Contents

Summary: 

What Happened? 1

Quarterly Bulk Grain 

and Soybeans 5

Fruit and Vegetable 9

Subscription Information 13

Data Sets 13

United States Department of Agriculture

Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

A quarterly publication of the Agricultural Marketing Service 

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

Fourth Quarter 2019 (October, November, December) 

Published April 29, 2020

Summary: What Happene

Grain Transportation Costs to Mexico In 

Fourth Quarter 2019

Mexico is the largest importer of U.S. grain (corn, soybeans, and wheat). 

Based on the past 3-year average, Mexico is the leading importer of U.S. corn 

and the second largest importer of U.S. wheat and soybeans. Grain can be 

transported to Mexico by land or shipped by water to an appropriate port for 

inland distribution. In this report, we examine the costs of transporting U.S. 

grain to Mexico by land and water and track how those costs change from 

third quarter to fourth quarter 2019 (quarter to quarter) and from fourth 

quarter 2018 to fourth quarter 2019 (year to year).

Transportation costs: Quarter to quarter, the transportation costs of shipping 

grain to Mexico by water declined, while the costs of shipping by land 

remained steady (see March 5, 2020, Grain Transportation Report (GTR)). 

The decline in waterborne shipping costs resulted partly from the drop in 

ocean freight rates for bulk commodities, including grain. Ocean freight rates 

dropped in response to weak trade of iron ore and coal (see January 16, 2020 

GTR). Lower barge and ocean freight rates pushed down the transportation 

costs of waterborne corn and soybeans. Lower truck and ocean freight 

rates pushed down the transportation cost of shipping wheat by water. 

The transportation costs of shipping corn and soybeans to Mexico by land 

remained relatively unchanged from quarter to quarter, while the costs of 

shipping corn by land fell by less than 1 percent. Tariff rail rates remained 

fairly steady during the quarter.

Restoration of barge service. Quarter to quarter, the decline in barge rates 

likely resulted from a higher-than-average empty barge supply in the 

Mississippi River System in the fourth quarter. More grain barges were 

unloaded in New Orleans in the fourth quarter than in the third quarter. 

This pattern, in turn, sent 258 more empty barges (4 percent) returning 

upriver in the fourth quarter than in the third quarter. In addition, the 

navigational difficulties that had plagued the river through most of the 

summer cleared up by the fourth quarter, making travel easier. A lower risk 

of delays made carriers more willing to sell their services, as there was less 

Contac

Informatio

Surajudeen Olowolayemo, 

Coordinator/Ocean Bulk 

Shipments/Livestock Analyst

Jesse Gastelle, Rail/Fruit and 

Vegetables Analyst

April Taylor, Container Shipments/ 

Fruit and Vegetables Analyst
2

Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

risk of unanticipated cost overruns. Better navigation also made shippers to more willing to ship their commodities 

because deliveries to export elevators became more reliable. In the fourth quarter, 9.16 million tons of grain were 

shipped downriver, versus 6.35 million tons in the third quarter. 

Landed Costs. Lower quarter-to-quarter landed costs for corn (over both water and land) reflected reduced 

transportation costs and farm values. However, quarter-to-quarter soybean landed costs increased—mostly from 

the increase in the farm values—while the landed costs for wheat were unchanged. Fourth-quarter landed costs 

for all grains via the water route ranged from $192 per metric ton (mt) to $375 per mt (see table and fig. 1). Landed 

costs via the land route ranged from $230 per mt to $407 per mt (see table and fig. 2). The share of landed costs 

for transportation ranged from 12 percent to 31 percent for the water route and from 25 percent to 41 percent for 

the land route (see table). Higher farm values pushed up the year-to-year landed costs for corn and soybeans, while 

lower year-to-year landed costs for wheat reflected farm values that were lower than in fourth quarter 2018.

Export volumes. Although, quarter to quarter, Mexico imported slightly less grain from the United States, year to 

year, it imported more. According to USDA’s grain inspection data, in fourth quarter 2019, Mexico imported 3.07 

million metric tons (mmt) of corn, 1.30 mmt of soybeans, and 0.86 mmt of wheat—down 3 percent, 0 percent, 

and 8 percent quarter to quarter, respectively. However, year to year, U.S. inspections for export to Mexico rose 10 

percent for soybeans and 33 percent for wheat, while corn inspections fell 14 percent. The recently signed trade 

agreement among the United States, Mexico, and Canada could boost U.S. grain export to Mexico. 

