Your guide to business in Mexico
Reap the benefits of doing business with our neighbor to the south. This
guide is designed to help you at every step of your exporting journey —
whether you’ve been through it before, or you’re new to the international
marketplace. We want you to find the best opportunities for your business
and use these resources to get a leg up on your competition.
Mexico at a glance
More than
GDP
120 $1.28 13
3.5
th
million consumers
trillion USD (2014)
GDP per capita: $10,715 USD (2014)
%
largest world economy
476%
3rd largest trading partner for the U.S.
with more than $1.47 billion USD in two-way trade
per day
increase from 1993 to
2012 in bilateral trade.
2nd destination for U.S. exporters
accounting for 14% of all U.S. exports
15th largest FDI country for the U.S.
22 American states depend on Mexico as their
1st or 2nd destination for exports
predicted GDP
growth in 2016
• N
ear shoring is on the rise and by 2020 Mexico
could become the 5th largest auto producer in
the world.
• C
omputers and electronics are almost one fifth of
U.S. exports to Mexico
THE MARKET ECONOMY
Key Industries & Commodities
Imports
•Manufacturing
•Agriculture
• Auto parts & services
•Energy
•Franchising
• Manufactured goods (79.1%)
• Fuel and mining (10.9%)
• Agricultural (7.7%)
• Housing & construction
• Packaging equipment
• Plastics & resins
•Technology
CLEAR CUSTOMS
Whether you ship packages or freight, it’s important to
get familiar with some of the documents and clearance
processes you’ll run into on your export journey.
Common required documents
• Certificate of Origin
•North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA) Certificate of Origin
• Commercial Invoice
• Shipping Label (Packages)
• Bill of Lading (LTL Freight)
• Packing List
• Electronic Export Information
You can find more information about these
documents and customs regulations here.
Market content courtesy of the U.S. Commercial Service.
Key Import
Partners
Key Export
Partners
• U.S. (49.3%)
• China (16.1%)
• European Union (11.3%)
• U.S. (78.9%)
• European Union (5.2%)
• Canada (2.7%)
PREPARE YOUR SHIPMENT
CHECKLIST
3 Check consistency and accuracy of harmonized codes.
3 D
ouble check seller.
a. Check denied parties.
b. Come to an agreement with seller/importer regarding
incoterms to decide who will pay duties and taxes.
Resources
•
U.S. Foreign
Commercial Service
•
Department of State’s
Travel Warnings
•
U.S. Export-Import
Bank
3 C
onfirm accuracy and consistency of valuation of goods to
avoid unnecessary duties and taxes or a caged shipment.
3 D
ouble check that you have all your paperwork.
a. For additional help filling out paperwork and documents,
go to FedEx® Global Trade Manager.
•
U.S. Small Business
Administration
Research the Market
Geography & Economy
• Total area: 761,606 sq. mi.
•Capital: Mexico City
•Large cities: Mexico City, Guadalajara,
Monterrey
•Language: Spanish
•Currency: Mexican peso
•
Time zones:
- Southeast Zone (U.S. Eastern Time)
- Central Zone (U.S. Central Time)
- Pacific Zone (U.S. Mountain Time)
- Northwest Zone (U.S. Pacific Time)
Insights & Uniqueness
Learn what else sets Mexico apart, and discover ways you can make
the most of this international market.
• N
AFTA allows for customs duty reductions available for U.S. businesses
supplying products to the Mexican manufacturing industry.
• A
ctive efforts of U.S. and Mexican governments to create free trade
and greater economic cooperation
- Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
- High Level Economic Dialogue (HLED)
- Bilateral Forum on Higher Education, Innovation, and Research
-M
exico-United States Entrepreneurship and Innovation Council
(MUSEIC)
• N
ational Infrastructure Plan (2014) — focuses on major sectors:
transportation, water, energy, health, urban development,
communications, and tourism with an anticipated total investment
of $586 billion by the government over the next few years
• M
ail-order selling and teleshopping are rapidly increasing among
the 78% urban population
• The e-commerce market is forecasted to double by 2018
Barriers to Overcome
• High interest rates.
• The Mexican legal system differs in fundamental ways from the U.S. system. U.S. firms should consult with competent legal counsel before
entering into any business agreements with Mexican partners.
• The changing security environment in Mexico can present challenges
for U.S. companies. Economic activity is increasing, nonetheless.
• C
ontinued violence involving criminal organizations has created
insecurity in some parts of Mexico, including some border areas.
• M
exico’s size and diversity are often underappreciated by U.S.
exporters. It can be difficult to find a single distributor or agent to
cover this vast market.
CONTACT SUPPORT TEAMS
U.S. Census Bureau
1.800.549.0595
FedEx International Customer Support
1.800.GoFedEx 1.800.463.3339
Express Customer Service in Mexico
1.800.003.3339
Freight Customer Service
1.866.232.2942
FedEx International Regulatory Consulting
1.800.851.3336
Major Industry Revenue
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Machines, engines, pumps Computers and electronic equipment Oil Vehicles Plastics Organic chemicals Medical, technical equipment
Iron or steel products Iron and steel Paper $43.1 billion
$38.4 billion
$23.7 billion
$21.3 billion
$16.4 billion
$6.4 billion
$6.4 billion
$5.5 billion
$4.4 billion
$3.9 billion
Find the Best Way to Get
There – FedEx in Mexico
Choose the service that fits your needs, whether your delivery is
urgent or saving money is more important than speed.
Flexible service options
International Package Services
®
FedEx International First
FedEx International Priority
1 business day
®
FedEx International Economy
1 business day
®
International Freight Services
FedEx International
®
Priority Freight
FedEx International
®
Economy Freight
®
FedEx Freight Priority
Transit Times to and from Mexico
2 business days
Transit Times to and from Mexico
1 business day
3 business days
1–5+ business days
What does this mean for U.S. companies doing business in Mexico?
• Quicker clearance and delivery of urgent shipments to
certified businesses
• Earliest arrival and latest outbound to connect the world and meet manufacturing needs
• Faster availability of inbound shipments to select brokers
• Use of our dedicated, bonded clearance facilities and our exclusive alliance partner (DICEX)
• Earlier transmission of the Electronic Manifest Notification to
select brokers
• Wider coverage with the ability to ship not only to and from Mexico,
but also within Mexico
- 99% coverage of all ZIP codes in Mexico
FedEx Express in Mexico
Use our well-established presence in the Mexican market to reach beyond
your international business goals. FedEx Express Nacional, our domestic
express shipping service to Mexico, covers all 31 Mexican states and
the Federal District.
Our newest hub in San Martin Obispo covers more than 22,000 square
feet and can process 6,000 shipments per hour. Our expanded bonded
warehouse in Guadalajara, which serves as a principal center of operations
for FedEx Express® international and domestic shipments in Mexico,
transfers 90,000 tons of exports and imports every year.
FedEx Freight in Mexico
Enjoy door-to-door, border-to-border, and intra-Mexico LTL service from
FedEx Freight, headquartered in Monterey. We cover 100% of Mexican
ZIP codes, providing pickup and delivery through our exclusive provider
Auto Lineas America (ALA), which is the largest transportation group in
Mexico. From end to end, you’ll have assistance from both our dedicated
international customer service team and a bilingual Mexico customer
service team.