Tracking U.S. Grain, Oilseed and Related Product Exports in Mexico (Summary)

Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Texas A&M Transportation Institute scientists found that rail continues to be the most important mode of transport for U.S. grains, oilseeds, and products entering Mexico, followed by seaports and trucks. Nearly all Mexican land ports of entry are connected with a U.S. railroad, except for Nuevo Progreso, which does not have rail access (Fig. 1). Increased rail efficiency caused by larger trains and gauge uniformity facilitates North America Railroads (Canada, United States, and Mexico) integration. Once inside Mexico, the majority of the U.S. exports were shipped by rail within Mexico to their final destination (Fig. 2). Two major Mexican rail companies: Ferromex/Ferrosur and Kansas City Southern de Mexico handled U.S. grains, oilseeds, and related products inside Mexico. Jalisco is the largest single destination for rail shipments, followed by Queretaro, and the Estado de Mexico. The largest rail origin-destination pairs, with at least a million metric tons, include Nuevo Laredo-Queretaro, Piedras Negras-Jalisco, Veracruz-Puebla, Nuevo Laredo-Nuevo Leon, Nuevo Laredo-Estado de Mexico, and Ciudad Juárez-Jalisco.