Port Laredo: The Largest Inland Port on the U.S.-Mexico Border
P ort Laredo is the busiest inland port along the U.S.-Mexico border, with more than $284 billion in imports and exports crossing the border each year. The port, operated by the city of Laredo, includes the World Trade Bridge, the Colombia Solidarity Bridge, and the Laredo International Airport.Two additional bridges serve non-commercial and pedestrian border crossings. Strategic Location Laredo is strategically located at the southern terminus of Interstate-35. All of the city’s industrial parks and logistics centers are within close proximity to the highway. Approximately 4 million trucks a year cross the Port Laredo border—about 14,000 commercial trucks each day. The city of Laredo is situated about halfway between San Antonio,Texas and Monterrey, Mexico. Nearly $8 billion a year in Texas exports originate in Laredo, making it one of the state’s top 10 exporting metros. Exports from the U.S. that flow through Port Laredo ultimately ship to more than 60 countries.The city of Laredo has a robust trade infrastructure, including more than 500 freight forwarders, over 100 customs brokers and, about 200 trucking companies. According to a 2016 report from the Texas Center for Border Economic and Enterprise Development at Texas A&M University, 23 percent of all U.S.-Mexico commercial traffic goes through the Laredo port of entry. Moreover, according to the report, Nuevo León, across the border from Laredo, is the fourth most competitive state of Mexico. Laredo also is well-situated to benefit from the Eagle Ford Shale / Burgos Basin, which has the potential to yield about 3.4 billion barrels of oil and 21 billion cubic feet of natural gas. Looking ahead, development of this capacity is expected to help fuel economic development in the Laredo metropolitan area. Laredo International Airport Laredo International Airport, also operated by the city of Laredo, is a leading NAFTA gateway for air cargo. It is the
only airport on the U.S.-Mexico border with 24/7 U.S. customs (CBP) processing, as well as round-the-clock Mexican customs pre-clearance (SAT). About 224,000 tons of cargo moves through the airport each year. Leading exports shipped via the airport include aerospace, automotive and electronics products. The airport is also served by Foreign Trade Zone 94 and three commercial airlines offering daily passenger service. More than $230 million in infrastructure improvements have been made at Laredo International Airport over the past decade. Intermodal Rail Service International rail service in Laredo is provided by the Union Pacific and Kansas City Southern railroads. Union Pacific owns the Laredo rail bridge. Kansas City Southern Railroad interchanges with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe line, and serves the Mexican ports of Veracruz,Tampico, Lazaro Cardenas,Toluca, and Monterrey. More than 500,000 rail cars a year cross the border into Mexico via Port Laredo. Outlook According to Federico Schaffler, director of the Texas Center for Border Economic and Enterprise Development, Laredo is well-positioned for growth as a trade hub between the United States and Mexico. In addition to an abundance of energy resources, the region has a strong business infrastructure and both international trade and manufacturing expertise. Moreover, Laredo’s location and supply chain accessibility make it an ideal nexus for both imports and exports between Mexico and the United States.
Texas.Think.Global
2017 Texas Export Guide
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