Mexico remained the United States' largest trading partner in June, with $89.2 billion in two-way commerce, according to the latest trade data from the Census Bureau. The June figure placed Mexico ahead of Canada at $67.9 billion and China at $34.7 billion, the data showed.
Mexico Leads U.S. Trade Partners in June
According to the Census Bureau, Mexico held the No. 1 ranking among U.S. trading partners during June, followed by Canada and China. The rankings reinforce Mexico's sustained position at the top of U.S. trade rankings, according to FreightWaves.
| Rank | Country | Total Trade |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico | $89.2 billion |
| 2 | Canada | $67.9 billion |
| 3 | China | $34.7 billion |
Laredo Remains the Busiest U.S. Gateway
Laredo, Texas, remained the nation's busiest international trade gateway, handling $36.5 billion in cross-border trade, according to Census Bureau data analyzed by WorldCity. Chicago O'Hare International Airport ranked No. 2 with $35.9 billion, while the Port of Los Angeles was No. 3 with $25.8 billion.
| Rank | U.S. Gateway | June Trade Volume |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Laredo, TX | $36.5 billion |
| 2 | Chicago O'Hare International Airport | $35.9 billion |
| 3 | Port of Los Angeles | $25.8 billion |
Port Laredo's performance highlights its role as the primary conduit for U.S.-Mexico commerce, particularly for manufactured goods moving between the two countries, according to FreightWaves. Key product categories moving through the gateway include:
- Automotive parts
- Vehicles
- Machinery
- Electronics
- Other manufactured goods
Laredo's trade volume accounted for more than one-third of all U.S.-Mexico commerce during the month, reinforcing the city's position as a critical hub for trucking, rail and customs operations along the southern border.
Laredo Outbound Tender Rejection Index Rises
As of Wednesday, the Outbound Tender Rejection Index for Laredo (OTRI.LRD) stood at 15.19%, compared with around 3.32% at the same time last year and 5.74% in 2024, according to FreightWaves. OTRI measures the percentage of truckload capacity requests that carriers decline.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| OTRI.LRD (Wednesday) | 15.19% |
| Same time last year | 3.32% |
| 2024 | 5.74% |
Since rejecting loads is generally undesirable for carriers, the year-over-year increase in rejection rates could indicate less available capacity or carriers rejecting contract freight in favor of better-paying opportunities, FreightWaves noted. For customs brokers and logistics providers, the index is a signal of how much leverage carriers have when accepting or declining freight in the Laredo market.
Why It Matters
Mexico's continued lead as America's largest trading partner — coupled with Laredo's position as the nation's busiest trade gateway — highlights the growing importance of U.S.-Mexico supply chains and the central role cross-border freight plays in North American commerce, according to FreightWaves. The June data underscores Laredo's outsized share of that trade, with more than a third of all U.S.-Mexico cargo moving through the Texas gateway, and the elevated OTRI.LRD reading points to a tighter truckload market at the border compared with the same time last year and 2024. FreightWaves reporter Noi Mahoney wrote the original report, based on Census Bureau data and WorldCity analysis.
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