought-induced transit restrictions in the Panama Canal also drove ocean freight rates 

higher by rerouting vessels to the Suez Canal, which increased ton-miles (GTR, February 1, 2024).

Year-to-year transportation costs. From fourth quarter 2022 to fourth quarter 2023 (year to year), the total cost of 

shipping U.S. corn and soybeans to Mexico by all routes fell because of falling rail, barge, and ocean rates. However, 

by the water routes, the cost of shipping wheat to Mexico rose because of higher truck and rail tariff rates. The cost 

of shipping wheat by the land routes remained stable. 

1

 Water routes typically involve truck transportation to barge to oceangoing vessel, or truck to rail to oceangoing 

vessel.

Content

Summary: What Happened? 1

Quarterly Bulk Grain and 

Soybeans 6

Subscription Information 14

Related Websites 14

Data Sets 14

Fourth Quarter 2023

(October, November, December)

Published March 2024

Contact Informati

Surajudeen Olowolayemo, Coordinator/

Ocean Bulk Shipments

Jesse Gastelle, Rail/Fruit and

Vegetables Analyst

Alexis Heyman, Fruit and 

Vegetables Analyst

Austin Hunt, Rail Analyst
2

Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

Quarter-to-quarter landed costs. Quarter to quarter, landed costs fell for all grains shipped by the water and land 

routes. The lower landed costs reflected a decline in farm values that exceeded the increase in transportation 

costs (table 1 and figs. 1 and 2). The share of landed costs comprising transportation ranged from 12 percent to 25 

percent for the water routes and from 20 percent to 38 percent for the land routes.

Year-to-year landed costs. Year to year, landed costs decreased for both waterborne and land-route corn and 

soybeans, because of both lower transportation costs and lower farm values. For waterborne and land-route wheat, 

the decrease in farm values outweighed the increase in transportation costs, causing landed costs to fall. 

U.S. Inspections for Exports to Mexico: According to USDA’s Federal Grain Inspection Service, the United States 

inspected 4.7 million metric tons (mmt) of corn, 1.5 mmt of soybeans, and 0.7 mmt of wheat for export to Mexico 

in fourth quarter 2023. Quarter to quarter, U.S. inspections for export to Mexico were up 40 percent for corn and 

up 89 percent for soybeans, but down 25 percent for wheat. Year to year, U.S. inspections destined to Mexico rose 

64 percent for corn, fell 5 percent for soybeans, and rose 2 percent for wheat. Lower landed costs for corn and 

soybeans are consistent with quarter-to-quarter increases in corn and soybean shipments to Mexico. 

Ocean Freight Rates: Ocean freight rates for shipping bulk grains to Mexico rose quarter to quarter, fell year to 

year, and rose from the prior 4-year average. In the fourth quarter—via 25,000 ton-capacity vessels—the cost of 

shipping a metric ton (mt) of grain from the U.S. Gulf to Veracruz, Mexico, averaged $22.49 per mt. This was up 

6 percent quarter to quarter, down 8 percent year to year, and up 3 percent from the prior-4-year average. The 

cost of shipping by the same route in 35,000-40,000 ton-capacity vessels averaged $19.74 per mt. This amounted 

to a 7-percent increase quarter to quarter, 5-percent decrease year to year, and 4-percent increase from the 

4-year average. During the fourth quarter, ocean freight rates rose in response to a strong global demand for bulk 

shipments. 

Railroad: According to USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, in fourth quarter 2023, 5.18 mmt of grain and oilseeds 

were exported to Mexico by land. Exports by land to Mexico are overwhelmingly rail shipments. Land-based exports 

to Mexico were up 28 percent quarter to quarter and year to year, and up 25 percent from the prior-3-year average. 

Fuel surcharges per railcar averaged $806 (table 2), up 43 percent quarter to quarter and down 22 percent year to 

year, but up 67 percent from the prior-3-year average. 

Similar to the disruptions of September 2023, grain rail exports to Mexico were again disrupted in December 2023. 

On December 1, Ferromex (FXE), one of Mexico’s two railroads with interchanges to the United States, issued 

an embargo on all agricultural commodities shipped via rail at both Eagle Pass and El Paso, TX, border crossings. 

This initial embargo limited agricultural shipments through a permit system. FXE cited “immigrant situation in the 

network” as the reason for the embargo.

