Mexico: Container Market 2025

Container Market Size in Mexico

The Mexican container market reached $X in 2022, stabilizing at the previous year. Overall, the total consumption indicated a pronounced increase from 2012 to 2022: its value increased at an average annual rate of +4.1% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, consumption increased by +3.8% against 2020 indices. Container consumption peaked at $X in 2017; however, from 2018 to 2022, consumption failed to regain momentum.

Container Production in Mexico

In value terms, container production stood at $X in 2022 estimated in export price. In general, the total production indicated a pronounced expansion from 2012 to 2022: its value increased at an average annual rate of +4.5% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, production decreased by +0.2% against 2019 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2016 when the production volume increased by 57% against the previous year. Over the period under review, production reached the maximum level at $X in 2017; however, from 2018 to 2022, production remained at a lower figure.

Container Exports

Exports from Mexico

In 2022, exports of tanks, casks, drums, cans, boxes and similar containers from Mexico reached X units, picking up by 7.2% compared with the year before. Over the period under review, exports posted a strong increase. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2018 when exports increased by 113%. Over the period under review, the exports attained the peak figure in 2022 and are likely to continue growth in the near future.

In value terms, container exports totaled $X in 2022. Overall, exports posted prominent growth. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 with an increase of 79% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the exports reached the maximum in 2022 and are likely to continue growth in years to come.

Exports by Country

The United States (X units) was the main destination for container exports from Mexico, with a 90% share of total exports. Moreover, container exports to the United States exceeded the volume sent to the second major destination, Guatemala (X units), more than tenfold.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual rate of growth in terms of volume to the United States amounted to +8.5%. Exports to the other major destinations recorded the following average annual rates of exports growth: Guatemala (+5.7% per year) and Costa Rica (+14.1% per year).

In value terms, the United States ($X) remains the key foreign market for tanks, casks, drums, cans, boxes and similar containers exports from Mexico, comprising 92% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was taken by Guatemala ($X), with a 6.9% share of total exports.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual growth rate of value to the United States stood at +11.7%. Exports to the other major destinations recorded the following average annual rates of exports growth: Guatemala (+5.4% per year) and Costa Rica (+4.5% per year).

Export Prices by Country

The average container export price stood at $X per unit in 2022, flattening at the previous year. Over the period under review, export price indicated a mild expansion from 2012 to 2022: its price increased at an average annual rate of +1.9% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, container export price increased by +1.2% against 2018 indices. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2016 an increase of 56% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the average export prices attained the maximum at $X per unit in 2017; however, from 2018 to 2022, the export prices remained at a lower figure.

There were significant differences in the average prices for the major export markets. In 2022, amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was the United States ($X per unit), while the average price for exports to Costa Rica ($X per unit) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for supplies to the United States (+3.0%), while the prices for the other major destinations experienced a decline.

Container Imports

Imports into Mexico

In 2022, approx. X units of tanks, casks, drums, cans, boxes and similar containers were imported into Mexico; rising by 25% against the year before. Overall, total imports indicated prominent growth from 2012 to 2022: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +6.4% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, imports increased by +14.9% against 2019 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2019 with an increase of 77%. Over the period under review, imports hit record highs in 2022 and are expected to retain growth in the immediate term.

In value terms, container imports skyrocketed to $X in 2022. Over the period under review, imports saw a resilient increase. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2019 when imports increased by 85% against the previous year. Imports peaked in 2022 and are expected to retain growth in the near future.

Imports by Country

In 2022, the United States (X units) constituted the largest supplier of container to Mexico, accounting for a 63% share of total imports. Moreover, container imports from the United States exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest supplier, China (X units), fourfold. Germany (X units) ranked third in terms of total imports with a 5.6% share.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual growth rate of volume from the United States stood at +6.7%. The remaining supplying countries recorded the following average annual rates of imports growth: China (+16.2% per year) and Germany (+1.2% per year).

In value terms, the United States ($X) constituted the largest supplier of tanks, casks, drums, cans, boxes and similar containers to Mexico, comprising 56% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was held by Germany ($X), with a 16% share of total imports. It was followed by China, with a 14% share.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual growth rate of value from the United States totaled +14.2%. The remaining supplying countries recorded the following average annual rates of imports growth: Germany (+23.8% per year) and China (+19.1% per year).

Import Prices by Country

The average container import price stood at $X per unit in 2022, with an increase of 9.5% against the previous year. Over the period under review, import price indicated a strong expansion from 2012 to 2022: its price increased at an average annual rate of +7.2% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, container import price increased by +101.2% against 2012 indices. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2015 when the average import price increased by 20%. The import price peaked in 2022 and is likely to see steady growth in years to come.

Prices varied noticeably by country of origin: amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was Germany ($X per unit), while the price for Colombia ($X per unit) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Germany (+22.3%), while the prices for the other major suppliers experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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