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Tariffs

Mexican Steel Exports to US Decline Sharply Amid Rising Tariffs

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Mexican steel exports to the United States have declined sharply in the first half of 2025, hit hard by U.S. tariffs that have increased the cost of importing the alloy into the world's largest economy. Despite the decline, Mexico remained the third-largest steel exporter to the U.S., behind Canada and China. The implementation of U.S. tariffs has caused a significant increase in the rate of decline in Mexican steel exports to the U.S., from a 15.3% fall in the first half of 2023 to a 16.6% decline in the first half of 2025.

Key Takeaways:

  • Mexico's steel exports to the US declined by 16.6% in the first half of 2025, with a total value of US $4.59 billion, compared to the same period last year.
  • Mexico's share of the U.S. market for steel imports declined to 12.3% in the first half of 2025 from 13.4% in the same period of last year.
  • Despite the decline, Mexico remained the third-largest steel exporter to the U.S., behind Canada and China.
  • The implementation of U.S. tariffs on Mexican steel exports has caused a significant increase in the rate of decline, from 15.3% in the first half of 2023 to 16.6% in the first half of 2025.
  • Mexico imported U.S. steel and steel products worth $6.73 billion in the first six months of 2025, leaving it with a $2.14 billion deficit with the United States on the trade of the metal.
  • The Mexican government has argued that a tariff on Mexican steel is unfair and unjustified, given that Mexico runs a deficit with the United States on the trade of the metal.

Statistics:

  • Mexican steel exports to the US declined by 16.6% in the first half of 2025, with a total value of US $4.59 billion.
  • Mexico's share of the U.S. market for steel imports declined to 12.3% in the first half of 2025.
  • The implementation of U.S. tariffs on Mexican steel exports caused a significant increase in the rate of decline, from 15.3% in the first half of 2023 to 16.6% in the first half of 2025.
  • Mexico imported U.S. steel and steel products worth $6.73 billion in the first six months of 2025, leaving it with a $2.14 billion deficit with the United States on the trade of the metal.

Sources:

  • https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/mexico-us-steel-tariffs/
  • https://mexiconewsdaily.com/business/mexico-sheinbaum-trump-steel-and-aluminum-tariff/
  • https://mexiconewsdaily.com/mexico-living-guide/
  • https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/adjusting-imports-of-steel-into-the-united-states/
  • https://www.steelradar.com/en/haber/us-steel-imports-decreased-by-47-in-the-first-half-of-2025/
  • https://mexiconewsdaily.com/business/us-mexico-trade-quota-system-steel-tariffs/
  • https://mexiconewsdaily.com/business/mexicos-exports-to-the-us/

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