Gas turbines and jet engines: aerospace and power trade across the border

← Mexico Trade Corridor

Mexico Trade Corridor · Product brief · HS 8411

Jet engines, gas turbines and their parts cross the Mexico-US border in both directions, for aircraft makers, engine repair shops and power plants. This brief sets out the numbers from both sides, where they disagree, the rules in force and how the trade is financed.

Published October 23, 2026 · Facts as of October 23, 2026 · 10 min read · Trade data: UN Comtrade, 2020 to 2025 · Rules as of October 23, 2026

Facts as of October 23, 2026. This page states the facts as they stood on that date. Tariffs, rules and figures may have changed since publication. Tariffs and trade policy change often, so we review these pages every month and update them.

#7

Mexico's No. 7 import from the US in 2025, ranked by value as reported by Mexico (UN Comtrade, 4-digit HS codes). It is also No. 17 among exports to the US. The US figure is shown beside it because the two countries count the same trade differently.

US$4.2bnMexico's imports from the US, 2025, as reported by Mexico

US$1.4bnThe same flow, 2025, as reported by the US

+148.8%Change 2020 to 2025, Mexico data

US$5.9bnMexico's exports to the US in the same code, 2025, Mexico data

What is it?

HS 8411 covers turbo-jets, turbo-propellers and other gas turbines, and their parts. Mexico reported US$4.2 billion of these imports from the US in 2025, and US$5.9 billion of exports to the US ¹.

Why does it matter?

This code is Mexico's seventh-largest import from the US and its 17th-largest export to the US. It links Mexico's aerospace plants to US engine makers, and it supplies gas-fired power plants ^1,2,5.

How does it work?

Engine makers buy machined parts from plants in Mexico, and repair shops in Mexico service engines for airlines. Large power turbines are bought for long projects, where export credit agencies can fund the equipment ^2,3,14.

In this brief

1. How big is the gas turbine and jet engine trade?
2. Which engines and parts cross the border?
3. Who makes, repairs and buys the engines?
4. How do engines and parts get from the plant to the buyer?
5. Which rules and tariffs apply?
6. Where do buyers and sellers need cash, and how is it financed?
7. What should gas turbine and jet engine traders watch next?

01How big is the gas turbine and jet engine trade?

Mexico reported US$4.2 billion of gas turbine and jet engine imports from the US in 2025. That is up 148.8% from US$1.7 billion in 2020, and up 34.1% from US$3.2 billion in 2024 ¹. The code was 1.7% of Mexico's US$249.9 billion of reported imports from the US ¹.

Trade north is larger. Mexico reported US$5.9 billion of exports to the US in 2025, up 188.1% since 2020 and up 61.1% in 2025 alone ¹. On Mexico's figures, the country sold US$1.7 billion more in this code to the US than it bought.

The two countries' figures are far apart. US data shows US$1.4 billion of exports to Mexico in 2025, a gap of US$2.8 billion. Northbound, US data shows US$2.4 billion of imports from Mexico, a gap of US$3.5 billion ¹. Both gaps grew after 2023. No source we found explains them. Our data gap explainer sets out the general reasons the two countries' figures differ.

The wider aerospace sector gives context. Using data from the Mexican aerospace industry federation, FEMIA, the US government's trade.gov site reports that Mexico's aerospace imports were US$8.6 billion in 2024, of which US$6.3 billion came from the US. Aerospace exports were US$10.7 billion ².

Chart

Gas turbine and jet engine trade, both directions, both sides of the data

• Mexico to US, Mexico data
• Mexico to US, US data
• US to Mexico, Mexico data
• US to Mexico, US data

US$ billion. Solid lines: as reported by Mexico. Dashed lines: as reported by the US. Source: UN Comtrade, 2020 to 2025.

02Which engines and parts cross the border?

In Mexico's data, the 6-digit lines for imports from the US add up to US$2.9 billion, which is 69.0% of the 4-digit total of US$4.2 billion. No source shows what makes up the rest. The shares below are of the 4-digit total ¹.

Parts lead. Parts of gas turbines were US$1.2 billion in 2025, or 28.2% of the total, as reported by Mexico. Parts of turbo-jets and turbo-propellers were US$1.0 billion, or 22.5%, and jet engines with more than 25 kN of thrust were US$0.7 billion, or 16.2% ¹.

The US records the lines very differently. For jet engines over 25 kN, US data shows US$9 million of exports to Mexico in 2025. Northbound, Mexico reported US$1.8 billion of these engines sent to the US, while US data shows US$28 million ¹. Traders and lenders should not rely on either country's line-level figures alone.

