In a year marked by the Trump administration's tariffs and an appreciation of the peso, which made Mexican exports more expensive, Mexico surprisingly reached an unprecedented milestone in exports to the United States. The figures published by the U.S. Commerce Department indicate that Mexican sales to the U.S. hit approximately $535 billion, a historic peak that had never been achieved before. This growth comes despite challenges posed to the automotive sector, a cornerstone of the bilateral trade relationship, which experienced a decline, with U.S. imports of vehicles and auto parts from Mexico dropping by 7.2 percent last year.

The aggregated growth in exports was close to 6 percent compared to 2024, when sales stood around $505 billion. This translates to an increase of almost $30 billion in just one year, showcasing an impressive resilience of the Mexican export market amidst challenging trade conditions. However, the downturn in the automotive sector, which has traditionally been the backbone of trade between the two nations, raises questions about the sustainability of this growth and necessitates a closer examination of the factors driving the overall export performance beyond conventional narratives.

The situation reflects a complex interplay of trade dynamics, where factors such as diversification of goods, strong demand in other sectors, and perhaps strategic adjustments by Mexican exporters have played a significant role. Policymakers and business leaders will need to analyze these trends carefully, as they carry implications for trade relations with the U.S. and the ongoing evolution of the Mexican economy in a global context.