Ocean freight rates: Ocean freight rates for shipping bulk grains to Mexico decreased quarter to quarter, varied year 

to year, and were up from the 4-year average. The fourth-quarter cost of shipping a metric ton of grain, via 25,000 

ton-capacity vessels from the U.S. Gulf to Veracruz, Mexico, averaged $17.98 per mt. This was down 2 percent 

quarter to quarter, unchanged from year to year, and 13 percent more than the 4-year average. The cost of shipping 

in a 35,000-40,000 ton-capacity vessel averaged $15.23 per mt. This was down 2 percent quarter to quarter, down 

3 percent year to year, and up 10 percent from the 4-year average. Weak movements of coal and iron ore pushed 

down the rates for shipping bulk commodities, including grain in the fourth quarter (see January 16, 2020 GTR). 

Railroad: In fourth quarter 2019, railroads transported 41,664 carloads of grain and oilseeds to Mexico, up 

4 percent quarter to quarter but down 4 percent year to year. Tariff rail rates per grain car averaged $7,701, up 

1 percent quarter to quarter, up 2 percent year to year, and up 4 percent from the prior-3-year average. Fuel 

surcharges per railcar averaged $239, down 2 percent quarter to quarter, up 11 percent year to year, and up

79 percent from the prior-3-year average. Overall, rail transportation costs (tariff rates plus fuel surcharges) were up 

1 percent quarter to quarter, up 3 percent year to year, and up 5 percent from the prior-3-year average.

Fruit and Vegetables

In fourth quarter 2019, total reported truck shipments of fruits and vegetables from Mexico were 2.35 million tons, 

up 5 percent year to year. The top five commodities summed to 983,000 tons, up 2 percent year to year. Avocados 

had the largest shipments to the United States, with 293,000 tons, up 18 percent year to year. 

Truck rates. In fourth quarter 2019, truck rates for shipments between 501 miles and 1,500 miles from Arizona 

border crossings averaged $2.21 per mile, down 12 percent quarter to quarter and down 11 percent year to year. 

Rates for shipments between 501 miles and 1,500 miles from Texas border crossings averaged $2.23 per mile, up 

9 percent quarter to quarter, but down 5 percent year to year. 

Fuel prices. Diesel fuel prices for border crossings from Arizona averaged $3.33 per gallon, increasing 5 percent 

quarter to quarter but decreasing 4 percent year to year. Diesel fuel prices for border crossings from Texas averaged 

$2.79 per gallon, up 0.2 percent quarter to quarter, but down 8-percent year to year. 

Truck availability. Shippers reported adequate truck availability for crossing the Arizona border in October through 

mid-November; at the end of November, conditions changed to slight shortage. In the beginning of December, truck 

availability was reported as adequate, then shifted to shortage by the end of the month. At Texas border-crossing 

locations, shippers reported adequate truck availability throughout fourth quarter 2019. 
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Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

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 8.78 10.98 9.18 11.46 10.10 4.37 4.38 4.72 4.19 4.42

Rail1 91.00 91.96 95.44 96.23 93.66

Barge 24.50 21.74 23.89 18.46 22.15

Ocean2 13.89 14.01 15.50 15.23 14.66

Total transportation cost 47.17 46.73 48.57 45.15 46.91 95.37 96.34 100.16 100.42 98.07

Farm price3 141.20 145.79 155.50 146.45 147.24 139.49 145.01 154.06 146.06 146.16

Landed cost4 188.37 192.52 204.07 191.60 194.14 234.86 241.35 254.22 246.48 244.23

Transport % of landed cost 25.0 24.3 23.8 23.6 24.2 40.6 39.9 39.4 40.7 40.2

Soybeans

Origin IL NE

Truck 8.78 10.98 9.18 11.46 10.10 4.37 4.38 4.72 4.19 4.42

Rail 94.21 95.11 97.91 98.86 96.52

Barge 24.50 21.74 23.89 18.46 22.15

Ocean 13.89 14.01 15.50 15.23 14.66

Total transportation cost 47.17 46.73 48.57 45.15 46.91 98.58 99.49 102.63 103.05 100.94

