Mexico city at goldenhour

Mexico Trade February 2019

Mexico: Trade surplus hides downbeat manufacturing in February

Merchandise trade recorded a sizable USD 1.2 billion surplus in February, up from the USD 0.9 billion windfall registered in the same month a year ago and in line with analysts’ expectations. Despite the rosy headline, February’s surplus was almost entirely due to a drop in oil imports related to the transitory bottlenecks arising from efforts to halt fuel theft. Moreover, the result contrasted the USD 4.8 billion deficit recorded in January.

Export growth on an annual basis slid to 3.5% from 5.7% in January, hurt by manufacturing exports. For its part, automotive-sector export growth fell sharply from a month earlier. Import growth, meanwhile, fell to 2.7% from 6.1% in January. Intermediate-good import growth—typically, a bellwether for manufacturing output—slipped from a month earlier. On the upside, consumer-good import growth ticked higher.

As such, the 12-month trailing trade deficit narrowed to USD 13.8 billion from USD 14.1 billion in January.

Free sample report

Access essential information in the shortest time possible. FocusEconomics provide hundreds of consensus forecast reports from the most reputable economic research authorities in the world.
Close Left Media Arrows Left Media Circles Right Media Arrows Right Media Circles Arrow Quote Wave Address Email Telephone Man in front of screen with line chart Document with bar chart and magnifying glass Application window with bar chart Target with arrow Line Chart Stopwatch Globe with arrows Document with bar chart in front of screen Bar chart with magnifying glass and dollar sign Lightbulb Document with bookmark Laptop with download icon Calendar Icon Nav Menu Arrow Arrow Right Long Icon Arrow Right Icon Chevron Right Icon Chevron Left Icon Briefcase Icon Linkedin In Icon Full Linkedin Icon Filter Facebook Linkedin Twitter Pinterest