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In 2023 alone, the U.S. shipped $6.05 billion to Mexico. However, despite their proximity to one another, shipping between Mexico and the United States ins’t as easy as it might seem. Without a solid understanding of the trade agreements and customs regulations, you could be setting your shipment up for failure.
Key Takeaways
Join us as we review the details involved in successfully shipping textiles from the U.S. to Mexico.
Table of Contents
You might be surprised to find out that, by dollar value, Mexico imported more textiles from the U.S. in 2023 than it exported. To help put this in perspective, I’ve compiled data for some of the most popular textiles traded between the two countries from that year in the table below.
| Textile Commodity | Value of Exports From the U.S. to Mexico | Value of Imports From Mexico to the U.S. |
| Impregnated, Coated, Covered or Laminated Textile Fabrics; Fabrics Suitable for Industrial Use | $1,016 million | $430 million |
| Wadding, Felt | $782 million | $197 million |
| Knitted or Crocheted Fabrics | $296 million | $37 million |
| Cotton, Including Yarn | $423 million | $53 million |
| Man-made Filaments, Including Yarn | $522 million | $132 million |
Selling textiles to Mexican businesses is clearly a profitable practice for exporters in the United States. In order to properly take advantage of this opportunity, you’ll first need to understand the rules and regulations regarding textiles destined for the Mexican market.
Regulation for Shipping Textiles to MexicoIf you’re an exporter shipping goods of any kind from the U.S. to Mexico, chances are you’re working with an importer in the receiving country. This means the regulations affecting your goods generally fall into one of three categories.
Let’s start by looking at requirements for importers in Mexico.
Importers in Mexico are required to register with the Padrón de Importadores, or Official Register of Importers. Furthermore, some of the most commonly imported goods require importers to apply to the Padrón’s parent administration, the Secretariat of Finance and Public Credit (SHCP). The SHCP maintains a list of items that require this extra level of registration, and it’s not unheard of for exporters to encounter difficulties when items are suddenly added to this list.
The list is arranged by sectors, and textiles are included on it. This means that the importer must be registered for textiles themselves and, if applicable, goods such as shoes and apparel that are commonly made of textiles.
When transacting business with a customer in Mexico, you’ll want to make sure they are appropriately registered to avoid issues at the border. As a shipper or exporter, you’ll also need to label your products according to the pertinent Norma Oficial Mexicana (NOMs), aka Official Mexican Standards.
Related: Shipping Shoes to Mexico
Textile regulations are covered under NOM-004-SE-2021, which lays out labeling requirements for textile goods. On a general level, these include the following:
All of this information must be presented in Spanish, though English and other languages may also be included on the label.
Additional labeling requirements exist based on the commodity itself and the manufacturing process. For instance, bedclothes like sheets and blankets must have labels permanently affixed to the product itself, while stockings, socks, and pantyhose only need to be labeled on their packaging.
Under the USMCA, importers on the Mexican side pay little to no duty on U.S.-sourced textiles. However, in order for a textile to be considered a product of the U.S., it must meet certain minimum requirements regarding the source(s) of its constituent materials. These are referred to as rules of origin.
Rules of origin for textile goods are based on an ‘X forward’ model, where X is a fundamental material in the manufacture of the finished product.
No matter which rule of origin your goods are classified under, assembly and production processes must occur within the United States, Mexico, or Canada.
The rules of origin for textiles are assigned based on Harmonized Schedule (HS) codes. However, there are some guidelines as to which rules you can expect based on the general nature of the goods in question.
A noteworthy exception to these rules, referred to as de minimis, allows up to 10% (by weight) of the yarn and fibers used to make textile goods to be sourced from outside the USMCA region.
Much of the responsibility for proper documentation of the shipment falls on the importer of the goods. That said, the exporter should maintain open communication with the importer, and understand the documents involved on both sides of the exchange.
In order for U.S. goods to enter Mexico, they will need to be accompanied by a number of documents, including the following.
These documents must be in Spanish, along with any labels, tags, and other printed materials.
If a shipment claims preferential tariff treatment under USMCA, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Mexican Customs agents may inspect it to verify that claim. If there is a mistake in the documentation, the shipment could be detained and delayed.
Wait times for border crossing vary based on factors like traffic, weather, and if your shipment is selected for inspections. However, USMCA regulations are designed to mitigate delays due to CBP actions, especially for shippers and importers with a proven track record of compliance.
Related: How to Ship Freight to Mexico
When selecting a shipping service for transporting your freight, you should make sure that your carrier is experienced with transporting freight across the U.S.-Mexico border. That’s where we come in.
R+L Global Logistics has over 30 years of experience handling the complicated process of cross-border logistics. We can get you in touch with experienced, trusted carriers that will treat your shipment with the utmost care. Our expedited freight options and real-time freight tracking lets you get your shipments delivered on a time-sensitive basis, with transparency at every level of the shipping process.
Our full list of logistics services also includes:
If you need to ship textiles to Mexico, give us a call at (866) 335-0495 or contact us online. We can help you thread your way through the complexities of international shipping.
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