Farm price3 321.87 308.77 317.10 329.96 319.43 302.89 291.26 293.83 304.12 298.03

Landed cost4 369.04 355.50 365.67 375.11 366.33 401.47 390.75 396.46 407.17 398.96

Transport % of landed cost 12.8 13.1 13.3 12.0 12.8 24.6 25.5 25.9 25.3 25.3

Wheat

Origin KS KS

Truck 4.37 4.38 4.72 4.19 4.42 4.37 4.38 4.72 4.19 4.42

Rail 42.66 42.88 43.31 43.31 43.04 79.65 80.31 83.12 83.13 81.55

Ocean 13.89 14.01 15.50 15.23 14.66

Total transportation cost 60.92 61.27 63.53 62.73 62.11 84.02 84.69 87.84 87.32 85.97

Farm price 181.39 167.67 141.10 142.57 158.18 181.39 167.67 141.10 142.57 158.18

Landed cost 242.31 228.94 204.63 205.30 220.30 265.41 252.36 228.94 229.89 244.15

Transport % of landed cost 25.1 26.8 31.0 30.6 28.4 31.7 33.6 38.4 38.0 35.4

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.

Table 1. Quarterly costs of transporting U.S. grain and soybeans to Mexico, 2019
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Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

Source: USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service

Figure 1. Water route shipment costs ($/mt) to Veracruz, Mexico

Figure 2. Land route shipment costs ($/mt) to Guadalajara, Mexico

 

Barge

$18.46

Rail

$43.31

Ocean

$15.23

Ocean

$15.23

Truck

$11.46 Truck

$4.19 Farm value

$146.45

Farm value

$329.96

Farm value

$142.57

0.00

50.00

100.00

150.00

200.00

250.00

300.00

350.00

400.00

450.00

500.00

IL: Corn IL: Soybean KS: Wheat

Total=$191.60

Total=$205.30

Total=$375.11

Rail

$96.23

Rail

$98.86 Rail

$83.13

Farm value

$146.06

Farm value

$304.12

Farm value

$142.57

0.00

50.00

100.00

150.00

200.00

250.00

300.00

350.00

400.00

450.00

IA: Corn NE: Soybean KS: Wheat

Total=$407.17

Total=$229.89

Total=$246.48

Truck

$4.19

Truck

$4.19

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), 2019

Tariff rate/car1 Fuel surcharge per car2

Commodity Origin 

State

Destination 1st 

qtr

2nd 

qtr

3rd 

qtr

4th 

qtr Avg

1st 

qtr

2nd 

qtr

3rd 

qtr

4th 

qtr Avg

Wheat

 MT Chihuahua, CI 7,284 7,284 7,434 7,509 7,378 0 0 0 0 0

 OK Cuautitlan, EM 6,743 6,710 6,775 6,775 6,751 149 137 142 135 141

 KS Guadalajara, JA 7,371 7,371 7,534 7,534 7,452 424 489 601 603 529

 TX Salinas Victoria, NL 4,329 4,329 4,329 4,329 4,329 91 84 86 81 86

Corn

 IA Guadalajara, JA 8,528 8,578 8,828 378 422 378 422 512 517 457

 SD Celaya, GJ 7,880 7,880 8,140 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

 NE Queretaro, QA 8,207 8,207 8,207 311 287 311 287 295 275 292

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

 MO Tlalnepantla, EM 7,573 7,573 7,573 303 279 303 279 288 268 285

 SD Torreon, CU 7,480 7,480 7,690 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Soybeans

 MO Bojay (Tula), HG 8,284 8,355 8,497 8,547 8,420 350 395 485 482 428

 NE Guadalajara, JA 8,842 8,888 9,075 9,172 8,994 379 420 508 504 453

 IA El Castillo, JA 9,110 9,110 9,297 9,490 9,252 0 0 0 0 0

 KS Torreon, CU 7,714 7,747 7,880 7,964 7,826 277 299 353 349 319

Sorghum

 NE Celaya, GJ 7,527 7,570 7,787 7,772 7,664 346 380 457 457 410

 KS Queretaro, QA 8,000 8,000 8,000 8,108 8,027 186 171 177 168 175

 NE Salinas Victoria, NL 6,633 6,633 6,633 6,713 6,653 149 137 142 135 141

 NE Torreon, CU 6,962 6,997 7,172 7,157 7,072 262 279 326 324 298

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

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, 2019

Tariff1 plus fuel surcharge per:

