1

Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

a quarterly publication of the Agricultural Marketing Service

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

Summary: What Happened

Landed Costs of Grain to Mexico Fell in Second Quarter 2023

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 (corn, soybeans, and wheat) 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 first quarter 2023 to second quarter 2023 (quarter to quarter), total 

transportation costs fell for waterborne corn and soybeans (because of lower barge rates), but rose for waterborne 

wheat.1 Barge rates fell in response to low demand for barges, caused by slow export sales (Grain Transportation 

Report, July 20, 2023). 

For U.S. corn, soybeans, and wheat shipped by the land routes, total transportation costs fell. Land-route shipping 

costs decreased with falling rail rates (public tariff, plus fuel surcharge). Rail rates fell in response to the drop in fuel 

surcharges, amid lower fuel prices.

Year-to-year transportation costs. From second quarter 2022 to second quarter 2023 (year to year), water-route 

costs of shipping all grain to Mexico fell, because of lower truck, barge, and ocean freight rates. A combination 

of falling truck rates and rising rail rates produced varied costs for land-route shipments. The land-route costs of 

shipping rose slightly for corn, while falling slightly for soybeans and wheat. 

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

routes. For waterborne corn and soybeans, landed costs dropped because of declines in transportation costs and 

farm values. For waterborne wheat, the dip in landed costs reflected only falling farm values. For all grain shipped 

by the land routes, landed costs fell because of drops in both transportation costs and farm values (table 1 and figs. 

1 and 2).

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

Second Quarter 2023

(April, May, June)

Published October 2023

Contact Informati

Surajudeen Olowolayemo, Coordinator/

Ocean Bulk Shipments

Jesse Gastelle, Rail/Fruit and

Vegetables Analyst

Alexis Heyman, Fruit and 

Vegetables Analyst
Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

The share of landed costs comprising transportation ranged from 9 percent to 19 percent for the water routes and 

from 17 percent to 30 percent for the land routes. For waterborne corn and soybeans, transportation’s share of 

landed costs declined because of a significant drop in transportation costs. For waterborne wheat, falling farm 

values and an increase in transportation costs caused a marginal rise in transportation’s share of landed costs. 

For all grain shipped by land routes, transportation’s share of landed costs remained fairly stable, because falling 

transportation costs were mostly offset by declining farm values.

Year-to-year landed costs. Year to year, for all waterborne and land-route grain (except for land-route corn), landed 

costs fell, because of both lower transportation costs and lower farm values. In the case of land-route corn, lower 

farm values (but not transportation costs) pushed down landed costs. 

U.S. Exports to Mexico: According to USDA’s Federal Grain Inspection Service, in second quarter 2023, the United 

States exported to Mexico 3.67 million metric tons (mmt) of corn (down 6 percent quarter to quarter); 0.71 mmt of 

soybeans (down 42 percent quarter to quarter); and 0.70 mmt of wheat (down 12 percent quarter to quarter). Year 

to year, U.S. inspections destined to Mexico showed declines of 9 percent for corn, 45 percent for soybeans, and 22 

percent for wheat. 

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 $22.95 per mt. This was down 6 percent 

quarter to quarter, down 30 percent year to year, and down 6 percent from the prior-4-year average. The cost 

of shipping by the same route in 35,000-40,000 ton-capacity vessels averaged $18.45 per mt. This amounted 

to a 2-percent decrease quarter to quarter, 30-percent decrease year to year, and 3-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 second quarter 2023, 4.14 mmt of grain and oilseeds 

were exported to Mexico by land. Mostly shipped by rail, land-based exports to Mexico were down 22 percent 

quarter to quarter, down 5 percent year to year, and down 1 percent from the prior 3-year average. Fuel surcharges 

per railcar averaged $704, down 25 percent quarter to quarter and down 21 percent year to year, but up 64 percent 

from the 3-year average. 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 $8,003, unchanged from the prior quarter, but up 

2 percent quarter to quarter, and up 3 percent from the 3-year average. Estimated total rail transportation costs 

(tariff rates plus fuel surcharges) were down 3 percent quarter to quarter, unchanged year to year, and up 6 percent 

from the 3-year average.

Fruit and Vegetables

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

3.84 million tons, up 14 percent from year to year. The sum of the top five commodities increased by 177,000 tons, 

or 14 percent, from year to year. At 365,000 tons—up 5 percent year to year—seedless watermelons 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 $2.92 

per mile—up 2 percent quarter to quarter and down 15 percent year to year. For shipments crossing the TexasMexico border and traveling 501-1,500 miles, rates averaged $2.90 per mile—down 6 percent quarter to quarter 

and down 17 percent year to year. 

Diesel fuel prices for Texas-Mexico border crossings averaged $3.66 per gallon. Diesel fuel prices for Arizona-Mexico 

border crossings averaged $4.34 per gallon. The Texas-Mexico border crossing had surplus availability in April and 

slight surplus availability in May and June. The Arizona-Mexico border crossing had adequate availability in April and 

May and a slight shortage in June. 2
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 14.19 14.47 5.42 5.82 5.62