On December 17, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced it would suspend operations the next day 

(December 18) at the border crossings in Eagle Pass and El Paso, in order to redirect CBP personnel to assist with 

processing migrants at the U.S. southern border.2 Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway subsequently issued 

embargoes for border crossings at these locations. All rail traffic was suspended until CBP resumed rail traffic at El 

Paso and Eagle Pass on December 22.

At the end of 2021, the railroads started reporting only rates to the Mexico border, rather than reporting rates 

for full routes. Using the correlation between rail tariff rate changes for U.S. domestic shipments and Mexico 

shipments, estimated rail tariff rates per grain car in second quarter 2023 averaged $8,087, up 1 percent quarter 

to quarter, up 1 percent year to year, and up 3 percent from the prior-3-year average. Estimated total rail 

transportation costs (tariff rates plus fuel surcharges) were up 4 percent quarter to quarter and down 2 percent 

year to year, but up 6 percent from the prior-3-year average.

2

 U.S. Customs and Border Protection. “Statement from CBP on Suspension of Rail Operations in Eagle Pass and El 

Paso, Texas.” December 17, 2023. Accessed March 5, 2024: https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/national-media-release/statement-cbp-suspension-rail-operations-eagle-pass-and-el-paso.
3

Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

Fruit and Vegetables

In fourth quarter 2023, total reported shipments of fruits and vegetables by refrigerated truck from Mexico were 

2.66 million tons, down 6 percent from year to year. The sum of the top five commodities increased by 3,000 tons, 

less than a 1 percent increase from year to year. At 320,000 tons—up 1 percent year to year—avocados were the 

largest refrigerated-truck import from Mexico by volume. 

For shipments crossing the Arizona border from Mexico and traveling 501-1,500 miles, truck rates averaged $2.47 

per mile—down 6 percent quarter to quarter and down 16 percent year to year. For shipments crossing the TexasMexico border and traveling 501-1,500 miles, rates averaged $2.79 per mile—flat quarter to quarter and down 9 

percent year to year. 

Diesel fuel prices for Texas-Mexico border crossings averaged $3.92 per gallon. Diesel fuel prices for ArizonaMexico border crossings averaged $4.67 per gallon. The Texas-Mexico border crossing had surplus truck availability 

throughout the fourth quarter. The Arizona-Mexico border crossing had adequate truck availability in October and 

November, and had a slight shortage of trucks in December. 
4

Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

2023

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 14.75 14.19 14.75 16.75 15.11 5.42 5.82 5.82 6.34 5.85

Rail1 - - - - 105.98 104.90 105.99 109.98 108.28

Barge 30.28 17.24 26.60 27.06 25.30 - - - - -

Ocean2 18.75 19.14 18.48 19.74 19.03 - - - - -

Total transportation cost 63.78 50.57 59.83 63.55 59.43 111.40 110.72 111.81 116.32 114.13

Farm price3 257.99 254.32 220.07 187.79 230.04 266.00 261.01 227.28 191.72 236.50

Landed cost4 321.77 304.89 279.90 251.34 289.48 377.40 371.73 339.09 308.04 350.63

Transport % of landed cost 19.8 16.6 21.4 25.3 20.5 29.5 29.8 33.0 37.8 32.5

Soybeans

Origin IL NE

Truck 14.75 14.19 14.75 16.75 15.11 5.42 5.82 5.82 6.34 5.85

Rail1 - - - - 105.21 104.07 105.00 107.74 106.98

Barge 30.28 17.24 26.60 27.06 25.30 - - - - -

Ocean2 18.75 19.14 18.48 19.74 19.03 - - - - -

Total transportation cost 63.78 50.57 59.83 63.55 59.43 110.63 109.89 110.82 114.08 112.83

Farm price3 543.81 536.46 515.64 480.12 519.01 546.26 520.54 507.06 467.87 510.43

Landed cost4 607.59 587.03 575.47 543.67 578.44 656.89 630.43 617.88 581.95 623.26

Transport % of landed cost 10.5 8.6 10.4 11.7 10.3 16.8 17.4 17.9 19.6 18.1

Wheat

Origin KS KS

Truck 5.42 5.82 5.82 6.34 5.85 5.42 5.82 5.82 6.34 5.85

Rail1 45.58 45.55 46.86 47.92 46.48 87.53 87.00 88.73 91.40 90.23

Ocean2 18.75 19.14 18.48 19.74 19.03 - - - - -

Total transportation cost 69.75 70.51 71.16 74.00 71.36 92.95 92.82 94.55 97.74 96.08

Farm price3 309.99 304.48 279.62 231.36 281.36 309.99 304.48 279.62 231.36 281.36

Landed cost4 379.74 374.99 350.78 305.36 352.72 402.94 397.30 374.17 329.10 377.44

Transport % of landed cost 18.4 18.8 20.3 24.2 20.4 23.1 23.4 25.3 29.7 25.6

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.

