International Shipping 102: Shipping to Mexico From the U.S.

But there’s a lot you need to know about Mexico shipping practices before deciding whether or not selling into the country is the right choice for your business.

With Cinco de Mayo upon us, we’ll take a closer look at everything from the items you can and can’t ship into Mexico, to the specific services you can use to get your packages delivered.

Rules to Know Before Shipping to Mexico

Before we get into more granular detail around Mexico shipping fees or Mexico shipping taxes, there are some general rules to be aware of. For instance, did you know that some items are outright prohibited from being imported to Mexico from the U.S.?

A complete list can be found on the Mexican Customs website, but it includes items such as:

In other instances, items are restricted—meaning that they can be imported into the country, as long as specific rules and regulations are met. For instance:

FedEx and UPS maintain lists of prohibited and restricted items. Read through them to make sure your shipments qualify before going further with your Mexico shipping plans.

Tariffs, Taxes, and Fees When Shipping to Mexico

Shipping internationally comes with tariffs, taxes, fees, and customs requirements domestic sellers don’t have to worry about. A few key terms to familiarize yourself with include:

Consumers tend to prefer receiving DDP shipments, as everything is taken care of for them. However, because shipping DDP comes with additional responsibilities—for example, ensuring the right Harmonized Service (HS) codes are used to calculate customs obligations—it may not be worth the extra effort if your sales volume in Mexico will be low.

How to Sell to Customers in Mexico

Demand is, understandably, a major concern for retailers who are exploring shipping into a new country. Outside of questions around costs and logistics remains a big concern: will Mexican consumers buy my products?

Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to increase your odds of selling successfully in Mexico:

Cheapest Way to Ship to Mexico

Identifying the cheapest way to ship to Mexico depends heavily on the products and the volume of orders you’re shipping. However, there are several general guidelines that can help save you money on your Mexico deliveries:

Still need to cut costs when shipping to Mexico? Don’t forget—Shippo offers discounted rates of up to 86% off UPS international services and up to 75% off DHL Express international rates. Sign up now to see how much you can save.

Carrier Services for Shipping to Mexico and International Shipping

If, after all of these considerations, shipping to Mexico still seems like the right choice for your business, one of your last steps will be to choose a specific carrier service. While there are plenty of fast international shipping services that’ll get your packages across the border, there are key considerations when shipping internationally that you’ll want to keep in mind.

Some of the most popular services for shipping to Mexico include:

As with domestic shipping, there’s a tradeoff to be made with the international services listed above: for the most part, the faster you need your packages to arrive, the more expensive your shipping costs will be.

That said, there are a few exceptions to this general guideline:

Beyond the major international carriers, regional carriers such as Asendia and OrangeDS may also be able to help deliver your shipments to Mexico.

For help choosing the right carrier or service for your needs—or to access major discounts on your international shipping—reach out to Shippo or sign up for a free account to get started.In 2021 alone, U.S. companies exported $276.46 billion dollars worth of goods to Mexico. The country’s close proximity and positive trade relations through NAFTA make the market an appealing prospect for U.S. sellers shipping to Mexico.