Mexico's merchandise exports will grow 26% in 2026, the second-best result among the 33 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean assessed by ECLAC, according to the report International Trade Outlook for Latin America and the Caribbean 2026 presented on October 15. Shipments will reach 835,325 million dollars, up from 665,598 million in 2025.
The increase combines a 21% rise in the volume of goods and 5% in prices, detailed Daniela García, director of the organization's Division of International Trade and Integration, during the presentation. Only Peru outpaces Mexico in the region, with 30%, while Brazil will grow 16%, according to the same projection. Overall, ECLAC estimates that exports from Latin America and the Caribbean will advance 20% this year, the largest increase since 2021. According to Expansión, the first half of 2026 already showed growth of 25%.
The engine is manufacturing integrated into North American production chains. Shipments of electronic components will double, with an increase above 100%, and machinery shipments will exceed 50%, driven by investment in artificial intelligence in the United States. José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, ECLAC's executive secretary, noted that Mexico displaced China as the main supplier of goods to the U.S. market, with a share of 15.7% in 2025. The organization added that the USMCA review initiated on July 1, 2026 has not slowed export dynamism.
For Mexican families, the figure translates into manufacturing jobs and the country's position as North America's export platform. ECLAC also projects that the region's services exports will grow 11%, supported by the recovery in transport and travel. The full ECLAC report on regional trade is available for consultation.
This article was drafted with artificial intelligence assistance from verified sources and reviewed by a human editor before publication.
