Importing goods and customs clearance in Mexico

If you want to ship your goods to Mexico then you have to get them through customs and formally import them. This article describes a number of important aspects.

Please note that if you need help, there are various parties available to support you. 

Shipping your products

If you sell physical products, you need to get them delivered into Mexico. Depending on the country you are in, this may be a challenge.

First of all you may have to pay import duties or settle VAT. There are certain thresholds for both of these charges, e.g. while importing in the EU you don’t have to pay import duties on any shipment worth less than € 150. 

There may also be non-financial bariers, like certifications or approvals to be obtained. Especially for food, cosmetics or medicine this may be the case. Check this in advance, even before you invest in your marketing.

Validate your HS-codes before you ship

Almost every country or trade block in the world has its own detailing on the international HS-code list. With our report you strongly reduce the risk on misclassifications, delays and higher custom duties than expected.

Tell us what you want to ship and where to and we ask you all relevant questions to get to the most likely code.

Get your HS code VAlidation Report for only € 39

Importing goods into Mexico

Importing goods into Mexico involves compliance with regulations set by the Servicio de Administración Tributaria (SAT) and Aduanas México (Mexican Customs). These authorities oversee import duties, documentation, and regulations. For official guidance, visit the SAT Customs Portal – English.

General Import Process

  1. Customs Declaration
    • File an Import Declaration (Pedimento de Importación) electronically through the Mexican Customs platform, Ventanilla Única (VUCEM).
    • Required documents include a commercial invoice, bill of lading, packing list, and import permits if applicable.
  2. Import Duties and VAT
    • Duties depend on the product’s HS code. Use the Mexican Tariff Information System to calculate rates.
    • VAT (Impuesto al Valor Agregado, IVA):
      • Standard rate: 16%.
      • Reduced rate: 0% for essential goods such as basic food and medicines.
  3. Additional Non-Financial Requirements
    • Certain goods, such as electronics, chemicals, and food products, may require compliance with Normas Oficiales Mexicanas (NOMs), Mexico’s technical and safety standards.
    • Use the Access2Markets portal (Access2Markets) for specific product requirements.
  4. Inspection and Clearance
    • Customs inspections may occur. Processing time is typically 1-3 days if all documents are in order.
  5. Release of Goods
    • Once cleared, goods can be transported to their destination within Mexico.

Service Providers for Assistance

  1. Grupo T21 Logistics – t21.com.mx
  2. Transplace Mexico – transplace.com
  3. DHL Mexico – dhl.com
  4. Logis Mexicana – logis.com.mx
  5. OCASA Logistics – ocasa.com.mx

Importing Small Parcels

For small parcels, major couriers like DHL, FedEx, UPS, and Estafeta serve Mexico efficiently. Typical shipping costs for a 2kg parcel:

  • From the USA: $20-$40 (MXN 350-700) for economy services.
  • From China: $30-$50 (MXN 525-875) for economy shipping.

Express options (2-5 days) are available at higher costs. Rates depend on the courier, service level, and destination. Check directly with providers for accurate pricing.

Get funding from banks & investors

Entering a new market is an investment. Finding partners, contracts, translations and marketing costs money and you may need additional working capital.

Only with a good plan with enough financial data you can convince banks and investors to fund you. We help you with the complete business case and documentation.

Get your plan to convince them

Read more of our articles

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What is an Export Management Company (EMC)?
Cross-border commercial due diligence for private investors
HS Code List & Validation Report | Verify HS Codes in-depth
China market entry strategy: 5 lessons for success
Which country to select as your new export market?
Predicting revenue growth in a new export market

Frequently asked questions

The best way to find an importer in Mexico is to understand the sales channel for your product, and what parties are involved. Then find the right importers or wholesalers at the beginning of that chain. Before starting to push your product, approach a number of them to ask what they need. This way you can position your product better before you reach out to a broader group.
First check whether your product normally is sold through web shops in Mexico or that other distribution structures are more common. Then determine the characteristics of your ideal web shop, and find a number of these, or outsource this search. When you approach the first few, you will learn what they find important and who your competitors are.
As in any country, convincing an importer or wholesaler to put your product in his assortment is difficult. Importers in Mexico look at the rotation of the product, how easy and often they can sell it, and multiply this with the margin they can make on it. The result should be higher than they earn now from any competing product. Only if you have proper sales data, for example from other countries, they will engage in a discussion with you.