Rail1 - - - 105.98 104.90 105.44

Barge 30.28 17.24 23.76 - - -

Ocean2 18.75 19.14 18.95 - - -

Total transportation cost 63.78 50.57 57.18 111.40 110.72 111.06

Farm price3 257.99 254.32 256.16 266.00 261.01 263.51

Landed cost4 321.77 304.89 313.33 377.40 371.73 374.57

Transport % of landed cost 19.8 16.6 18.2 29.5 29.8 29.7

Soybeans

Origin IL NE

Truck 14.75 14.19 14.47 5.42 5.82 5.62

Rail1 - - - 105.21 104.07 104.64

Barge 30.28 17.24 23.76 - - -

Ocean2 18.75 19.14 18.95 - - -

Total transportation cost 63.78 50.57 57.18 110.63 109.89 110.26

Farm price3 543.81 536.46 540.14 546.26 520.54 533.40

Landed cost4 607.59 587.03 597.31 656.89 630.43 643.66

Transport % of landed cost 10.5 8.6 9.6 16.8 17.4 17.1

Wheat

Origin KS KS

Truck 5.42 5.82 5.62 5.42 5.82 5.62

Rail1 45.58 45.55 45.57 87.53 87.00 87.27

Ocean2 18.75 19.14 18.95 - - -

Total transportation cost 69.75 70.51 70.13 92.95 92.82 92.89

Farm price3 309.99 304.48 307.24 309.99 304.48 307.24

Landed cost4 379.74 374.99 377.37 402.94 397.30 400.12

Transport % of landed cost 18.4 18.8 18.6 23.1 23.4 23.2

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

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

Barge

$17.24

Rail

$45.55

Ocean

$19.14

Ocean

$19.14

Truck

$14.19 Truck

Farm value $5.82

$254.32

Farm value

$536.46

Farm value

$304.48

0.00

100.00

200.00

300.00

400.00

500.00

600.00

700.00

IL: Corn IL: Soybean KS: Wheat

Total=$304.89

Total=$374.99

Total=$587.03

Rail

$104.90

Rail

$104.07

Rail

87.00

Farm value

$261.01

Farm value

$520.54

Farm value

$304.48

0.00

100.00

200.00

300.00

400.00

500.00

600.00

700.00

IA: Corn NE: Soybean KS: Wheat

Total=$630.43

Total=$397.30

Total=$371.73

Truck

$5.82 Truck

$5.82

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 7,658 7,674 7,666 654 413 533

 OK Cuautitlan, EM 6,863 6,877 6,870 785 553 669

 KS Guadalajara, JA 7,578 7,593 7,586 1,338 1,137 1,238

 TX Salinas Victoria, NL 4,397 4,406 4,401 338 248 293

Corn

 IA Guadalajara, JA 9,380 9,380 9,380 1,373 1,118 1,246

 SD Celaya, GJ 8,553 8,553 8,553 856 540 698

 NE Queretaro, QA 8,576 8,576 8,576 1,085 804 944

 SD Salinas Victoria, NL 7,116 7,116 7,116 650 410 530

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

 SD Torreon, CU 8,064 8,064 8,064 717 452 584

Soybeans

 MO Bojay (Tula), HG 8,747 8,747 8,747 1,233 1,012 1,123

 NE Guadalajara, JA 9,314 9,314 9,314 1,342 1,088 1,215

 IA El Castillo, JA 8,203 8,203 8,203 942 761 851

 KS Torreon, CU 9,621 9,621 9,621 850 537 694

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.
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

Tariff1,2 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 83.77 2.31 2.25 2.28

 OK Cuautitlan, EM 78.15 75.92 77.03 2.13 2.07 2.10

 KS Guadalajara, JA 91.10 89.21 90.15 2.48 2.43 2.45

 TX Salinas Victoria, NL 48.37 47.55 47.96 1.23 1.21 1.22

Corn

 IA Guadalajara, JA 109.87 107.26 108.57 2.79 2.72 2.76

 SD Celaya, GJ 96.14 92.91 94.53 2.44 2.36 2.40

 NE Queretaro, QA 98.72 95.84 97.28 2.51 2.43 2.47

 SD Salinas Victoria, NL 79.35 76.90 78.13 2.02 1.95 1.98

 MO Tlalnepantla, EM 91.75 88.94 90.34 2.33 2.26 2.29

 SD Torreon, CU 89.71 87.01 88.36 2.28 2.21 2.24

Soybeans

 MO Bojay (Tula), HG 101.98 99.72 100.85 2.78 2.71 2.74

 NE Guadalajara, JA 108.88 106.29 107.59 2.96 2.89 2.93

 IA El Castillo, JA 93.44 91.59 92.52 2.54 2.49 2.52

 KS Torreon, CU 106.99 103.79 105.39 2.91 2.82 2.87

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 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

*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 20.95 21.67

35-40,000 18.75 18.45 18.60

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 2.92 2.89

Pharr, Texas 3.1 2.9 3

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

2nd quarter 2023

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

Truck availability

Mexico border crossings/month April May June

Week ending 4/4 4/11 4/18 4/25 5/2 5/9 5/16 5/23 5/30 6/6 6/13 6/20 6/27

Through 

Nogales, AZ

Cantalopes, Squash, 

Cucumbers, 

Mangoes, Honeydew, 

Watermelons 

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

Through TX

Oranges, Grapefruit, 

Limes, Mangoes, 

Papaya, Peppers, 

Cucumbers, Vegetables

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 3 2 2 2 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 2nd qtr 2023 Rank

Watermelons, seedless 365 1

Avocados 324 2

Cucumbers 266 3

Tomatoes, plum type 264 4

Tomatoes 197 5

Mangoes 193 6

Grapes 190 7

Limes 186 8

Peppers, bell type 182 9

Peppers, other 141 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) 114,171 105,170 . . 219,341

Peppers (all varieties) 80,619 64,589 . . 145,208

Avocados 75,768 64,800 . . 140,568

Cucumbers 62.605 53,187 . . 115,792

Squash 35,477 74,173 . . 108,246

Subtotal 368,640 361,919 . . 729,155

Other 366,744 406,507 . . 774,655

Total 735,384 768,426 . . 1,503,810

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.

October 2023. Web. <http://dx.doi.org/10.9752/TS054.10-2023>

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

• Figure 2: Second-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)