1

Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

a quarterly publication of the Agricultural Marketing Service

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

Summary: What Happened

Costs of Transporting Grain to Mexico Fell in First Quarter 2023

Because Mexico is a major importer of U.S. grain, low transportation and landed costs for U.S.-Mexico routes 

are vital to the competitiveness of U.S. grain in Mexico 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 fourth quarter 2022 to first quarter 2023 (quarter to quarter), 

total transportation costs decreased for grain (corn, soybeans, and wheat) shipped by all water and land routes. 

Falling transportation costs reflected lower truck, barge, rail (public tariff, plus fuel surcharge), and ocean freight 

rates.1 Lower-than-normal grain inspections and export sales softened demand for barges (Grain Transportation

Report (GTR), April 13, 2023). Additionally, by first quarter 2023, navigation conditions on the Mississippi River had 

improved since all-time low water levels were recorded in fourth quarter 2022 (GTR, January 26, 2023). All of these 

factors—soft barge demand and improved river-navigation conditions—led to a significant drop in barge rates. 

Truck rates fell partly because of a quarter-to-quarter drop in diesel fuel prices (GTR, May 4, 2023, fig. 13). Rail rates 

fell because of a decline in fuel surcharges. Ocean freight rates fell because of seasonally low shipping demand 

caused by various holidays around the world (GTR, May 4, 2023). 

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

shipping all grain—U.S. corn, soybeans, and wheat—to Mexico by the water routes fell because of lower truck, 

barge, and ocean freight rates. Total costs of shipping all grain to Mexico by the land routes rose mainly because of 

higher rail rates. 

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 5

Subscription Information 13

Related Websites 13

Data Sets 13

First Quarter 2023

(January, February, March)

Published July 2023

Contact Informati

Surajudeen Olowolayemo, Coordinator/

Ocean Bulk Shipments

Jesse Gastelle, Rail/Fruit and

Vegetables Analyst

April Taylor, Container Shipments/ Fruit 

and Vegetables Analyst
2

Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

Quarter-to-quarter landed costs. Quarter to quarter, landed costs fell for all grain shipped via the water routes 

and fell for wheat shipped by the land routes. Landed costs rose for corn and soybeans shipped over land. For 

seaborne corn and soybeans, the lower landed costs reflected a decrease in transportation costs that exceeded 

the increase in farm values (table 1 and figs. 1 and 2). For wheat shipped by the land and water routes, drops in 

both the transportation costs and farm values pushed down the landed costs. However, for corn and soybeans 

shipped by the land routes, higher landed costs reflected an increase in farm values that exceeded the decrease in 

transportation costs. The share of landed costs comprising transportation ranged from 10 percent to 20 percent for 

the water routes and from 18 percent to 31 percent for the land routes.

Year-to-year landed costs. Year to year, landed costs increased for all waterborne corn and soybeans, and all landroute grain. These rises reflected an increase in one or both landed-cost components—i.e., transportation costs and 

farm values. 

U.S. Exports to Mexico: According to USDA’s Federal Grain Inspection Service, Mexico imported 3.81 million metric 

tons (mmt) of U.S. corn, 1.37 mmt of U.S. soybeans, and 0.80 mmt of U.S. wheat in first quarter 2023. Quarter 

to quarter, U.S. inspections for export to Mexico increased 3 percent for corn, fell 15 percent for soybeans, and 

increased 2 percent for wheat. Year to year, U.S. inspections destined to Mexico were down 5 percent for corn, 

down 18 percent for wheat, and up 7 percent for soybeans. 

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

year, but rose from the 4-year average. In the first 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 $22.39 per mt. This was down 8 percent 

quarter to quarter, down 132 percent year to year, and up 10 percent from the prior-4-year average. The cost of 

shipping by the same route in 35,000-40,000 ton-capacity vessels averaged $18.75 per mt. This amounted to a 

10-percent decrease quarter to quarter, 17-percent decrease year to year, and 8-percent increase from the prior-4-

year average. During the first quarter, ocean freight rates fell in response to seasonally low shipping demand caused 

by various holidays around the world (GTR, May 4, 2023). 

