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 Fourth Quarter 2022

Mexico is a leading importer of U.S. corn, soybeans, and wheat (Grain Transportation Report (GTR), March 9, 2023,

tables 12, 13 and 14). Low transportation and landed costs are vital to the competitiveness of U.S. grain to 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 report 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). 

Also examined are quarterly and yearly changes in rail carloads of grain and oilseeds to Mexico and in fruit and 

vegetables shipments to Mexico.

Quarter-to-quarter transportation costs. From third quarter 2022 to fourth quarter 2022 (quarter to quarter), total 

transportation costs increased for U.S. corn and soybeans by all routes (i.e., water and land). Transportation costs 

of shipping wheat increased by the land routes, but decreased by the water routes. Rising water-route shipping 

costs reflected higher barge rates.1 Land-route shipping costs increased with rising rail rates (public tariff, plus 

fuel surcharge). Barge rates rose because of record-low water levels in the Mississippi River System that led to 

reductions in flow, tow size, and draft size. (GTR, January 26, 2023). Truck rates fell partly because of lower diesel 

fuel prices (GTR fig. 12). Responding to lower demand for shipping bulk items during end-of-year holidays, ocean 

freight rates fell (GTR, February 9, 2023). 

Year-to-year transportation costs. From fourth quarter 2021 to fourth quarter 2022 (year to year), total costs of 

shipping all grain (U.S. corn, soybeans, and wheat) to Mexico by the land routes rose because of higher truck rates 

and higher fuel surcharges. Total costs of shipping corn and soybeans to Mexico by the water routes rose because 

of higher truck and barge rates. However, the cost of shipping wheat to Mexico by the water routes fell because of 

ocean rate decreases that more than offset the increases in truck and rail tariff 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

Fourth Quarter 2022

(October, November, December)

Published March 2023

Contact Informati

Surajudeen Olowolayemo, Coordinator/

Ocean Bulk Shipments

Jesse Gastelle, Rail/Fruit and

Vegetables Analyst

Kranti Mulik, Container Shipments/ Fruit 

and Vegetables Analyst
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Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

Quarter-to-quarter landed costs. Quarter to quarter, landed costs fell for soybeans shipped via all routes, but 

increased for wheat shipped by all routes. Landed costs increased for corn shipped to Mexico via the water routes 

and decreased for corn shipped by the land routes. In the cases of soybeans shipped by all routes and corn shipped 

by the land routes, falling landed costs reflected declines in farm values that exceeded the rise in transportation 

costs (table 1 and figs. 1 and 2). In the cases of wheat shipped via the water and land routes and corn shipped by 

the water routes, landed costs rose in response to rising farm values, transportation costs, or both. The share of 

landed costs comprising transportation ranged from 17 percent to 30 percent for the water routes and from 

19 percent to 32 percent for the land routes. 

Year-to-year landed costs. Year to year, landed costs rose for all waterborne and land-route grains. For most of 

these, the increase reflected both higher transportation costs and higher farm values. The only exception was 

waterborne wheat for which transportation costs fell (but were still more than offset by an increase in farm values). 

U.S. Exports to Mexico: According to USDA’s Federal Grain Inspection Service, in fourth quarter 2022, the United 

States exported to Mexico 2.90 million metric tons (mmt) of corn, 1.62 mmt of soybeans, and 0.64 mmt of wheat. 

Quarter to quarter, U.S. inspections for export to Mexico were down 9 percent for corn, up 28 percent for soybeans, 

and down 48 percent for wheat. Year to year, U.S. inspections destined to Mexico fell 32 percent for corn, rose

5 percent for soybeans, and fell 16 percent for wheat. The quarter-to-quarter and year-to-year increases in soybean 

shipments to Mexico were partly driven by lower landed costs 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 second 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 $24.42 per mt. This was down 10 percent 

quarter to quarter, down 112 percent year to year, and up 21 percent from the prior-4-year average. The cost of 

shipping by the same route in 35,000-40,000 ton-capacity vessels averaged $20.73 per mt. This amounted to an 

11-percent decrease quarter to quarter, 18-percent decrease year to year, and 18-percent increase from the prior4-year average. During the fourth quarter, ocean freight rates fell worldwide in response to continued easing of 

congestion at ports, and low market activity during end-of-year holidays. (GTR, February 9, 2023). 

