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 and Landed Costs of Grain to Mexico in Third Quarter 2023

The competitiveness of U.S. grain exports to Mexico and elsewhere depends on low transportation and landed 

costs for U.S.-Mexico routes. Mexico—a long-time major U.S. grain importer (Grain Transportation Report (GTR), 

November 30, 2023, tables 13, 14, and 15)—receives U.S. grain either by cross-border land movements or by sea 

movements to Mexican ports for inland distribution. This article tracks, over time, the costs of transporting U.S. 

grain to Mexico over land to Guadalajara (land routes) and by sea to Veracruz (water routes) (table 1). 

Quarter-to-quarter transportation costs. Reflecting rising truck, barge and rail rates (public tariff, plus fuel 

surcharge), total costs to transport U.S. corn, soybeans, and wheat by the water routes increased from second 

quarter 2023 to third quarter 2023 (quarter to quarter).1 The rise in truck and barge rates more than offset falling 

ocean freight rates. Land-route shipping costs decreased, because of falling estimated rail rates to Mexico. For most 

of the third quarter, low water levels in the Mississippi River triggered stringent restrictions on draft and tow sizes 

on various sections of the river. The resulting diminished barge supply, as well as the beginning of harvest in lateAugust, led to the rise in barge rates (GTR, October 5, 2023). Ocean freight rates fell, responding to below-normal 

export sales from the United States and weak demand for shipping bulk items globally (GTR, October 26, 2023). 

Year-to-year transportation costs. From third quarter 2022 to third 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 rail, truck, 

and barge rates. Likewise, by the land routes, total costs of shipping all grain to Mexico fell because of lower truck 

and rail tariff rates. 

Quarter-to-quarter landed costs. Quarter to quarter, landed costs to Mexico via the water and land routes fell 

for all grain shipped from the United States. Decreased landed costs mainly reflected lower farm values for grain 

shipped via the water routes (table 1, figs. 1 and 2). Falling farm values and transportation costs pushed down corn, 

soybean, and wheat landed costs for the land route. The share of landed costs comprising transportation ranged 

from 10 percent to 21 percent for the water routes and from 18 percent to 33 percent for the land routes (see table

1).

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

Third Quarter 2023

(July, August, September)

Published December 2023

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
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Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

Year-to-year landed costs. Year to year, landed costs decreased for both water- and land-route grains, because of 

both lower transportation costs and lower farm values. 

U.S. Exports to Mexico: According to USDA’s Federal Grain Inspection Service, the United States exported 3.34 

million metric tons (mmt) of corn, 0.81 mmt of soybeans, and 0.86 mmt of wheat to Mexico in third quarter 2023. 

Quarter to quarter, U.S. inspections for export to Mexico were down 9 percent for corn, up 15 percent for soybeans, 

and up 23 percent for wheat. Year to year, U.S. inspections destined to Mexico rose 4 percent for corn, fell 36 

percent for soybeans, and fell 30 percent for wheat. According to the November World Agriculture Supply and 

Demand Estimate report , Mexico is projected to import 18.8 mmt of corn and 6.4 mmt of soybeans in marketing 

year (MY) 2023/24. 

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

and from the prior 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 $21.19 per mt. This was down 6 percent 

quarter to quarter, down 22 percent year to year, and down 9 percent from the prior-4-year average. The cost 

of shipping by the same route in 35,000-40,000 ton-capacity vessels averaged $18.48 per mt. This amounted 

to a 3-percent decrease quarter to quarter, 21-percent decrease year to year, and 9-percent decrease from the 

4-year average. During the second quarter, ocean freight rates fell in response to a weak global demand for bulk 

shipments. 

Railroad: According to USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, in third quarter 2023, 3.45 mmt of grain and oilseeds 

were exported to Mexico by land. Nearly all exports to Mexico by land are shipped by rail. Land-based exports to 

Mexico were unchanged quarter to quarter and year to year, but down 2 percent from the prior-3-year average. 

At the end of the quarter, grain rail exports to Mexico were briefly disrupted. On September 19, Ferromex (FXE), 

one of Mexico’s two railroads with interchanges to the United States, announced it had temporarily suspended 60 

trains on northbound routes out of concern for migrant safety. FXE also reported that the number of migrants on 

railcars and in rail yards throughout Mexico exceeded 4,000. On September 20, U.S. Customs and Border Protection 

(CBP) announced it had suspended processing operations for vehicles, trucks, and trains in Eagle Pass, TX, to 

redirect CBP personnel to assist with processing migrants.2 Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway subsequently 

issued embargoes for border crossings at Eagle Pass. All rail traffic was suspended until CBP resumed rail traffic at 

Eagle Pass on September 23.