Railroad: In first quarter 2023, railroads transported 52,112 carloads of grain and oilseeds to Mexico, up 30 percent 

quarter to quarter, up 20 percent year to year, and up 33 percent from the prior-3-year average. Fuel surcharges 

per railcar averaged $957, down 3 percent quarter to quarter, up 16 percent year to year, and up 190 percent from 

the prior-3-year average. At the end of 2022, the railroads started reporting only rates to the Mexico border, rather 

than reporting rates for full routes. Rail tariff rates per grain car in fourth quarter 2022 averaged $7,789. Because 

comparable data was not available, USDA analysis assumed rail tariff rates to be unchanged through first quarter 

2023. Based on this assumption, total rail transportation costs (tariff rates plus fuel surcharges) were up 2 percent 

year to year and rose 9 percent from the prior-3-year average.

Fruit and Vegetables

In first quarter 2023, total reported shipments of fruits and vegetables by refrigerated truck from Mexico were 3.68 

million tons, up 9 percent from year to year. The sum of the top five commodities increased by 144,000 tons, or 11 

percent, from year to year. At 379,000 tons—an increase of 29 percent from year to year—avocados accounted for 

the largest reported refrigerated-truck import from Mexico by volume. 

Truck rates for shipments crossing the Arizona border from Mexico and traveling 501-1,500 miles averaged $2.87 

per mile—down 2 percent quarter to quarter and down 22 percent year to year. Rates for shipments crossing the 

Texas-Mexico border and traveling 501-1,500 miles averaged $3.10 per mile—up 1 percent quarter to quarter and 

down 18 percent year to year. 

Diesel fuel prices for Texas-Mexico border crossings averaged $4.13 per gallon for the quarter. Diesel fuel prices 

for Arizona-Mexico border crossings averaged $4.65 per gallon. The Texas-Mexico border crossing had adequate 

availability in January and surplus availability in February and March. The Arizona-Mexico border crossing had 

adequate availability throughout the quarter. 
3

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 14.75 5.42 5.42

Rail1 - - 115.97 115.97

Barge 30.28 30.28 - -

Ocean2 18.75 18.75 - -

Total transportation cost 63.78 63.78 121.39 121.39

Farm price3 257.99 257.99 266.00 266.00

Landed cost4 321.77 321.77 387.39 387.39

Transport % of landed cost 19.8 19.8 31.3 31.3

Soybeans

Origin IL NE

Truck 14.75 14.75 5.42 5.42

Rail1 - - 116.07 116.07

Barge 30.28 30.28 - -

Ocean2 18.75 18.75 - -

Total transportation cost 63.78 63.78 121.49 121.49

Farm price3 543.81 543.81 546.26 546.26

Landed cost4 607.59 607.59 667.75 667.75

Transport % of landed cost 10.5 10.5 18.2 18.2

Wheat

Origin KS KS

Truck 5.42 5.42 5.42 5.42

Rail1 45.58 45.58 104.89 104.89

Ocean2 18.75 18.75 - -

Total transportation cost 69.75 69.75 110.31 110.31

Farm price3 309.99 309.99 309.99 309.99

Landed cost4 379.74 379.74 420.30 420.30

Transport % of landed cost 18.4 18.4 26.2 26.2

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
4

Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

Note: IL = Illinois; KS = Kansas.

Source: USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service.

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

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

Barge

$30.28

Rail

$45.58

Ocean

$18.75

Ocean

$18.75

Truck

$14.75 Truck

$5.42 Farm value

$257.99

Farm value

$543.81

Farm value

$309.99

0.00

100.00

200.00

300.00

400.00

500.00

600.00

700.00

IL: Corn IL: Soybean KS: Wheat

Total=$321.77

Total=$379.74

Total=$607.59

Rail

$115.97

Rail

$116.07

Rail

104.89

Farm value

$266.00

Farm value

$546.26

Farm value

$309.99

0.00

100.00

200.00

300.00

400.00

500.00

600.00

700.00

800.00

IA: Corn NE: Soybean KS: Wheat

Total=$667.75

Total=$420.30

Total=$387.39

Truck

$5.42 Truck

$5.42

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

Source: USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service. 
5

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 7,699 7,699 0 0

 OK Cuautitlan, EM 6,900 6,900 474 474

 KS Guadalajara, JA 7,619 7,619 2,647 2,647

 TX Salinas Victoria, NL 4,420 4,420 257 257

Corn

 IA Guadalajara, JA 9,102 9,102 2,248 2,248

 SD Celaya, GJ 8,300 8,300 0 0

 NE Queretaro, QA 8,322 8,322 769 769

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

 MO Tlalnepantla, EM 7,687 7,687 744 744

 SD Torreon, CU 7,825 7,825 0 0

Soybeans

 MO Bojay (Tula), HG 8,647 8,647 2,097 2,097

 NE Guadalajara, JA 9,207 9,207 2,153 2,153

 IA El Castillo, JA 9,510 9,510 0 0

 KS Torreon, CU 8,109 8,109 1,476 1,476

Sorghum

 NE Celaya, GJ 7,932 7,932 1,964 1,964

 KS Queretaro, QA 8,108 8,108 592 592

 NE Salinas Victoria, NL 6,713 6,713 475 475

 NE Torreon, CU 7,225 7,225 1,338 1,338

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.