Railroad: In fourth quarter 2022, railroads transported 41,125 carloads of grain and oilseeds to Mexico—down 

9 percent quarter to quarter, down 9 percent year to year, and down 1 percent from the prior-3-year average. Fuel 

surcharges per railcar averaged $990—down 6 percent quarter to quarter, up 25 percent year to year, and up 

160 percent from the prior-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. Rail tariff rates per grain car in fourth quarter 2021 

averaged $7,789. Because comparable data was not available, USDA analysis assumed rail tariff rates to be 

unchanged through fourth quarter 2022. Based on this assumption, total rail transportation costs (tariff rates plus 

fuel surcharges) rose 2 percent year to year and rose 8 percent from the prior-3-year average.

Fruit and Vegetables

In fourth quarter 2022, total reported shipments of fruits and vegetables by refrigerated truck from Mexico were 

2.82 million tons, up 3 percent from year to year. The sum of the top five commodities decreased by 10,000 tons, or 

1 percent, from year to year. At 318,000 tons—an increase of 5 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 $2.92 

per mile—up 2 percent quarter to quarter and down 11 percent year to year. Rates for shipments crossing the 

Texas-Mexico border and traveling 501-1,500 miles averaged $3.08 per mile—up 2 percent quarter to quarter and 

down 11 percent year to year. 

Diesel fuel prices for Texas-Mexico border crossings averaged $4.67 per gallon for the quarter. Diesel fuel prices for 

Arizona-Mexico border crossings averaged $5.26 per gallon. The Texas-Mexico border crossing had slight surplus 

availability in October, surplus in November and adequate availability in December. The Arizona-Mexico border 

crossing had adequate availability throughout the quarter. 
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Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

2022

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 16.67 23.40 19.07 16.31 18.86 5.58 7.13 6.27 5.82 6.20

Rail1 - - - - - 100.08 102.35 109.83 116.30 107.14

Barge 39.23 27.98 29.97 70.23 41.85 - - - - -

Ocean2 22.51 26.27 23.33 20.73 23.21 - - - - -

Total transportation cost 78.41 77.65 72.37 107.27 83.93 105.66 109.48 116.10 122.12 113.34

Farm price3 241.59 290.14 277.81 250.51 265.01 241.46 287.91 292.11 258.78 270.07

Landed cost4 320.00 367.79 350.18 357.78 348.94 347.12 397.39 408.21 380.90 383.41

Transport % of landed cost 24.5 21.1 20.7 30.0 24.1 30.4 27.5 28.4 32.1 29.6

Soybeans

Origin IL NE

Truck 16.67 23.40 19.07 16.31 18.86 5.58 7.13 6.27 5.82 6.20

Rail1 - - - - - 100.95 103.32 110.60 116.43 107.83

Barge 39.23 27.98 29.97 70.23 41.85 - - - - -

Ocean2 22.51 26.27 23.33 20.73 23.21 - - - - -

Total transportation cost 78.41 77.65 72.37 107.27 83.93 106.53 110.45 116.87 122.25 114.03

Farm price3 527.88 601.37 564.63 510.74 551.16 526.66 579.33 542.58 514.41 540.75

Landed cost4 606.29 679.02 637.00 618.01 635.08 633.19 689.78 659.45 636.66 654.77

Transport % of landed cost 12.9 11.4 11.4 17.4 13.3 16.8 16.0 17.7 19.2 17.4

Wheat

Origin KS KS

Truck 5.58 7.13 6.27 5.82 6.20 5.58 7.13 6.27 5.82 6.20

Rail1 43.80 44.47 49.83 45.96 46.02 85.63 87.24 93.49 105.05 92.85

Ocean2 22.51 26.27 23.33 20.73 23.21 - - - - -

Total transportation cost 71.89 77.87 79.43 72.51 75.43 91.21 94.37 99.76 110.87 99.05

Farm price3 319.79 370.01 315.51 332.65 334.49 319.79 370.01 315.51 332.65 334.49

Landed cost4 391.68 447.88 394.94 405.16 409.92 411.00 464.38 415.27 443.52 433.54

