Borderlands Mexico is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of United States-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade. This week: Exports of Mexican-made trucks to US fell 54% in January; China-based Daimay opens first auto plant in Mexico and Alliant Insurance acquires a trucking portfolio, opens Laredo office.
Mexico’s heavy-duty truck exports to the U.S. — a critical barometer for North American freight — dropped sharply in January, potentially flashing an early warning sign for cross-border trade flows in 2026.
Mexico exported 5,076 heavy vehicles in January, down 53.8% year over year, according to data from Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography. The U.S.remained by far the primary destination, accounting for 94.2% of those exports, or 4,783 units.
“The tariff uncertainty and volatility we experienced in 2025 have impacted the industry,” Alejandro Osorio, director of public affairs for Mexico’s National Association of Bus, Truck and Tractor-Trailer Manufacturers (Anpact) said during a news conference on Wednesday.
“Once the variables stabilize and once the transportation companies assess the costs involved, we believe the market could return to a growth trajectory. Once the U.S. economy resumes growth, there will be more purchases.”
The 16 members of Anpact in Mexico are Freightliner, Kenworth, Navistar, Hino, International, DINA, MAN SE, Mercedes-Benz, Isuzu, Scania, Shacman Trucks, Foton, Cummins, Detroit Diesel, Daimler Buses Mexico and Volkswagen Buses.
The export slump came alongside a steep contraction in domestic manufacturing output. Mexico produced 6,793 heavy vehicles in January, a 51.9% drop compared to 14,108 units in the same month last year.
Osorio said the slowdown could also affect employment in the country’s trucking sector.
“The impact on employment is a worrying issue, and at Anpact we will work to reverse this trend, confident that the sector’s recovery will bring new job opportunities for the benefit of Mexicans,” Osorio said.
Osorio also urged the Mexican government to accelerate fleet-renewal programs — noting the average heavy-truck fleet age in Mexico is 19 years — and to curb imports of used heavy trucks from the U.S., which they argue distort the domestic market.
Freightliner was the top truck producer and exporter in Mexico in January, producing 3,743 trucks, a 53% year-over-year decline. The truck maker exported 3,556 units during January, a 50% year-over-year decrease.
International Trucks Inc. was the No. 2 producer and exporter during the month, manufacturing 1,970 trucks, a 50% year-over-year decrease. The truck maker’s exports fell 56% year-over-year to 1,445 units during the month.