Chart

The largest gas turbine and jet engine lines Mexico buys from the US

US$ billion and share of the 4-digit total, 2025, as reported by Mexico. Source: UN Comtrade. In Mexico's data the 6-digit lines add up to US$2.9 billion, less than the 4-digit total of US$4.2 billion, so shares are of the 4-digit total.

03Who makes, repairs and buys the engines?

Aerospace plants sit in five clusters: Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Querétaro and Nuevo León, according to trade.gov ². Sonora makes engine components and harnesses. Querétaro covers engineering and maintenance, repair and overhaul, or MRO ².

Safran says it is the largest aerospace employer in Mexico, with 21 sites and more than 16,000 employees. Its new LEAP engine MRO site in Querétaro opened on June 30, 2026 and aims for up to 350 shop visits and 350 engine tests a year by 2030 ³. GE Aerospace is investing MXN 725 million in Hermosillo to make compressor blades and turbine disks for LEAP and GEnx engines, and MXN 35 million in Saltillo ⁴.

Power plants also buy gas turbines. Iberdrola's 766 MW Topolobampo III plant in Sinaloa started commercial operation, as reported in January 2024. It uses GE Vernova equipment, including two 7HA.01 gas turbines ⁵. Mexico's energy ministry, SENER, plans 29,074 MW of new capacity for 2025 to 2030. Four of the eleven projects it will tender are combined-cycle plants ⁶.

The 766 MW Topolobampo III plant in Sinaloa runs on two GE Vernova 7HA.01 gas turbines. It started commercial operation, as reported in January 2024.

04How do engines and parts get from the plant to the buyer?

Parts travel mostly by truck. Across all goods, trucks carried 73.6% of US-Mexico freight value in 2025 ¹⁷. No data splits this code by border crossing. Whole engines are high in value and can also move by air. Our guide to border crossings covers the main ports.

The Mexican buyer is the importer of record. The sale contract sets who pays for each leg and who clears customs, usually through an Incoterms rule. Mexican import duties and VAT are covered in our landed cost guide.

1. Maker in the USAn engine maker or supplier ships engines, modules or parts to a plant, repair shop or power project in Mexico.
2. PaperworkThe seller issues a commercial invoice with the part numbers and the origin of the goods.
3. Truck or airParts travel south by truck. Whole engines can travel by air.
4. Mexican customsThe importer's broker files the customs declaration and pays any duty and VAT.
5. Plant, shop or projectThe goods reach an aerospace plant, an MRO shop or a power plant. The invoice is now due on the agreed terms.

05Which rules and tariffs apply?

US rules on this trade are mostly on hold. A US proclamation of July 9, 2026 followed a Commerce finding that aircraft and engine imports threaten US national security. It imposed no tariffs. It ordered US officials to negotiate agreements, and it lets the President act if talks fail within 180 days ^7,8. By our count, 180 days runs to January 5, 2027. Whether every HTS 8411 line is in scope is not confirmed.

Civil aircraft, engines and parts were exempt from the temporary 10% Section 122 surcharge, which expired on July 24, 2026 ⁹. The 10% Section 301 tariff on Mexican goods, in force since July 24, 2026, excludes civil aviation ¹⁰. Goods entered with a USMCA claim are also exempt from it ¹².

USMCA stays in force. On July 1, 2026 the US did not agree to renew it in its current form, so annual joint reviews follow until 2036 unless the three countries confirm an extension ¹¹. All rates here are as of October 23, 2026.

Rules in force

As of October 23, 2026. Live list: corridor watch.

Measure	What it does	Since	Status
US Section 232, aircraft and jet engines	No tariff imposed. Negotiations ordered; the President may act if talks fail within 180 days 7,8	Jul 9, 2026	Talks under way
HTS 8411 lines in scope	Whether every gas turbine and jet engine line is covered by the proclamation. Check each line 7	Jul 9, 2026	Under monthly review
US Section 301, forced labor	10% on Mexican goods. Civil aviation excluded; goods with a USMCA claim exempt 10,12	Jul 24, 2026	In force
US Section 122 surcharge	Temporary 10% global surcharge. Civil aircraft, engines and parts exempt 9	Feb 24, 2026	Expired Jul 24, 2026
USMCA joint review	Agreement stays in force; annual joint reviews until 2036 unless extended 11	Jul 1, 2026	In force
EXIM charter	EXIM can approve new deals only if Congress renews its charter. No renewal passed as of Oct 23, 2026 15,16	Ends Dec 31, 2026	Renewal pending

06Where do buyers and sellers need cash, and how is it financed?

As a general practice, component makers pay for tooling, certification and long production ramp-ups before they are paid. MRO shops hold stocks of parts and wait for airlines to pay. Aerospace payment terms vary by contract, and no public source sets a standard for Mexico.

