Port Laredo posts record $199.21 billion in trade during first half of 2026 as manufacturing drives growth
Port Laredo closed the first half of 2026 with $199.21 billion in cross-border trade, the highest six-month volume in the port’s history, according to Port Laredo. The result reflects sustained growth in advanced manufacturing across North America’s automotive, electronics and aerospace supply chains, said Felipe Romero, Director of Marketing and Communications at Port Laredo, in a statement from the port. June alone generated $36.46 billion in trade, surpassing the previous record of $36.33 billion set in May, reinforcing the Laredo-Nuevo Laredo corridor’s position as a primary route for manufacturers coordinating production across Mexico, the United States and Canada.
Computer equipment imports rise 153.82% as manufacturers route more cargo through Laredo
Imports of computer equipment through the port grew 153.82% during the period, while aircraft parts imports increased 58%. Together, these gains underscore the port’s growing role in high-value manufacturing supply chains, particularly as it holds the top national ranking in exports of motor vehicle engines and parts.
“The first six months of 2026 generated close to $200 billion in trade, the highest volume for a first half in the history of Port Laredo. Behind those numbers is something even more important: advanced manufacturing. North American manufacturing is not slowing down; it is moving through Port Laredo,” Romero said in a statement issued by Port Laredo.
Laredo’s trade share depends on which trade flow is being measured
Port Laredo reported that the corridor handled 39.29% of all U.S. international trade across land, air and sea ports combined during the first half of the year. Separately, COMCE Noreste has stated that 44.68% of all cross-border trade between Mexico and the United States moves through Laredo specifically. The two percentages describe different universes: one measures Laredo’s share of total U.S. trade with the world, the other measures its share of bilateral Mexico-U.S. trade alone. Both can be accurate at once, but they are not interchangeable, and citing one in place of the other would misstate the port’s actual position.
What the volume through Laredo means for companies moving goods across the border
The pace of computer equipment, automotive components and other manufactured goods crossing through Laredo points to a corridor operating near capacity, with growing pressure on customs processing, warehousing and cross-border transportation to keep up with demand. Companies coordinating supply chains between plants in Mexico and the United States face longer planning horizons for freight capacity and brokerage as volumes climb month over month.
Sources: Port Laredo, COMCE Noreste in national media