US$/metric ton US$/bushel2

Commodity Origin 

State

Destination 1st 

qtr

2nd 

qtr

3rd 

qtr

4th 

qtr Avg

1st 

qtr

2nd 

qtr

3rd 

qtr

4th 

qtr Avg

Wheat

 MT Chihuahua, CI 74.43 74.43 75.96 76.72 75.38 2.02 2.02 2.07 2.09 2.05

 OK Cuautitlan, EM 70.42 69.96 70.67 70.60 70.41 1.91 1.90 1.92 1.92 1.91

 KS Guadalajara, JA 79.65 80.31 83.12 83.13 81.55 2.17 2.18 2.26 2.26 2.22

 TX Salinas Victoria, NL 45.16 45.08 45.11 45.06 45.10 1.23 1.23 1.23 1.23 1.23

Corn

 IA Guadalajara, JA 91.00 91.96 95.44 96.23 93.66 2.31 2.33 2.42 2.44 2.38

 SD Celaya, GJ 80.51 80.51 83.17 83.17 81.84 2.04 2.04 2.11 2.11 2.08

 NE Queretaro, QA 87.03 86.78 86.87 87.40 87.02 2.21 2.20 2.20 2.22 2.21

 SD Salinas Victoria, NL 70.55 70.55 70.55 70.55 70.55 1.79 1.79 1.79 1.79 1.79

 MO Tlalnepantla, EM 80.48 80.23 80.32 80.83 80.47 2.04 2.04 2.04 2.05 2.04

 SD Torreon, CU 76.43 76.43 78.57 78.57 77.50 1.94 1.94 1.99 1.99 1.97

Soybeans

 MO Bojay (Tula), HG 88.22 89.40 91.77 92.25 90.41 2.40 2.43 2.49 2.51 2.46

 NE Guadalajara, JA 94.21 95.11 97.91 98.86 96.53 2.56 2.59 2.66 2.69 2.62

 IA El Castillo, JA 93.08 93.08 94.99 96.97 94.53 2.53 2.53 2.58 2.64 2.57

 KS Torreon, CU 81.64 82.21 84.13 84.94 83.23 2.22 2.24 2.29 2.31 2.26

Sorghum

 NE Celaya, GJ 80.44 81.24 84.23 84.08 82.50 2.04 2.06 2.14 2.13 2.09

 KS Queretaro, QA 83.64 83.49 83.55 84.56 83.81 2.12 2.12 2.12 2.15 2.13

 NE Salinas Victoria, NL 69.29 69.17 69.22 69.97 69.41 1.76 1.76 1.76 1.78 1.76

 NE Torreon, CU 73.81 74.34 76.61 76.44 75.30 1.87 1.89 1.94 1.94 1.91

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

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*

Thousand metric tons 

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

2009 316 377 371 395 1,459

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

*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 2011 2nd qtr 2011 3rd qtr 2011 4th qtr 2011 Average

25,000 21.71 21.13 21.96 23.29 22.02

35-40,000 18.75 18.86 19.89 21.21 19.68

Vessel capacity 

(metric ton) 1st qtr 2012 2nd qtr 2012 3rd qtr 2012 4th qtr 2012 Average

25,000 20.28 20.79 20.68 18.73 20.12

35-40,000 18.37 18.62 18.53 16.73 18.06

Vessel capacity 

(metric ton) 1st qtr 2013 2nd qtr 2013 3rd qtr 2013 4th qtr 2013 Average

25,000 20.19 19.59 20.47 20.01 20.07

35-40,000 17.89 17.58 17.85 17.13 17.61

Vessel capacity 

(metric ton) 1st qtr 2014 2nd qtr 2014 3rd qtr 2014 4th qtr 2014 Average

25,000 20.08 17.48 15.75 16.32 17.41

35-40,000 17.53 15.48 13.56 13.96 15.13

Vessel capacity 

(metric ton) 1st qtr 2015 2nd qtr 2015 3rd qtr 2015 4th qtr 2015 Average

25,000 13.67 14.23 14.59 13.95 14.11

35-40,000 11.63 11.89 12.85 12.12 12.12

Vessel capacity 

(metric ton) 1st qtr 2016 2nd qtr 2016 3rd qtr 2016 4th qtr 2016 Average

25,000 12.34 13.47 15.00 14.85 13.92

35-40,000 10.44 11.65 13.20 13.26 12.14

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

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 2011 2nd qtr 2011 3rd qtr 2011 4th qtr 2011 Average