Transport % of landed cost 18.4 17.4 20.1 17.9 18.4 22.2 20.3 24.0 25.0 22.9

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. Fourth-quarter 2022 water-route shipment costs ($/mt) to Veracruz, Mexico

Figure 2. Fourth-quarter 2022 land-route shipment costs ($/mt) to Guadalajara, Mexico

Barge

$70.23

Rail

$45.96

Ocean

$20.73

Ocean

$20.73

Truck

$16.31 Truck

$5.82 Farm value

$250.51

Farm value

$510.74

Farm value

$332.65

0.00

100.00

200.00

300.00

400.00

500.00

600.00

IL: Corn IL: Soybean KS: Wheat

Total=$357.78

Total=$405.16

Total=$618.01

Rail

$116.30

Rail

$116.43

Rail

$105.05

$258.78

Farm value

$514.41

Farm value

$332.85

0.00

100.00

200.00

300.00

400.00

500.00

600.00

700.00

IA: Corn NE: Soybean KS: Wheat

Total=$636.66

Total=$443.52

Total=$380.90

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), 2022

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 7,699 7,699 7,699 0 611 0 0 0

 OK Cuautitlan, EM 6,900 6,900 6,900 6,900 6,900 225 745 606 513 464

 KS Guadalajara, JA 7,619 7,619 7,619 7,619 7,619 762 1,240 2,700 2,663 2,642

 TX Salinas Victoria, NL 4,420 4,420 4,420 4,420 4,420 138 323 330 285 257

Corn

 IA Guadalajara, JA 9,102 9,102 9,102 9,102 9,102 693 1,281 2,356 2,280 2,239

 SD Celaya, GJ 8,300 8,300 8,300 8,300 8,300 0 800 0 0 0

 NE Queretaro, QA 8,322 8,322 8,322 8,322 8,322 474 1,042 994 881 794

 SD Salinas Victoria, NL 6,905 6,905 6,905 6,905 6,905 0 608 0 0 0

 MO Tlalnepantla, EM 7,687 7,687 7,687 7,687 7,687 462 1,015 962 854 770

 SD Torreon, CU 7,825 7,825 7,825 7,825 7,825 0 670 0 0 0

Soybeans

 MO Bojay (Tula), HG 8,647 8,647 8,647 8,647 8,647 643 1,150 2,193 2,125 2,089

 NE Guadalajara, JA 9,207 9,207 9,207 9,207 9,207 673 1,254 2,271 2,188 2,144

 IA El Castillo, JA 9,510 9,510 9,510 9,510 9,510 0 795 0 0 0

 KS Torreon, CU 8,109 8,109 8,109 8,109 8,109 482 883 1,585 1,508 1,467

Sorghum

 NE Celaya, GJ 7,932 7,932 7,932 7,932 7,932 622 1,153 2,081 1,999 1,954

 KS Queretaro, QA 8,108 8,108 8,108 8,108 8,108 281 695 757 641 579

 NE Salinas Victoria, NL 6,713 6,713 6,713 6,713 6,713 226 642 608 515 465

 NE Torreon, CU 7,225 7,225 7,225 7,225 7,225 450 902 1,455 1,373 1,328

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.
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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, 2022

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 84.91 78.67 78.67 78.67 2.14 2.31 2.14 2.14 2.14