Note: “-” indicates data not required or applicable. Total may not add exactly because of rounding.

Source: Compiled by the USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service.

Table 1. Quarterly costs of transporting U.S. grain and soybeans to Mexico
5

Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

Note: IL = Illinois; KS = Kansas.

Source: USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service.

Figure 1. Fourth-quarter 2023 water-route shipment costs ($/mt) to Veracruz, Mexico

Figure 2. Fourth-quarter 2023 land-route shipment costs ($/mt) to Guadalajara, Mexico

Barge

$27.06

Ocean

$19.74

Ocean

$19.74

Truck

$16.75 Truck

$6.34

Farm value

$187.79

Farm value

$480.12

Farm value

$231.36

0.00

100.00

200.00

300.00

400.00

500.00

600.00

IL: Corn IL: Soybean KS: Wheat

Total=$251.34

Total=$305.36

Total=$543.67

Rail

$47.92

Rail

$109.98

Rail

$107.74

Rail

$91.40

Farm value

$191.72

Farm value

$467.87

Farm value

$231.36

0.00

100.00

200.00

300.00

400.00

500.00

600.00

700.00

IA: Corn KS: Wheat

Total=$581.95

Total=$329.10 Total=$308.04

Truck

$6.34 Truck

$6.34

Note: IA = Iowa; NE = Nebraska; KS = Kansas.

Source: USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service. 
6

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), 2023

Commodity Origin 

State

Destination

Tariff rate/car1,3 Fuel surcharge per car2

1st 

qtr

2nd 

qtr

3rd 

qtr

4th 

qtr Avg

1st 

qtr

2nd 

qtr

3rd 

qtr

4th 

qtr Avg

Wheat

 MT Chihuahua, CI 7,658 7,674 7,753 7,777 7,715 654 413 252 504 456

 OK Cuautitlan, EM 6,863 6,877 6,948 6,970 6,915 785 553 404 643 596

 KS Guadalajara, JA 7,578 7,593 7,672 7,695 7,635 1,338 1,137 1,059 1,250 1,196

 TX Salinas Victoria, NL 4,397 4,406 4,451 4,465 4,430 338 248 192 283 265

Corn

 IA Guadalajara, JA 9,380 9,380 9,380 9,521 9,415 1,373 1,118 993 1,243 1,182

 SD Celaya, GJ 8,553 8,553 8,553 8,682 8,585 856 540 330 659 596

 NE Queretaro, QA 8,576 8,576 8,576 8,705 8,608 1,085 804 630 916 859

 SD Salinas Victoria, NL 7,116 7,116 7,116 7,223 7,142 650 410 251 501 453

 MO Tlalnepantla, EM 7,921 7,921 7,921 8,040 7,951 1,058 783 614 893 837

 SD Torreon, CU 8,064 8,064 8,064 8,185 8,094 717 452 276 552 499

Soybeans

 MO Bojay (Tula), HG 8,747 8,747 8,747 8,765 8,757 1,233 1,012 908 1,123 1,069

 NE Guadalajara, JA 9,314 9,314 9,314 9,332 9,324 1,342 1,088 962 1,212 1,151

 IA El Castillo, JA 8,203 8,203 8,203 8,219 8,212 942 761 669 847 805

 KS Torreon, CU 9,621 9,621 9,621 9,640 9,631 850 537 328 655 592

1

Rail tariff rates to Mexico are only estimated values. Due to tax changes in Mexico, all three Class I railroads that ship from the U.S. to 

Mexico (BNSF, Union Pacific, and Kansas City Southern) are only reporting rates to the border for interchange, called Rule 11 rates. Due to 

lack of data, Mexico tariff rate changes were estimated using the historical correlation between changes in US tariff rates (GTR Table 6) and 

Mexico tariff rates. The estimated total includes the estimated tariff through-rate for shuttle train service to Mexico and the reported fuel 

surcharge. The estimated rate does not include any additional costs for shuttle car service.

2

Corrections were made to previously reported rail fuel surcharge calcuations.