Nogales, Arizona 1.87 2.38 1.85 1.80 1.97

Pharr, Texas 1.84 2.12 1.77 1.87 1.90

Origin/border crossing 1st qtr 2012 2nd qtr 2012 3rd qtr 2012 4th qtr 2012 Average

Nogales, Arizona 2.00 2.57 1.84 1.92 2.08

Pharr, Texas 1.97 2.26 1.89 2.09 2.05

Origin/border crossing 1st qtr 2013 2nd qtr 2013 3rd qtr 2013 4th qtr 2013 Average

Nogales, Arizona 2.34 2.59 1.63 2.33 2.22

Pharr, Texas 2.15 2.33 2.02 2.01 2.13

Origin/border crossing 1st qtr 2014 2nd qtr 2014 3rd qtr 2014 4th qtr 2014 Average

Nogales, Arizona 2.46 2.69 1.74 2.31 2.30

Pharr, Texas 2.32 2.53 2.12 2.13 2.28

Origin/border crossing 1st qtr 2015 2nd qtr 2015 3rd qtr 2015 4th qtr 2015 Average

Nogales, Arizona 2.41 2.49 2.71 2.51 2.53

Pharr, Texas 2.26 2.23 2.50 2.27 2.32

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

Nogales, Arizona 2.31 2.43 2.53 2.65 2.48

Pharr, Texas 2.98 2.17 2.24 2.34 2.43

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

Nogales, Arizona 2.05 2.32 2.45 2.38 2.30

Pharr, Texas 2.16 2.21 2.00 2.36 2.18

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

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

4th quarter 2019

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

Truck availability

Mexico border crossings/month October November December

Week ending 10/1 10/8 10/15 10/22 10/29 11/5 11/12 11/19 11/26 12/3 12/10 12/17 12/24 12/31

Through 

Nogales, AZ

Tomatoes, Squash, 

Cucumbers, Mangoes, 

Honeydew, Watermelons, 

Mixed Fruits, Vegetables

NA 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 3 2 3 5 5

Through TX

Vegetables, Limes, 

Mangoes, Onions, 

Tomatoes, Broccoli, 

Mixed Fruits

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

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, 2019 (10,000 lbs)

Commodity 4th qtr 2019 Rank

Avocados 293 1

Cucumbers 207 2

Tomatoes 168 3

Peppers, other 159 4

Squash 157 5

Tomatoes, plum type 152 6

Limes 143 7

Peppers, bell type 126 8

Watermelon, seedless 105 9

Broccoli 80 10

Source: USDA, 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 2012 2nd qtr 2012 3rd qtr 2012 4th qtr 2012 Total 2012