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 $8,011, unchanged from the 

prior quarter, but up 2 percent quarter to quarter, and up 3 percent from the prior-3-year average. Fuel surcharges 

per railcar averaged $562 (table 2), down 20 percent quarter to quarter, down 54 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 down 2 percent quarter to quarter, down 6 percent year to year, and up 3 percent from the prior-3-year 

average.

Fruit and Vegetables

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

2.19 million tons, down 1 percent from year to year. The sum of the top five commodities decreased by 13,000 

tons, or 1 percent, from year to year. At 211,000 tons—down 2 percent year to year—avocados were the largest 

refrigerated-truck import from Mexico by volume. 

2

 U.S. Customs and Border Protection. “Statement from CBP on Operations in Eagle Pass, Texas.”

September 20, 2023. Accessed December 11, 2023: https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/speeches-and-statements/

statement-cbp-operations-eagle-pass-texas.
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Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

For shipments crossing the Arizona border from Mexico and traveling 501-1,500 miles, truck rates averaged $2.62 

per mile—down 10 percent quarter to quarter and down 8 percent year to year. For shipments crossing the TexasMexico border and traveling 501-1,500 miles, rates averaged $2.81 per mile—down 3 percent quarter to quarter 

and down 7 percent year to year. 

Diesel fuel prices for Texas-Mexico border crossings averaged $4.01 per gallon. Diesel fuel prices for Arizona-Mexico 

border crossings averaged $4.77 per gallon. The Texas-Mexico border crossing had surplus availability throughout 

the third quarter. The Arizona-Mexico border crossing had adequate availability throughout the third quarter. 
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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 14.56 5.42 5.82 5.82 5.69

Rail1 - - - - 105.98 104.90 105.99 107.71

Barge 30.28 17.24 26.60 24.71 - - - -

Ocean2 18.75 19.14 18.48 18.79 - - - -

Total transportation cost 63.78 50.57 59.83 58.06 111.40 110.72 111.81 113.39

Farm price3 257.99 254.32 220.07 244.13 266.00 261.01 227.28 251.43

Landed cost4 321.77 304.89 279.90 302.19 377.40 371.73 339.09 364.82

Transport % of landed cost 19.8 16.6 21.4 19.2 29.5 29.8 33.0 31.1

Soybeans

Origin IL NE

Truck 14.75 14.19 14.75 14.56 5.42 5.82 5.82 5.69

Rail1 - - - - 105.21 104.07 105.00 106.72

Barge 30.28 17.24 26.60 24.71 - - - -

Ocean2 18.75 19.14 18.48 18.79 - - - -

Total transportation cost 63.78 50.57 59.83 58.06 110.63 109.89 110.82 112.41

Farm price3 543.81 536.46 515.64 531.97 546.26 520.54 507.06 524.62

Landed cost4 607.59 587.03 575.47 590.03 656.89 630.43 617.88 637.03

Transport % of landed cost 10.5 8.6 10.4 9.8 16.8 17.4 17.9 17.7

Wheat

Origin KS KS

Truck 5.42 5.82 5.82 5.69 5.42 5.82 5.82 5.69

Rail1 45.58 45.55 46.86 46.00 87.53 87.00 88.73 89.68

Ocean2 18.75 19.14 18.48 18.79 - - - -

Total transportation cost 69.75 70.51 71.16 70.47 92.95 92.82 94.55 95.37

Farm price3 309.99 304.48 279.62 298.03 309.99 304.48 279.62 298.03

Landed cost4 379.74 374.99 350.78 368.50 402.94 397.30 374.17 393.40

Transport % of landed cost 18.4 18.8 20.3 19.2 23.1 23.4 25.3 24.3

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
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Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

Note: IL = Illinois; KS = Kansas.

Source: USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service.

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

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

Barge

$26.60

Ocean

$18.48

Ocean

$18.48

Truck

$14.75 Truck

$5.82

Farm value

$220.07

Farm value

$515.64

Farm value

$279.62

0.00

100.00

200.00

300.00

400.00

500.00

600.00

700.00

IL: Corn IL: Soybean KS: Wheat

Total=$279.90

Total=$350.78

Total=$575.47

Rail

$46.86

Rail

$105.99

Rail

$105.00

Rail

$88.73

Farm value

$227.28

Farm value

$507.06

Farm value

$279.62

0.00

100.00

200.00

300.00

400.00

500.00

600.00

700.00

IA: Corn KS: Wheat

Total=$617.88

Total=$374.17 Total=$339.09

Truck

$5.82 Truck

$5.82

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

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), 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 7,705 7,679 654 413 252 440

