Mexico in Numbers: The border state powering Mexico’s export boom

Mexico had a record year for exports in 2025, shipping products abroad worth US $664.83 billion, an annual increase of 7.6%.

Goods were made in factories across Mexico, fresh produce was grown on farms all over the country and oil was pumped from the Gulf of Mexico and onshore fields.

But, of Mexico’s 32 federal entities, which generated the most export revenue last year?

Which state increased their export revenue by the largest percentage between 2024 and 2025?

Let’s delve into the numbers, as published by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI).

Mexico’s top 5 export states 

  1. Chihuahua —  Mexico’s largest state by area — was easily Mexico’s top export state in 2025, shipping goods abroad worth US $109.5 billion. The northern border state is a hub for factories and one of Mexico’s top agricultural producers.
  2. Coahuila, a northern border state east of Chihuahua that is also a manufacturing hub, was Mexico’s second biggest exporter in 2025. The state’s exports totaled $65.5 billion.
  3. Nuevo León, a northern border state east of Coahuila, ranked third with exports worth $59.06 billion in 2025.
  4. Baja California, which borders the U.S. State of California, was Mexico’s fourth biggest exporter in 2025, with revenue totaling $56.62 billion.
  5. Jalisco ranked fifth with exports worth $52.57 billion in 2025. It is the only state in the top five that doesn’t border the United States.

The other end of the export ladder 

In case you were wondering which states generate the least export revenue, here’s the list of the bottom 5 in 2025.

  • The Caribbean coast, tourism-oriented state of Quintana Roo ranked last out of Mexico’s 32 federal entities for export revenue in 2025. Earnings totaled just $19.51 million.
  • Second last for export earnings in 2025 was the Pacific coast state of Nayarit, with $355.36 million.
  • Ranking third last in 2025 was Baja California Sur, with export revenue of $396.71 million.
  • In fourth last position was Guerrero, with export earnings of $921.25 million.
  • Rounding out the bottom five states for export earnings last year was the southern state of Chiapas, with revenue of $1.31 billion.

The top states for export gains

A graphic shows the top 5 mexican states in terms of growth in exports between 2024 and 2025

The states which increased their export earnings by the largest percentages in 2025 were:

  1. Jalisco: 66.2% increase to $52.57 billion.
  2. Chihuahua: 45.1% increase to $109.5 billion.
  3. Colima: 27.8% increase to $1.95 billion.
  4. Zacatecas: 22.6% increase to $4.93 billion.
  5. Yucatán: 21% increase to $2.56 billion.

Export earnings increased in 16 of Mexico’s federal entities in 2025 and declined in 16.

Mexico News Daily 

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