Tomatoes (all varieties) 99,264 69,282 41,120 57,099 266,765

Peppers (all varieties) 56,506 33,399 25,990 33,073 148,968

Cucumbers 42,668 25,798 11,919 30,383 110,768

Onions (dry and green) 29,949 20,020 8,122 8,744 66,835

Squash 26,776 16,033 3,401 19,556 65,766

Subtotal 255,163 164,532 90,552 148,855 659,102

Other 200,550 256,945 122,889 190,616 771,000

Total 455,713 421,477 213,441 339,471 1,430,102

Commodity 1st qtr 2013 2nd qtr 2013 3rd qtr 2013 4th qtr 2013 Total 2013

Tomatoes (all varieties) 88,753 75,505 43,373 52,154 259,785

Peppers (all varieties) 55,952 35,111 27,341 51,481 169,885

Avocados 38,933 26,387 15,049 30,766 111,135

Cucumbers 38,877 30,555 11,592 31,523 112,547

Onions (dry and green) 24,818 22,138 7,584 8,070 62,610

Subtotal 247,333 189,696 104,939 173,994 715,962

Other 206,944 271,688 126,051 168,680 773,363

Total 454,277 461,384 230,990 342,674 1,489,325

Commodity 1st qtr 2014 2nd qtr 2014 3rd qtr 2014 4th qtr 2014 Total 2014

Tomatoes (all varieties) 102,175 77,596 40,598 56,783 277,152

Peppers (all varieties) 62,356 33,083 27,349 48,167 170,955

Cucumbers 47,565 30,978 12,150 35,905 126,598

Avocados 37,085 26,363 26,044 39,140 128,632

Squash 29,622 16,334 3,814 22,495 72,265

Subtotal 278,803 184,354 109,955 202,490 775,602

Other 214,020 306,544 126,219 160,627 807,410

Total 492,823 490,898 236,174 363,117 1,583,012

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

Tomatoes (all varieties) 99,053 73,537 42,002 61,571 276,163

Peppers (all varieties) 61,334 34,579 28,060 46,690 170,663

Cucumbers 50,114 34,601 14,335 35,947 134,997

Avocados 44,510 37,667 39,582 49,063 170,822

Squash 29,026 18,088 3,527 23,863 74,504

Subtotal 284,037 198,472 127,506 217,134 827,149

Other 225,053 334,134 130,249 179,649 869,085

Total 509,090 532,606 257,755 396,783 1,696,234
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Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

Commodity 1st qtr 2016 2nd qtr 2016 3rd qtr 2016 4th qtr 2016 Total 2016

Tomatoes (all varieties) 122,571 105,099 49,289 66,534 343,493

Peppers (all varieties) 57,984 46,626 33,631 65,270 203,511

Cucumbers 45,829 37,791 14,670 39,803 138,093

Avocados 57,605 40,197 34,993 40,457 173,252

Squash 31,051 26,672 5,322 30,711 93,756

Subtotal 315,040 256,385 137,905 242,775 952,105

Other 242,834 350,555 162,307 204,561 960,257

Total 557,874 606,940 300,212 447,336 1,912,362

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

Tomatoes (all varieties) 107,194 82,449 48,893 73,581 312,117

Peppers (all varieties) 67,337 38,757 30,928 59,131 196,153

Cucumbers 47,202 32,892 16,021 44,297 140,412

Avocados 49,557 36,996 31,683 47,011 165,247

Squash 31,937 20,737 5,099 33,126 90,899

Subtotal 303,227 211,831 132,624 257,146 904,828

Other 289,814 339,353 170,127 206,746 1,006,040

Total 593,041 551,184 302,751 463,892 1,910,868

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 2018 2nd qtr 2018 3rd qtr 2018 4th qtr 2018 Total 2018

Tomatoes (all varieties) 105,274 80,008 49,400 62,553 297,235

Peppers (all varieties) 73,682 46,268 35,266 57,763 212,979

Cucumbers 44,297 36,450 36,046 50,126 190,506

Avocados 47,011 49,914 14,131 43,301 145,721

Squash 33,126 22,075 6,150 27,782 137,900

Subtotal 303,390 234,715 140,993 241,525 984,341

Other 304,695 335,630 156,881 205,849 939,337

Total 608,085 570,345 297,874 447,374 1,923,678

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

Tomatoes (all varieties) 98,631 81,296 55,836 69,366 29,9085

Peppers (all varieties) 68,655 50,059 38,006 56,847 206,197

Cucumbers 66,751 88,960 42,135 5,8520 183,439

Avocados 50,934 41,293 11,138 30,506 154,677

Squash 36,760 39,066 18,919 4,1334 143,596

Subtotal 321,731 300,674 166,034 256,573 986,994

Other 284,125 310,400 182,481 213,013 93,1202

Total 605,856 611,074 348,515 469,586 1,918,196
13

Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

Preferred Citation:

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

April 2020. Web. <http://dx.doi.org/10.9752/TS054.04-2020>

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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: Water route shipment costs ($/mt) to Veracruz, Mexico 

• Figure 2: Land route shipment costs ($/mt) to Guadalajara, Mexico

• Table 1: Quarterly costs of transporting U.S. grain and soybeans to Mexico, 2019

• Table 2: Quarterly tariff rail rates for U.S. bulk grain shipments to Mexico (US$/car), 2019

• Table 3: Quarterly tariff rail rates plus fuel surcharge for U.S. bulk grain shipments to Mexico, 2019

• 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, 2019 (10,000 lbs)

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