Mexico's share of US imports picks up

In the first ten months of 2009, Mexico's exports accounted for 11.2% of US imports, a percentage point more than in the same period of 2008. China's share rose 3.5 percentage points, to 19.1%.

The US imported more vehicles and autoparts to the US (by value) in the first ten months of this year than any other country: nearly one out of every four dollars (23.9%) spent by Americans on imported vehicles and autoparts went to Mexico. Canada was close on Mexico's heels (US$28.2 billion compared to Mexico's US$29.5 billion), followed by Japan (US$25.9 billion). More than two-thirds (67.8%) of US vehicle and autoparts imports came from the three countries in the first ten months of 2009.

Mexico's exports to the US are heavily tilted towards autoparts, which are almost four times as large as the value of exported vehicles. Japan was the largest exporter of cars (US$18.2 billion), followed by Canada (US$17.4 billion), Germany (US$8.5 billion), with Mexico in fourth place (US$7.5 billion).