3

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.
7

Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

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

to Mexico, 2023

Commodity Origin 

State

Destination

Tariff1,2 plus fuel surcharge per:

US$/metric ton US$/bushel3

1st 

qtr

2nd 

qtr

3rd 

qtr

4th 

qtr Avg

1st 

qtr

2nd 

qtr

3rd 

qtr

4th 

qtr Avg

Wheat

 MT Chihuahua, CI 84.93 82.62 81.79 84.61 83.49 2.31 2.25 2.23 2.30 2.27

 OK Cuautitlan, EM 78.15 75.92 75.12 77.78 76.74 2.13 2.07 2.04 2.12 2.09

 KS Guadalajara, JA 91.10 89.21 89.21 91.40 90.23 2.48 2.43 2.43 2.49 2.46

 TX Salinas Victoria, NL 48.37 47.55 47.44 48.52 47.97 1.23 1.21 1.21 1.23 1.22

Corn

 IA Guadalajara, JA 109.87 107.26 105.99 109.98 108.28 2.79 2.72 2.69 2.79 2.75

 SD Celaya, GJ 96.14 92.91 90.76 95.44 93.81 2.44 2.36 2.31 2.42 2.38

 NE Queretaro, QA 98.72 95.84 94.06 98.30 96.73 2.51 2.43 2.39 2.50 2.46

 SD Salinas Victoria, NL 79.35 76.90 75.27 78.92 77.61 2.02 1.95 1.91 2.00 1.97

 MO Tlalnepantla, EM 91.75 88.94 87.21 91.27 89.79 2.33 2.26 2.22 2.32 2.28

 SD Torreon, CU 89.71 87.01 85.21 89.27 87.80 2.28 2.21 2.16 2.27 2.23

Soybeans

 MO Bojay (Tula), HG 101.98 99.72 98.65 101.03 100.40 2.78 2.71 2.68 2.75 2.73

 NE Guadalajara, JA 108.88 106.29 105.00 107.74 107.03 2.96 2.89 2.86 2.93 2.91

 IA El Castillo, JA 93.44 91.59 90.65 92.64 92.13 2.54 2.49 2.47 2.52 2.51

 KS Torreon, CU 106.99 103.79 101.65 105.19 104.46 2.91 2.82 2.77 2.86 2.84

1

Rail tariff rates to Mexico are only estimated values. Due to tax changes in Mexico, all three Class I railroads that ship from the U.S. to 

Mexico (BNSF, Union Pacific, and Kansas City Southern) are only reporting rates to the border for interchange, called Rule 11 rates. Due to 

lack of data, Mexico tariff rate changes were estimated using the historical correlation between changes in US tariff rates (GTR Table 6) and 

Mexico tariff rates. The estimated total includes the estimated tariff through-rate for shuttle train service to Mexico and the reported fuel 

surcharge. The estimated rate does not include any additional costs for shuttle car service.

2

Corrections were made to previously reported rail fuel surcharge calcuations.

3

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.
8

Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

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

Year

Thousand metric tons 

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

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 410 574 475 491 1,950

2020 526 344 396 476 1,742

2021 481 647 611 644 2,383

2022 584 513 604 530 2,231

2023 534 510 621 530 2,195

*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.
9

Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

US$/metric ton

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 18.27 17.98 17.32

35-40,000 13.89 14.01 15.50 15.23 14.66

Vessel capacity 

(metric ton) 1st qtr 2020 2nd qtr 2020 3rd qtr 2020 4th qtr 2020 Average

25,000 16.37 15.31 17.20 17.40 16.57

35-40,000 13.64 12.41 14.39 14.43 13.72

Vessel capacity

 (metric ton) 1st qtr 2021 2nd qtr 2021 3rd qtr 2021 4th qtr 2021 Average

25,000 22.56 27.14 30.33 27.66 26.92

35-40,000 19.19 23.75 27.68 25.23 23.96

Vessel capacity

(metric ton) 1st qtr 2022 2nd qtr 2022 3rd qtr 2022 4th qtr 2022 Average

25,000 25.81 30.00 27.12 24.42 26.84

35-40,000 22.51 26.27 23.33 20.73 23.21

Vessel capacity

(metric ton) 1st qtr 2023 2nd qtr 2023 3rd qtr 2023 4th qtr 2023 Average

25,000 22.39 22.53 21.19 22.49 22.15

35-40,000 18.75 19.14 18.48 19.74 19.03

Source: O’Neil Commodity Consulting.