Gas turbines for power plants are capital goods bought for long projects. An export credit agency can back a loan to the buyer, called buyer credit. EXIM, the US agency, can cover up to 85% of the contract after a 15% down payment, depending on US content, and loans over US$10 million can run up to 10 years ¹⁴. Its schedule of July 30, 2026 places no restriction on Mexico, and each case is approved on its merits ¹³. Our guide to financing industrial goods trade explains the wider options.

EXIM's charter ends on December 31, 2026. If it lapses, EXIM cannot approve new deals but can service existing ones. As of October 23, 2026, we found no report that Congress had passed a renewal ^15,16. Buyers planning 2027 deals should check its status. Our guide to US export credit for buyers in Mexico covers the options.

Where the cash goes

From order to payment

1. Before production
   Tooling and certificationA component maker pays for tooling and for approval of each part before the first order ships.
2. Production
   Materials and laborMetals, castings and wages are paid. The buyer may pay a down payment on a large turbine order.
3. Shipment
   Freight and customsFreight, insurance and the Mexican customs broker are paid. Duty and VAT are paid on entry.
4. Invoice
   Waiting for paymentThe buyer pays on its terms. Many Mexican importers pay 30 to 45 days late, says the US Commercial Service ¹⁸.
5. Payment
   Cash returnsLarge turbine sales may be paid over years under a buyer credit. Parts sales are paid on shorter terms.

The order of cash needs is typical for engine parts and turbine sales. Actual days depend on each contract.

Large turbine purchaseECA-backed finance

An export credit agency such as EXIM backs a long-term loan to the buyer.

Buyer may not payTrade credit insurance

Covers most of an unpaid invoice if a covered buyer fails to pay.

Parts held for repairsInventory finance

Funds stocks of parts that an MRO shop holds for engine repairs.

Supplier needs cash before shipmentPre-shipment finance

Funds materials and production against a confirmed purchase order.

07What should gas turbine and jet engine traders watch next?

The end of the 180-day negotiation period is the main date for aerospace trade. The SENER power plan is the main driver for gas turbine demand ^6,7. The live list of measures is on our corridor watch page.

• Dec 31, 2026EXIM's charter ends unless Congress renews it ¹⁵.
• Jan 5, 2027End of the 180-day negotiation period under the July 9, 2026 proclamation, by our count ⁷.
• PendingSENER tenders for new combined-cycle power plants under its 2025 to 2030 plan ⁶.
• By 2030Safran's Querétaro LEAP site aims to reach 350 shop visits a year ³.
• Jul 1, 2036USMCA ends on this date unless the three countries confirm an extension ¹¹.

Questions traders ask

How large is the gas turbine and jet engine trade between Mexico and the US?

Mexico reported US$4.2 billion of imports from the US in 2025 and US$5.9 billion of exports to the US, under HS 8411. US data shows US$1.4 billion of exports to Mexico and US$2.4 billion of imports from Mexico.

Why are Mexico's figures so much higher than the US figures?

Each country records its own customs declarations, with different rules for classification, value, origin and timing. For this code the gap was US$2.8 billion southbound and US$3.5 billion northbound in 2025. No public source explains this specific gap.

Do jet engines and parts pay US tariffs?

A US proclamation of July 9, 2026 imposed no Section 232 tariffs on aircraft and engines and ordered negotiations. The 10% Section 301 tariff on Mexican goods excludes civil aviation. These rules are as of October 23, 2026.

Who makes jet engine parts in Mexico?

Safran has 21 sites and more than 16,000 employees in Mexico, including an engine repair site in Querétaro. GE Aerospace makes compressor blades and turbine disks in Hermosillo.

How can a Mexican buyer finance a large gas turbine?

Through a long-term loan backed by an export credit agency. EXIM can cover up to 85% of a contract after a 15% down payment, depending on US content. Its charter ends on December 31, 2026 unless Congress renews it.

Read next

• Corridor hubThe Mexico to US corridor: what moves and how it is paid for
• Corridor hubTwo sides of the same trade: why Mexico's and US data differ
• Corridor hubCorridor watch: tariffs and rules in force
• Corridor guideUS export credit for buyers in Mexico
• Product briefDiesel engines: the US-built power inside Mexico's truck plants
• Product briefGasoline engines: a two-way trade between Mexico and US vehicle plants
• Ossiano Trade Finance GuideHow each trade finance instrument works
• GlossaryTrade finance terms in plain English

Trading gas turbines or jet engines between Mexico and the US? Ossiano Capital works on trade finance in this corridor.

