Top 10 States Most Affected by Potential Trade Issues with Mexico

Given the current uncertainty in the trade sector, WalletHub decided to explore the impact of the economic fallout with Mexico on individual states.

The analysts compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across five key metrics. The data set ranges from “exports to Mexico as a share of state GDP” to “share of jobs supported by trade with Mexico.”

Some highlights include:
 

• New Mexico is the most dependent state on exports to Mexico, supplying 45% of the state’s total exports to the country, whereas Hawaii is the least dependent, supplying 0.10%.
   
• Arizona is the most dependent state on imports from Mexico, receiving 39% of total U.S. imports from the country, whereas the District of Columbia is the least dependent, receiving 0.77%.
   
• Texas supplies the highest exports to Mexico as a share of state GDP, 6%, whereas the District of Columbia and Hawaii supply the lowest amount, almost zero.
   
• Michigan receives the highest imports from Mexico as a share of state GDP, 9%, whereas the District of Columbia receives the lowest amount at 0.01%.
   
• The District of Columbia has the highest share of jobs supported by trade with Mexico, 7%, whereas Oklahoma has the lowest at 3%.

1. Texas

Total exports for the state for 2015 were $248.2 billion. Of that $92.5 billion went to Mexico. 

The top 5 exports were:

• Consumer and electronic products
• Petroleum, coal
• Chemical products
• Machinery
• Transportation equipment

2. Arizona

Total exports for the state for 2015 were $22.7 billion. Of that $9.2 billion went to Mexico. 

The top 5 exports were:

• Consumer and electronic products
• Transportation equipment
• Minerals, ores
• Electronic equipment
• Machinery

3. Michigan

Total exports for the state for 2015 were $54 billion. Of that $11.7 billion went to Mexico. 

The top 5 exports were:

• Transportation Equipment
• Machinery
• Chemical products
• Consumer, electronic
• Electric equipment​

4. New Mexico

Total exports for the state for 2015 were $3.8 billion. Of that $1.7 billion went to Mexico. 

The top 5 exports were:

• Consumer and Electronic products
• Electric equipment
• Fabricated metal products
• Processing food
• Machinery​

5. Kentucky

Total exports for the state for 2015 were $27.6 billion. Of that $2.3 billion went to Mexico. 

The top 5 exports were:

• Transportation equipment
• Chemical products
• Consumer and electronic products
• Machinery
• Electrical equipment

6. Tennessee

Total exports for the state for 2015 were $32.6 billion. Of that $4.9 billion went to Mexico. 

The top 5 exports were:

• Transportation Equipment
• Consumer and Electronic products
• Chemical products
• Misc. 
• Machinery

7. Utah

Total exports for the state for 2015 were $13.3 billion. Of that $854 million went to Mexico. 

The top 5 exports were:

• Primary metals
• Consumer and electronic products
• Chemical products
• Processing food
• Transportation Equipment

8. Missouri

Total exports for the state for 2015 were $13.6 billion. Of that $2.5 billion went to Mexico. 

The top 5 exports were:

• Transportation Equipment
• Chemical products
• Machinery
• Processing food
• Electric equipment

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9. Alabama

Total exports for the state for 2015 were $19.3 billion. Of that $2.9 billion went to Mexico. 

The top 5 exports were:

• Transportation Equipment
• Chemical products
• Primary metal
• Machinery
• Paper

10. Iowa

Total exports for the state for 2015 were $13.2 billion. Of that $2.1 billion went to Mexico. 

The top 5 exports were:

• Machinery
• Processed foods
• Chemical products
• Agriculture products
• Transportation Equipment