Table 5. Quarterly ocean freight rate for bulk grain shipments 

from the U.S. Gulf to Veracruz, Mexico
10

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 2015 2nd qtr 2015 3rd qtr 2015 4th qtr 2015 Average

Nogales, Arizona 2.41 2.5 1.4 1.94 2.06

Pharr, Texas 2.26 2.24 1.93 1.97 2.1

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

Nogales, Arizona 2.14 2.19 1.27 1.76 1.84

Pharr, Texas 2.03 2.03 1.82 1.89 1.94

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

Nogales, Ari66zona 2.05 2.32 2.45 2.38 2.3

Pharr, Texas 2.19 2.21 2 2.36 2.19

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 2.52 2.21 2.49

Pharr, Texas 2.45 2.28 2.04 2.23 2.25

Origin/border crossing 1st qtr 2020 2nd qtr 2020 3rd qtr 2020 4th qtr 2020 Average

Nogales, Arizona 2.53 2.55 2.16 2.81 2.51

Pharr, Texas 2.49 2.25 2.35 2.88 2.49

Origin/border crossing 1st qtr 2021 2nd qtr 2021 3rd qtr 2021 4th qtr 2021 Average

Nogales, Arizona 3.16 3.9 2.1 3.28 3.11

Pharr, Texas 2.93 3.19 2.9 3.44 3.11

Origin/border crossing 1st qtr 2022 2nd qtr 2022 3rd qtr 2022 4th qtr 2022 Average

Nogales, Arizona 3.66 3.44 2.86 2.92 3.22

Pharr, Texas 3.77 3.5 3.01 3.08 3.34

Origin/border crossing 1st qtr 2023 2nd qtr 2023 3rd qtr 2023 4th qtr 2023 Average

Nogales, Arizona 2.87 2.92 2.62 2.47 2.72

Pharr, Texas 3.1 2.9 2.81 2.79 2.9

Source: USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Specialty Crops Program, Market News Division.
11

Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

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

4th quarter 2023

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

Truck availability

Mexico border crossings/month October November December

Week ending 10/3 10/10 10/17 10/24 10/31 11/7 11/14 11/21 11/28 12/5 12/12 12/19 12/26

Through 

Nogales, AZ

Cantalopes, Squash, 

Cucumbers, 

Mangoes, Honeydew, 

Watermelons 

3 NA 3 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 4

Through TX

Oranges, Grapefruit, 

Limes, Mangoes, 

Papaya, Peppers, 

Cucumbers, Vegetables

3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2

Note: NA = not available.

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, 2023

(1,000 metric tons)

Commodity 4th qtr 2023 Rank

Avocados 320 1

Cucumbers 217 2

Tomatoes, plum type 212 3

Watermelons, seedless 200 4

Tomatoes 173 5

Peppers, other 165 6

Limes 163 7

Squash 131 8

Peppers, bell type 115 9

Misc tropical 90 10

Source: USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Specialty Crops Program, Market News Division.
12

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 2016 2nd qtr 2016 3rd qtr 2016 4th qtr 2016 Total 201

Tomatoes (all varieties) 131,455 89,313 51,983 66,534 339,285

Peppers (all varieties) 61,450 40,970 33,631 65,270 201,321

Avocados 60,241 37,679 34,993 40,457 173,370

Watermelons 21,726 85,723 7,560 33,670 148,679

Cucumbers 48,999 32,842 14,670 39,803 136,314

Subtotal 323,871 286,527 142,837 245,734 998,969

Other 270,078 265,393 157,375 201,602 894,448

Total 593,949 551,920 300,212 447,336 1,893,417

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

Tomatoes (all varieties) 107,852 82,194 49,088 73,166 312,300

Peppers (all varieties) 67,566 38,714 31,137 59,172 196,589

Avocados 49,565 36,996 32,133 47,015 165,709

Cucumbers 47,336 32,892 16,064 44,415 140,707

Watermelons 31,890 68,086 5,264 33,293 138,533

Subtotal 304,209 258,882 133,686 257,061 953,838

Other 291,177 291,747 170,323 205,516 958,763

Total 595,386 550,629 304,009 462,577 1,912,601

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

Tomatoes (all varieties) 95,760 78,123 55,836 69,366 299,085

Peppers (all varieties) 65,865 45,479 38,006 56,847 206,197

Avocados 57,162 25,622 42,135 58,520 183,439

Cucumbers 24,868 88,165 11,138 30,506 154,677

Watermelons 48,614 34,729 18,919 41,334 143,596

Subtotal 292,269 272,118 166,034 256,573 986,994

Other 272,760 262,948 182,481 213,013 931,202

Total 565,029 535,066 348,515 469,586 1,918,196

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

Market News.

