Shipping to Mexico

Shipping to Mexico can be a bit of a challenge due to security concerns, but it is simpler than shipping to other places, such as India. Almost the only thing that is prohibited from being shipped to Mexico is wooden pallets, because the Mexican Government wants to prevent diseases to the natural forests and animals there. This only makes sense. Mistakes in items allowed into America caused the great chestnut forests of Appalachia to die out, and the locust trees once so prevalent there have a sickly population right now, as well. Make certain before you ship to Mexico that if you are using wooden pallets or containers, they are an allowed type.

Goods allowed to be shipped to Mexico are many, and there are many ways for your goods to reach their destination. Planes, trains, ships, and trucks are all very viable methods of shipping to Mexico, and most shippers/exporters use a combination of at least two of these. The best thing to do if you are considering becoming a shipper/exporter to Mexico is to research the industry or business you work in, and see which opportunities are most viable for you. In other words, look to see if there is enough of a market to make the tariffs, duties and shipping expenses worth your effort. You can get a list of good industries in Mexico at: http://www.buyusa.gov/mexico

Another good practice is to find an exporting or shipping broker to act as a go-between for you and the Mexican Authorities. These people will be up to date and knowledgeable about Mexican shipping practices and customs, as well as best shipping practices for your particular goods.

There are few restrictions on what may be shipped/exported to Mexico, or in what amounts, especially from the U.S. The North American Free Trade Agreement enacted in the 1990’s by the Clinton Administration is responsible for the opening up of trade and outsourcing to Mexico. This was certainly not popular at the time, but it has made exporting and shipping to Mexico easier and opened up new trade avenues for many types of businesses.

You will also want to be sure you ship your goods to Mexico well in advance of the date you expect to deliver them to a consumer (s). Even though exporting to Mexico has gotten somewhat easier in the last two decades, there is still a good bit of Governmental red tape to be cut through before your goods will clear customs. This is where the shipping broker comes in; they can help you be certain you have all the proper documentation, and that you are not shipping something that has been recently prohibited or restricted, or that your goods will be refused at the border because of some small glitch that turns into a large problem for you, the shipper.

You can also find a list of regulations (which are many) at http://www.buyusa.gov/mexico/ . This will make your exporting experience to Mexico a much less stressful and confusing experience for you and your company.