Governor Pritzker displays a newly-signed update to Illinois’ Sister-State Memorandum of Understanding with Mexico, alongside Mexico Governor Delfina Gómez Álvarez.
Illinois’ trade with Mexico last year totaled over $32 billion in goods – making it the state’s third largest trading partner. As Intersect Illinois leadership returns from a trade mission with Governor Pritzker to Mexico City, we wanted to dig into the details of Illinois’ trade relationship with Mexico, as they are key partners in driving economic growth and stability.
Trade between Illinois and Mexico has grown 65.2% since 2020, surpassing the 56.7% increase the United States saw in trade with Mexico over the same period.
As Illinois’ third largest import market and second largest export market, trade with Mexico accounted for over 10% of all of Illinois’ bilateral trade in 2024. This relationship isn’t new; since 2009, Illinois has ranked fourth among the 50 states for imports from Mexico. Last year, Illinois’ total imports from Mexico reached $19.3 billion, a 5.9% increase from the previous year and a 43.8% increase since 2014. Illinois also ranked fourth among the 50 states for exports to Mexico in 2024, a ranking Illinois has held since 2016. Exports from Illinois to Mexico totaled just under $13 billion in 2024, a modest 0.6% increase from 2023 but a 62.3% increase over the past 10 years.
TOP ILLINOIS IMPORTS FROM MEXICO
The diversity of imports reflects the diversity of Illinois’ industries, though there are some areas of concentration that offer opportunities for business growth in Illinois. In 2024, Illinois imported more of the following from Mexico than any other country:
- 90.7% of imported beverages
- 72.8% of imported motor vehicles
- 30.1% of imported electrical equipment
- 26.5% of imported motor vehicle parts
The chart below shows the top commodities imported to Illinois from Mexico last year.
TOP ILLINOIS EXPORTS TO MEXICO
Exports from Illinois to Mexico similarly underscore a vital economic link. The nearly $13 billion export portfolio in 2024 was led by oilseeds and grains, medical equipment and supplies, and motor vehicle parts. These exports reflect the global strength of Illinois’ agricultural, manufacturing, and life sciences industries.
CONCLUSION
Given the substantial economic interactions across diverse sectors, Illinois’ trade relationship with Mexico remains a cornerstone of the state’s economic strategy. Strengthening this partnership, through trade missions like the one just led by Governor Pritzker, promise continued mutual benefit, ensuring that both Illinois and Mexico thrive in a competitive global marketplace.
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