-continued on page 12-

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

Tomatoes (all varieties) 105,364 79,851 49,278 62,478 296,971

Avocados 74,252 46,390 35,103 57,726 213,471

Peppers 55,189 49,914 35,246 49,781 190,130

Watermelons 51,964 36,452 14,131 43,288 145,835

Cucumbers 28,829 75,429 6,062 27,782 138,102

Subtotal 315,598 288,036 139,820 241,055 984,509

Other 296,266 281,580 156,781 205,426 940,053

Total 611,864 569,616 296,601 446,481 1,924,562
13

Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

Commodity 1st qtr 2020 2nd qtr 2020 3rd qtr 2020 4th qtr 2020 Total 2020

Tomatoes (all varieties) 105,181 82,796 66,804 83,797 334,784

Peppers (all varieties) 72,764 47,080 39,078 60,235 217,633

Avocados 58,796 48,461 45,480 63,907 217,195

Cucumbers 51,075 71,858 12,878 47,328 154,587

Watermelons 33,236 3,6687 20,722 38,603 150,683

Subtotal 32,1052 28,6882 184,962 293,870 1,074,882

Other 287,121 304,600 191,721 241,370 1,028,093

Total 608,173 591,482 376,683 535,240 2,102,975

Commodity 1st qtr 2023 2nd qtr 2023 3rd qtr 2023 4th qtr 2023 Total 2023

Tomatoes (all varieties) 114,171 105,170 81,005 87,735 388,081

Peppers (all varieties) 80,619 64,589 38,182 64,021 246,738

Avocados 75,768 64,800 42,149 56,031 239,421

Cucumbers 62.605 53,187 33,333 43,433 192,558

Squash 35,477 74,173 12,111 41,186 161,543

Subtotal 368,640 361,919 206,780 292,406 1,228,341

Other 366,744 406,507 230,644 239,094 1,244,393

Total 735,384 768,426 437,424 531,500 2,472,734

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 2021 2nd qtr 2021 3rd qtr 2021 4th qtr 2021 Total 2021

Tomatoes (all varieties) 119,801 90,736 77,009 87,045 374,591

Peppers (all varieties) 85,890 57,801 42,944 67,413 254,048

Avocados 74,254 58,525 44,100 60,319 237,198

Cucumbers 54,355 81,417 31,188 51,131 184,903

Watermelons 38,041 48,229 14,332 34,991 15,607

Subtotal 372,341 336,708 209,573 300,899 1,208,347

Other 338,366 364,523 232,163 247,863 1,181,488

Total 710,707 701,231 441,736 548,762 2,389,835

Commodity 1st qtr 2022 2nd qtr 2022 3rd qtr 2022 4th qtr 2022 Total 2022

Tomatoes (all varieties) 107,847 94,495 84,287 92,668 379,297

Peppers (all varieties) 79,451 53,250 39,669 54,831 227,201

Avocados 58,684 39,754 43,174 63,620 205,232

Watermelons 55,289 48,494 30,653 45,636 180,072

Cucumbers 26,762 70,132 8,979 36,822 142,695

Subtotal 328,033 306,125 206,762 293,577 1,134,497

Other 345,147 366,998 234,550 271,000 1,217,695

Total 673,180 673,123 441,312 564,577 2,352,192
14

Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

Preferred Citation:

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

March 2024. Web. <http://dx.doi.org/10.9752/TS054.03-2024>

Photo Credit: USDA

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

For assistance with accessibility issues related to this document, please email sharonc.williams@usda.gov.

Subscription Information: 

Please sign up by entering your email address at the following link and selecting your preference to receive 

Transportation Research and Analysis:

https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAAMS/subscriber/new?topic_id=USDAAMS_177.

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: Fourth-quarter 2023 water-route shipment costs ($/mt) to Veracruz, Mexico 

• Figure 2: Fourth-quarter 2023 land-route shipment costs ($/mt) to Guadalajara, Mexico

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

• Table 2: Quarterly tariff rail rates for U.S. bulk grain shipments to Mexico (US$/car), 2023

• Table 3: Quarterly tariff rail rates plus fuel surcharge for U.S. bulk grain shipments to Mexico, 2023

• 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, 2023 (1,000 metric tons)

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