 OK Cuautitlan, EM 6,863 6,877 6,906 6,882 785 553 404 581

 KS Guadalajara, JA 7,578 7,593 7,625 7,599 1,338 1,137 1,059 1,178

 TX Salinas Victoria, NL 4,397 4,406 4,424 4,409 338 248 192 259

Corn

 IA Guadalajara, JA 9,380 9,380 9,380 9,380 1,373 1,118 993 1,161

 SD Celaya, GJ 8,553 8,553 8,553 8,553 856 540 330 575

 NE Queretaro, QA 8,576 8,576 8,576 8,576 1,085 804 630 840

 SD Salinas Victoria, NL 7,116 7,116 7,116 7,116 650 410 251 437

 MO Tlalnepantla, EM 7,921 7,921 7,921 7,921 1,058 783 614 818

 SD Torreon, CU 8,064 8,064 8,064 8,064 717 452 276 482

Soybeans

 MO Bojay (Tula), HG 8,747 8,747 8,747 8,747 1,233 1,012 908 1,051

 NE Guadalajara, JA 9,314 9,314 9,314 9,314 1,342 1,088 962 1,131

 IA El Castillo, JA 8,203 8,203 8,203 8,203 942 761 669 790

 KS Torreon, CU 9,621 9,621 9,621 9,621 850 537 328 572

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.
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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, 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 81.30 82.95 2.31 2.25 2.21 2.26

 OK Cuautitlan, EM 78.15 75.92 74.69 76.25 2.13 2.07 2.03 2.08

 KS Guadalajara, JA 91.10 89.21 88.73 89.68 2.48 2.43 2.41 2.44

 TX Salinas Victoria, NL 48.37 47.55 47.16 47.70 1.23 1.21 1.20 1.21

Corn

 IA Guadalajara, JA 109.87 107.26 105.99 107.71 2.79 2.72 2.69 2.74

 SD Celaya, GJ 96.14 92.91 90.76 93.27 2.44 2.36 2.31 2.37

 NE Queretaro, QA 98.72 95.84 94.06 96.21 2.51 2.43 2.39 2.44

 SD Salinas Victoria, NL 79.35 76.90 75.27 77.17 2.02 1.95 1.91 1.96

 MO Tlalnepantla, EM 91.75 88.94 87.21 89.30 2.33 2.26 2.22 2.27

 SD Torreon, CU 89.71 87.01 85.21 87.31 2.28 2.21 2.16 2.22

Soybeans

 MO Bojay (Tula), HG 101.98 99.72 98.65 100.12 2.78 2.71 2.68 2.72

 NE Guadalajara, JA 108.88 106.29 105.00 106.72 2.96 2.89 2.86 2.90

 IA El Castillo, JA 93.44 91.59 90.65 91.89 2.54 2.49 2.47 2.50

 KS Torreon, CU 106.99 103.79 101.65 104.14 2.91 2.82 2.77 2.83

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.
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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

*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 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 22.04

35-40,000 18.75 19.14 18.48 18.79

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 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 2.8

Pharr, Texas 3.1 2.9 2.81 2.94

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

3rd quarter 2023

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

Truck availability

Mexico border crossings/month July August September

Week ending 7/4 7/11 7/18 7/25 8/1 8/8 8/15 8/22 8/29 9/5 9/12 9/19 9/26

Through 

Nogales, AZ

Cantalopes, Squash, 

Cucumbers, 

Mangoes, Honeydew, 

Watermelons 

3 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Through TX

Oranges, Grapefruit, 

Limes, Mangoes, 

Papaya, Peppers, 

Cucumbers, Vegetables

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 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 3rd qtr 2023 Rank

Avocados 211 1

Tomatoes, plum type 208 2

Limes 195 3

Mangoes 185 4

Cucumbers 167 5

Tomatoes 147 6

Peppers, other 117 7

Misc tropical 99 8

Peppers, bell type 74 9

Papaya 58 10

Source: USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service (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 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
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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 . 300,346

Peppers (all varieties) 80,619 64,589 38,182 . 183,390

Avocados 75,768 64,800 42,149 . 182,717

Cucumbers 62.605 53,187 33,333 . 149,125

Squash 35,477 74,173 12,111 . 120,357

Subtotal 368,640 361,919 206,780 . 935,935

Other 366,744 406,507 230,644 . 1,005,299

Total 735,384 768,426 437,424 . 1,941,234

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.

December 2023. Web. <http://dx.doi.org/10.9752/TS054.12-2023>

Photo Credit: USDA

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

• Figure 2: Third-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)