 OK Cuautitlan, EM 72.80 78.12 76.70 75.75 75.24 1.98 2.12 2.09 2.06 2.05

 KS Guadalajara, JA 85.63 90.51 105.43 105.05 104.84 2.33 2.46 2.87 2.86 2.85

 TX Salinas Victoria, NL 46.58 48.47 48.54 48.08 47.80 1.27 1.32 1.32 1.31 1.30

Corn

 IA Guadalajara, JA 100.08 106.09 117.07 116.30 115.88 2.54 2.69 2.97 2.95 2.94

 SD Celaya, GJ 84.81 92.98 84.81 84.81 84.81 2.15 2.36 2.15 2.15 2.15

 NE Queretaro, QA 89.87 95.67 95.19 94.03 93.14 2.28 2.43 2.42 2.39 2.36

 SD Salinas Victoria, NL 70.55 76.76 70.55 70.55 70.55 1.79 1.95 1.79 1.79 1.79

 MO Tlalnepantla, EM 83.27 88.91 88.37 87.27 86.41 2.11 2.26 2.24 2.21 2.19

 SD Torreon, CU 79.95 86.79 79.95 79.95 79.95 2.03 2.20 2.03 2.03 2.03

Soybeans

 MO Bojay (Tula), HG 94.92 100.10 110.76 110.06 109.69 2.58 2.72 3.01 2.99 2.98

 NE Guadalajara, JA 100.95 106.88 117.27 116.43 115.98 2.74 2.91 3.19 3.17 3.15

 IA El Castillo, JA 97.17 105.29 97.17 97.17 97.17 2.64 2.86 2.64 2.64 2.64

 KS Torreon, CU 87.78 91.87 99.04 98.26 97.84 2.39 2.50 2.69 2.67 2.66

Sorghum

 NE Celaya, GJ 87.40 92.83 102.31 101.47 101.02 2.22 2.36 2.60 2.57 2.56

 KS Queretaro, QA 85.71 89.94 90.57 89.39 88.75 2.18 2.28 2.30 2.27 2.25

 NE Salinas Victoria, NL 70.89 75.14 74.80 73.84 73.33 1.80 1.91 1.90 1.87 1.86

 NE Torreon, CU 78.42 83.04 88.68 87.84 87.39 1.99 2.11 2.25 2.23 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.
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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

*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 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

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

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 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

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 3.90 2.10 3.28 3.11

Pharr, Texas 2.93 3.19 2.90 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 3.50 3.01 3.08 3.34

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 2022

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

Truck availability

Mexico border crossings/month October November December

Week ending 10/4 10/11 10/18 10/25 11/1 11/8 11/15 11/22 11/29 12/6 12/13 12/20 12/27

Through 

Nogales, AZ

Cantalopes, Squash, 

Cucumbers, 

Mangoes, Honeydew, 

Watermelons 

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

Through TX

Oranges, Grapefruit, 

Limes, Mangoes, 

Papaya, Peppers, 

Cucumbers, Vegetables

1 2 3 1 1 1 1 1 3 2 2 2 4

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, 2022

(1,000 metric tons)

Commodity 4th qtr 2022 Rank

AVOCADOS 318 1

CUCUMBERS 228 2

TOMATOES, PLUM TYPE 215 3

WATERMELONS, SEEDLESS 181 4

TOMATOES 177 5

LIMES 172 6

SQUASH 146 7

PEPPERS, OTHER 138 8

PEPPERS, BELL TYPE 137 9

BROCCOLI 94 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 2015 2nd qtr 2015 3rd qtr 2015 4th qtr 2015 Total 2015

Tomatoes (all varieties) 97,953 71,449 45,992 65,381 280,775

Avocados 44,215 37,154 43,044 49,722 174,135

Peppers 59,876 33,752 30,679 47,396 171,703

Watermelons 23,537 95,273 7,213 23,195 149,218

Cucumbers 49,684 33,603 15,717 37,875 136,879

Subtotal 275,265 271,231 142,645 223,569 912,710

Other 232,251 250,443 138,828 185,012 806,534

Total 507,516 521,674 281,473 408,581 1,719,244

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

7 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 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

Peppers (all varieties) 74,252 46,390 35,103 57,726 213,471

Avocados 55,189 49,914 35,246 49,781 190,130

Cucumbers 51,964 36,452 14,131 43,288 145,835

Watermelons 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

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-
12

Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

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

Watermelons 24,868 88,165 11,138 30,506 154,677

Cucumbers 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

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 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

Cucumbers 55,289 48,494 30,653 45,636 180,072

Watermelons 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

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
13

Mexico Transport Cost Indicator Report

Preferred Citation:

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

March 2023. Web. <http://dx.doi.org/10.9752/TS054.03-2023>

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: Fourth-quarter 2022 water-route shipment costs ($/mt) to Veracruz, Mexico 

• Figure 2: Fourth-quarter 2022 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), 2022

• Table 3: Quarterly tariff rail rates plus fuel surcharge for U.S. bulk grain shipments to Mexico, 2022

• 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, 2022 (1,000 metric tons)

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