1

Tracking U.S. Grain, 

Oilseed and Related Product 

Exports in Mexico (Summary)

Agricultural 

Marketing 

Service

April 2014

Mexico is the third most important U.S. agricultural export market, after China and Canada, valued at $18.9 

billion in Calendar Year 2012. U.S. grain, oilseed, and related product exports to Mexico averaged 22.2 million 

metric tons (mmt) per year from 2008-2012 with an average annual value of $7.3 billion. Continued trade 

growth has spurred interest in how these products are transported throughout Mexico and how they are used. 

Because there is no readily available public data identifying the main entry points of U.S. agricultural exports to 

Mexico, modes of transportation, and final destinations and use, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 

Agricultural Marketing Service entered into a cooperative agreement with Texas A&M AgriLife to track U.S. 

grain, oilseed and related product exports in Mexico. 

Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Texas A&M Transportation Institute scientists found that rail continues to 

be the most important mode of transport for U.S. grains, oilseeds, and products entering Mexico, followed by 

seaports and trucks. Nearly all Mexican land ports of entry are connected with a U.S. railroad, except for Nuevo 

Progreso, which does not have rail access (Fig. 1). Increased rail efficiency caused by larger trains and gauge 

uniformity facilitates North America Railroads (Canada, United States, and Mexico) integration. Once inside 

Mexico, the majority of the U.S. 

exports were shipped by rail within 

Mexico to their final destination 

(Fig. 2). Two major Mexican rail 

companies: Ferromex/Ferrosur and 

Kansas City Southern de Mexico 

handled U.S. grains, oilseeds, and 

related products inside Mexico. 

Jalisco is the largest single 

destination for rail shipments, 

followed by Queretaro, and the 

Estado de Mexico. The largest rail 

origin-destination pairs, with at 

least a million metric tons, include 

Nuevo Laredo-Queretaro, Piedras 

Negras-Jalisco, Veracruz-Puebla, 

Nuevo Laredo-Nuevo Leon, Nuevo 

Laredo-Estado de Mexico, and 

Ciudad Juárez-Jalisco.

Delmy L. Salin

Agricultural Marketing Service

Figure 1. Mexican Rail Transportation System 
2

Seaports are the second most dominant mode of entry for U.S. agricultural exports to Mexico. It is estimated 

that at least 42 percent of these imports leave the Mexican seaport area via rail while at least 17 percent leave 

via truck to their final destination. The remainder falls in a “rail/truck” combination or continues to another 

Mexican seaport. The ports of Veracruz, Progreso, Coatzacoalcos, and Tuxpan are the main entry points of 

U.S. agricultural exports to Mexico. Yellow corn, soybeans, hard wheat, and sorghum account for more than 

two-thirds of U.S. agricultural exports to Mexico. Yellow corn is used mostly for animal feed and corn starch. 

Soybeans are crushed for meal and oil. Soybean meal is an important protein feed for livestock, dairy, poultry, 

and aquaculture. Hard wheat is for human consumption. Grain sorghum is used for animal feeding.

The study is based on primary and secondary data gathered from Mexican and American databases of 

government agencies, private-sector firms, and agricultural organizations. The statistics division of the 

Mexican Agricultural Ministry, Servicio de Información y Estadística Agroalimentaria y Pesquera of Secretaria 

de Agricultura, Ganadería, Desarrollo Rural, Pesca y Alimentación (SIAP/SAGARPA), provided data to determine 

volumes of Mexican grain imports from the United States, by entry point and mode of transportation. 

Ferromex and Kansas City Southern de Mexico data revealed how U.S. products moved within Mexico and final 

destination by volume and origin. The Global Agricultural Trading System (GATS), USDA’s Foreign Agricultural 

Service, and World Institute for Strategic Economic Research data were used to validate trade volumes and 

entry points for exports from the United States into Mexico. Finally, data were requested from the U.S. grain 

organizations in an effort to obtain the fullest picture possible of destinations and uses. 

Figure 2. Transportation Modes for U.S. Grains, Oilseeds and Products Exported to Mexico in 2011, 

Million Metric Tons and Percent of Share

14.78

62%

8.11

34%

0.95

4%

Rail Sea Truck

Volumes in Million MT

Source: Servicio de Información Agroalimentaria y Pesquera (SIAP), SAGARPA, Mexico.
3

This paper is a summary of:

Flynn J. Adcock, Juan Villa, Mark Welch, Jose Antonio Perez-Vidales, C. Parr Rosson, III. Tracking U.S. Grain, 

Oilseed and Related Product Exports in Mexico. CNAS Publication Number 2013-01. November 2013. Posted at 

http://cnas.tamu.edu and http://dx.doi.org/10.9752/TS144.11-2013.

Preferred citation:

Salin, Delmy L., Tracking U.S. Grain, Oilseed and Related Product Exports in Mexico (Summary). U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, April 2014. Web. <http://dx.doi.org/10.9752/TS149.04-2014>

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers. If you believe you 

experienced discrimination when obtaining services from USDA, participating in a USDA program, or participating in a program that receives financial assistance from USDA, you may file a complaint with USDA. Information about how to file a discrimination complaint is available from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil 

Rights. To file a complaint of discrimination, complete, sign and mail a program discrimination complaint form, 

available at any USDA office location or online at www.ascr.usda.gov, or write to: USDA, Office of the Assistant 

Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410. Or call toll free at 

(866) 632-9992 (voice) to obtain additional information, the appropriate office or to request documents. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay 

service at (800) 877-8339 or (800) 845-6136 (in Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and 

lender. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (e.g., 

Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).