Mexico Matters

In Arizona, we know firsthand the positive impact international collaboration can have on our state. The Arizona-Mexico Commission has worked for nearly six decades to strengthen our relationship with Mexico, Arizona’s largest trading partner.

Under the leadership of Governor Doug Ducey, the Arizona-Mexico Commission strives to facilitate innovative and impactful ways to position Arizona at the forefront of an increasingly interconnected global economy.

Take a look at some of the numbers that drive our economic connection with Mexico.

• Mexico is Arizona’s largest trading partner times four. Arizona’s two-way trade with Mexico was $16.6 billion in 2018: nearly $7.6 billion in exports and $9 billion in imports. (Source: U.S. Census Bureau) 

• Arizona’s infrastructure supports international trade and tourism with six international border ports of entry, including one of the nation’s largest commercial ports, the Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona.
• Visitors from Mexico contribute between 60-70% of sales tax revenue in our border communities.
• Arizona’s expanded ports of entry are driving investment in infrastructure. Nearly $60 million of private investment has resulted from improvements to border infrastructure in Nogales, AZ for warehouses and distribution centers to support international commerce.
• Together, Arizona and Mexico are leaders in the automotive industry, importing $968 million and $761 million in auto parts in 2016 – net trade of nearly $1.7 billion annually.
• The automotive industry in Arizona and Sonora produces 1,488 vehicles daily, supporting more than 50,600 employees.

• Arizona’s ports of entry are a gateway for Arizona commerce and tourism. In 2018 Arizona saw crossing volumes of:
  • 25,118,397 people
  • 396,489 trucks
  • 12,793 buses
  • 9,334,650 cars
  • 737 trains
  • 7,110,476 pedestrians

(Source: United States Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics)

• Nearly 3.6 million people from Mexico choose Arizona as a travel destination annually, representing the largest segment of international tourism to Arizona.
• Tourism from Mexico accounts for the majority of all expenditures in Arizona by international visitors to the state. 
• Tourists from Mexico have an annual economic impact of $2.5 billion and support approximately 30,000 jobs throughout Arizona.  

(Source: Arizona Office of Tourism)