Start the Conversation

Sources and notes

1. UN Comtrade, annual trade data 2020 to 2025, HS 8411, Mexico and the US as reporters. Downloaded October 2026; 2025 figures may be revised. https://comtradeplus.un.org/
2. International Trade Administration (trade.gov), Mexico Country Commercial Guide, Aerospace (FEMIA data), February 10, 2026. https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/mexico-aerospace
3. Safran, Safran strengthens its footprint in Mexico with two new plants in Querétaro and Chihuahua, July 2, 2026. https://www.safran-group.com/news/safran-strengthens-its-footprint-mexico-two-new-plants-queretaro-and-chihuahua-2026-07-02
4. Aviacionline, GE Aerospace invests US$41.4 million in Mexico to safeguard global engine supply chain, May 19, 2026. https://www.aviacionline.com/english/manufacturers-mro/ge-aerospace-invests--41-4-million-usd-in-mexico-to-safeguard-global-engine-supply-chain_a6a0ccae40a3ce392696dc4d3
5. Power Engineering, Iberdrola's 766 MW gas turbine power plant comes online in Mexico, January 3, 2024. https://www.power-eng.com/gas/combined-cycle/iberdrolas-766-mw-gas-turbine-power-plant-comes-online-in-mexico/
6. Excelsior, SENER investment plan to expand Mexico's electricity system, April 9, 2025. https://www.excelsior.com.mx/nacional/anuncia-sener-inversion-para-expandir-sistema-electrico-en-mexico/1709727
7. KPMG TaxNewsFlash, Proclamation ordering USTR to negotiate trade agreements regarding imports of aircraft and engine parts, July 10, 2026. https://kpmg.com/us/en/taxnewsflash/news/2026/07/tnf-trump-signs-proclamation-ordering-ustr-to-negotiate-trade-agreements-regarding-imports-of-aircraft-and-engine-parts.html
8. ST&R, No Section 232 tariffs on aircraft and engines as U.S. pursues negotiations, July 2026. https://www.strtrade.com/trade-news-resources/str-trade-report/trade-report/july/no-section-232-tariffs-on-aircraft-and-engines-as-u-s-pursues-negotiations
9. Holland & Knight, Supreme Court IEEPA ruling and new US tariffs: implications for civil aviation, March 2, 2026. https://www.hklaw.com/en/insights/publications/2026/03/supreme-court-ieepa-ruling-and-new-us-tariffs-implications-for-civil
10. Holland & Knight, Navigating the changing tariff landscape in civil aviation, October 15, 2026. https://www.hklaw.com/en/insights/publications/2026/10/navigating-the-changing-tariff-landscape-in-civil-aviation
11. White & Case, USMCA 2026 joint review: United States declines to extend agreement, July 2, 2026. https://www.whitecase.com/insight-alert/usmca-2026-joint-review-united-states-declines-extend-agreement-triggering-annual
12. EY Tax News, USTR finalizes Section 301 forced labor tariffs on 60 economies, July 2026. https://taxnews.ey.com/news/2026-1607-ustr-finalizes-section-301-forced-labor-tariffs-on-60-economies-additional-tariffs-of-10-percent-or-125-percent-take-effect-24-july-2026
13. EXIM, Country Limitation Schedule CLS-07/26, effective July 30, 2026. https://img.exim.gov/s3fs-public/tools/countrylimitationschedule/clsjuly2026.pdf
14. EXIM, Export Finance Solutions Guide (undated). https://grow.exim.gov/hubfs/Guides/Export-Finance-Solutions-Guide-Print.pdf
15. Congressional Research Service, Export-Import Bank of the United States: Overview and Reauthorization Issues (R43581), May 7, 2026. https://www.everycrsreport.com/files/2026-05-07_R43581_367edb6d31c632f3b1d32cc175422f66d6d46a33.html
16. Legis1, Export-Import Bank reauthorization, August 21, 2026 (citing a CRS update of August 20, 2026). https://legis1.com/news/export-import-bank-reauthorization-1-faces-1
17. Air Freight News, US Bureau of Transportation Statistics transborder freight data, 2025 annual report, March 17, 2026. https://airfreight.news/articles/full/transborder-freight-data-annual-report-2025
18. US Commercial Service, Mexico Country Commercial Guide, Trade financing, February 17, 2026. https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/mexico-trade-financing

Trade values are US dollars from UN Comtrade at the 4-digit HS level unless a 6-digit line is named. Mexico and the US record the same shipments under different rules for value, country of origin and timing, so their figures differ. Percent changes compare 2025 with 2020. All facts on this page are as of October 23, 2026, the date of publication, and may have changed since. Rules and tariffs are as of October 23, 2026 and change often: check the corridor watch before you act.

About this brief. Prepared for Ossiano Capital. People planned, researched, wrote and checked this brief, using AI tools to help with research and checking. You are welcome to quote or reuse it: please credit Ossiano Capital and link to this page.