Mexico tops US trade rankings in June as Laredo handles $36.5B in freight

Mexico retained its position as 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 .

Mexico ranked No. 1 among U.S. trading partners during June, ahead of Canada at $67.9 billion and China at $34.7 billion. 

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 was the No. 2 ranked U.S. gateway for trade in June at $35.9 billion, while the Port of Los Angeles was No. 3 at $25.8 billion.

Port Laredo’s performance highlights its role as the primary conduit for U.S.-Mexico commerce, particularly for automotive parts, vehicles, machinery, electronics and other manufactured goods moving between the two countries.

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.

As of Wednesday, the Outbound Tender Rejection Index for Laredo (OTRI.LRD) was at 15.19%, compared to around 3.32% at the same time last year and 5.74% in 2024.

OTRI measures the percentage of truckload capacity requests that carriers decline. 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.

The Outbound Tender Rejection Index for Laredo (OTRI.LRD) was at 15.19% on Aug. 12, far higher than the same period in the last three years. To learn more about SONAR, click here .

Top U.S. trading partners – June 2026

Rank Country Total Trade 1 Mexico $89.2 billion 2 Canada $67.9 billion 3 China $34.7 billion

Top U.S. international gateways – June 2026

Rank U.S. Gateway June Trade Volume 1 Laredo, TX $36.5B 2 Chicago O’Hare International Airport $35.9B 3 Port of Los Angeles $25.8B

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.

The post Mexico tops US trade rankings in June as Laredo handles $36.5B in freight appeared first on FreightWaves .