Mexico reports increased imports in May. Is this good or bad for the country?

In May 2025, Mexico exported $55.476 billion in merchandise, but at the same time imported $54.447 billion in products, according to data from INEGI. This left a small positive balance of $1.029 billion; however, in percentage terms, imports increased compared to previous periods. But is this good or bad?

First, you need to understand what exporting and importing mean. Exporting is selling products abroad; importing is buying them. If Mexico exports more than it imports, that generates profits that help strengthen the national economy. But if it imports more than it exports, there could be concern, especially if it becomes a habit.

In this case, although imports grew 1.4% compared to May of last year, exports fell 0.4%. Sales of oil and agricultural products fell the most. However, the country managed to maintain a small surplus because non-oil exports (such as machinery and industrial products) remained strong.

Importing isn't inherently a bad thing. In fact, many Mexican companies need to purchase machinery, technology, or inputs from abroad to be able to produce here. In May, for example, purchases of intermediate goods, which are used to manufacture other products, increased. This may be a sign that the industry is active.

On the other hand, there is concern that automotive exports, one of the country's main sources of income, fell 9%. Sales of tomatoes, cucumbers, and cattle also fell. If this continues, it could affect domestic producers.

In short, although Mexico bought more things abroad and sold slightly less, the overall balance was positive. But this result depends greatly on the type of products being exported and imported. If what is purchased helps increase production at home, that's a good sign. If we start importing more because domestic production is declining, that would be worrisome.

For now, foreign trade remains an important source of income for Mexico. But it's important to monitor what is sold, what is purchased, and how this impacts the lives of the country's workers and businesses.