International shipping should be a possibility for businesses of all sizes. GlobalPost provides merchants with simplified ways to open doors to international markets, including Mexico. Shipping to Mexico is made easy through GlobalPost’s features like our Duties and Taxes Calculator and services like GlobalPost Plus, so you can potentially boost sales while keeping the focus on your business.
Why should your business ship to Mexico?
The benefits of adding Mexico to your list of international shipping destinations are undeniable. Mexico is responsible for 28% of Latin America’s ecommerce revenue, contributing $38 million USD, and by 2025, Mexico is projected to have almost 78 billion online shoppers. Your business wants to be included in these numbers. And, with the US having exported over $324 billion worth of goods to Mexico in 2022, it’s more than possible to start shipping your products there.
Streamlining customs forms
Customs forms are one of the most important pieces of the international shipping puzzle, and it’s crucial to fill them out correctly; it streamlines the customs process, ensuring a better experience for your business and your customers. Before expanding your international offerings, check for international shipping restrictions and guidelines, as they can vary by country. The following products can’t be shipped to Mexico:
- Alcohol
- Weapons
- Tobacco
- Seeds
- Plants
- Precious metals
- Furs
- eCigarettes
Once you’ve confirmed your products can be shipped to destinations like Mexico, it’s time to start selling and filling out customs forms for your orders.
HS codes and item descriptions
Currently, only shipments traveling through or to the EU require HS codes, but it’s better to include HS codes whenever possible. As a reminder, HS codes are universally recognized numerical codes used to represent products being shipped. The good news is that as long as the information is correct on your customs forms, GlobalPost will add the correct HS code for you. If you would rather look up HS codes yourself, you can utilize our Free HS Tariff Lookup tool for up to five free daily lookups.
Also, keep your item descriptions as accurate as possible and avoid vague wording. For example, instead of “clothes” or “shirt,” specify the style, color, and other identifying characteristics. Accurate item descriptions not only make for a more efficient customs process, but it helps GlobalPost apply the correct HS code to your shipment.
Duties and taxes
Determining how duties and taxes will be paid is essential. Duties and taxes are calculated based on factors like a shipment’s destination, the product you’re shipping, and the cost of the products being shipped. These fees can either be paid by the shipper or by the customer/recipient.
When shipping to Mexico, you’ll need to understand de minimus value, or the minimum threshold for taxing imported goods. If the items in your shipment are valued at over $117 USD, they will have taxes and duties applied. If the items in your shipment are valued from $40-$117, they will have taxes applied.
Delivered Duty Paid, or DDP, is when the duties and taxes are paid by the shipper and don’t have to be paid by the customer on delivery. Delivered Duty Unpaid, or DDU, is when duties and taxes are paid by the customer when their package arrives. GlobalPost Plus includes DDP when shipping to Mexico, so you can streamline the customs process and pay the taxes and duties for customers.
We recommend communicating how the duties and taxes will be paid to customers in advance to avoid returned packages and customer dissatisfaction. Additionally, confirm your customs information reflects who will be paying the duties and taxes to prevent any hold-ups. If you aren’t sure how to calculate the taxes and duties for your shipment, use our Duties and Taxes Calculator to estimate the cost.
Available GlobalPost services
GlobalPost Standard International, GlobalPost Economy International, and GlobalPost Plus can all be used when shipping to Mexico. GlobalPost Economy International shipments include door-to-country tracking and can be used for shipments weighing up to 4.4 pounds. GlobalPost Standard International and GlobalPost Plus each include door-to-door tracking and can be used for shipments up to 70 pounds and 66 pounds, respectively. More information on these services can be found in the table below.
| GlobalPost Economy International | GlobalPost Standard International | GlobalPost Plus | |
| Weight Limit Per Package | 4.4 lbs. | Up to 70 lbs.* | Up to 66 lbs.* |
| Package Types | Flats up to 16 oz., Packages up to 4.4 lbs. | Packages up to 70 lbs. | Packages up to 66 lbs. |
| Transit | 10-14 days | 10-14 days | 4-8 days |
| Max. Value of Goods | $400 | Varies by country | Varies by country |
| Free Coverage | Not included | Up to $100 in loss or damages, plus shipping cost | Up to $200 against loss or damage, plus shipping costs |
| Duties & Taxes | Paid by buyer | Paid by buyer | Paid by shipper |
| Tracking | Door-to-Country | Door-to-Door | Door-to-Door |
| Supported Destination Countries | 220+ countries and territories | 220+ countries and territories | CA, MX, UK, AU, NZ, HK, |
How GlobalPost supports shipping to Mexico
As a business owner, we understand that you need to focus your time and energy on your business. GlobalPost provides support to all users via phone and email, so think of us as your private authority on international business. In addition to customer support, we offer up to $100 of free parcel coverage on GlobalPost Standard International shipments, plus the cost of shipping and up to $200 of free parcel coverage on GlobalPost Plus.
You can also purchase supplemental insurance, as long as the insurance cost isn’t more than the total worth of the items in your package. All insurance claims are filed through GlobalPost, so you don’t have to reach out to other providers.
International shipping shouldn’t limit your business’s growth. GlobalPost wants to see your business successfully grow into the international marketplaces by providing you with support resources and eliminating the need for printed customs forms. Let GlobalPost help you ship around the globe!
Click here to download your copy of our “How to Ship to Mexico” guide and learn how to get started.