3

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. Because comparable data were not available, it was assumed 

rail rates did not change from fourth quarter 2021 to first quarter 2022, but fuel surcharges were still updated.

Sources: www.bnsf.com; www.uprr.com; www.kcsouthern.com.
6

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

Tariff1,3 plus fuel surcharge per:

US$/metric ton US$/bushel2

1st 

qtr

2nd 

qtr

3rd 

qtr

4th 

qtr Avg

1st 

qtr

2nd 

qtr

3rd 

qtr

4th 

qtr Avg

Wheat

 MT Chihuahua, CI 78.67 78.67 2.14 2.14

 OK Cuautitlan, EM 75.34 75.34 2.05 2.05

 KS Guadalajara, JA 104.89 104.89 2.85 2.85

 TX Salinas Victoria, NL 47.79 47.79 1.30 1.30

Corn

 IA Guadalajara, JA 115.97 115.97 2.94 2.94

 SD Celaya, GJ 84.81 84.81 2.15 2.15

 NE Queretaro, QA 92.89 92.89 2.36 2.36

 SD Salinas Victoria, NL 70.55 70.55 1.79 1.79

 MO Tlalnepantla, EM 86.15 86.15 2.19 2.19

 SD Torreon, CU 79.95 79.95 2.03 2.03

Soybeans

 MO Bojay (Tula), HG 109.77 109.77 2.98 2.98

 NE Guadalajara, JA 116.07 116.07 3.16 3.16

 IA El Castillo, JA 97.17 97.17 2.64 2.64

 KS Torreon, CU 97.93 97.93 2.66 2.66

Sorghum

 NE Celaya, GJ 101.11 101.11 2.57 2.57

 KS Queretaro, QA 88.88 88.88 2.26 2.26

 NE Salinas Victoria, NL 73.44 73.44 1.86 1.86

 NE Torreon, CU 87.48 87.48 2.22 2.22

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.

3

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. Because comparable data were not available, it was assumed rail 

rates did not change from fourth quarter 2021 to first quarter 2022, but fuel surcharges were still updated.

Sources: www.bnsf.com; www.uprr.com; www.kcsouthern.com.
7

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

*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.
8

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 22.39

35-40,000 18.75 18.75

Source: O’Neil Commodity Consulting.

Table 5. Quarterly ocean freight rate for bulk grain shipments 

from the U.S. Gulf to Veracruz, Mexico
9

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 2.87

Pharr, Texas 3.1 3.1

Source: USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Specialty Crops Program, Market News Division.
10

Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

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

1st quarter 2023

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

Truck availability

Mexico border crossings/month January February March

Week ending 1/3 1/10 1/17 1/31 2/7 2/14 2/21 2/28 3/7 3/14 3/21 3/28

Through 

Nogales, AZ

Cantalopes, Squash, 

Cucumbers, 

Mangoes, Honeydew, 

Watermelons 

4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 2 3 4 2

Through TX

Oranges, Grapefruit, 

Limes, Mangoes, 

Papaya, Peppers, 

Cucumbers, Vegetables

3 3 3 3 NA 1 1 1 4 1 1 1

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 1st qtr 2023 Rank

Avocadoes 379 1

Cucumbers 313 2

Peppers, bell 270 3

Tomatoes, plum 256 4

Tomatoes 235 5

Squash 177 6

Watermelons, seedless 163 7

Limes 153 8

Strawberries 150 9

Peppers, other 133 10

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

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
12

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) 114,171 114,171

Peppers (all varieties) 80,619 80,619

Avocados 75,768 75,768

Cucumbers 62.605 62,605

Squash 35,477 35,477

Subtotal 368,640 368,640

Other 366,744 366,744

Total 735,384 735,384

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
13

Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

Preferred Citation:

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

July 2023. Web. <http://dx.doi.org/10.9752/TS054.07-2023>

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

• Figure 2: First-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)