Medical instruments: Baja California's link in the Mexico-US device trade

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Mexico Trade Corridor · Product brief · HS 9018

Mexico is a large supplier of medical instruments to the United States, and it also buys instruments from the US. This brief sets out the numbers from both sides, the rules in force, and where makers need working capital.

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.

#6

Mexico's No. 6 export to the US in 2025, ranked by value as reported by Mexico (UN Comtrade, 4-digit HS codes). It is also No. 8 among imports from the US. The US figure is shown beside it because the two countries count the same trade differently.

US$14.6bnMexico's exports to the US, 2025, as reported by Mexico

US$12.9bnThe same flow, 2025, as reported by the US

+86.4%Change 2020 to 2025, Mexico data

US$3.7bnMexico's imports from the US in the same code, 2025, Mexico data

What is it?

HS 9018 covers instruments and appliances for medical, surgical, dental and veterinary use, such as catheters, needles, syringes, surgical tools and patient monitors. Mexico reported US$14.6 billion of these exports to the US in 2025 ¹.

Why does it matter?

Medical instruments are Mexico's sixth-largest export to the US and its eighth-largest import from the US. Exports to the US grew every year from 2020 to 2025 on both countries' data ¹. Most of the production sits in Baja California, next to the US border ².

How does it work?

Device companies run plants in Tijuana, Mexicali and Tecate that assemble devices and truck them north through ports such as Otay Mesa. The US importer must meet FDA rules as well as customs rules ^3,4. A US tariff investigation on medical devices has no published outcome as of October 23, 2026 ^6,7.

In this brief

1. How big is the medical instruments trade between Mexico and the US?
2. Which instruments cross the border?
3. Who makes the instruments, and where?
4. How do the instruments get from the plant to the buyer?
5. Which rules and tariffs apply?
6. Where do makers need cash, and how is it financed?
7. What should medical instrument traders watch next?

01How big is the medical instruments trade between Mexico and the US?

Mexico reported US$14.6 billion of medical instrument exports to the US in 2025. That is up 86.4% from US$7.8 billion in 2020, and up 12.0% from 2024 ¹. Medical instruments were 2.7% of Mexico's US$545.4 billion of reported exports to the US ¹.

Trade also runs south. Mexico reported US$3.7 billion of medical instrument imports from the US in 2025, up 66.4% since 2020 ¹. On Mexico's figures, the country sold US$10.9 billion more medical instruments to the US than it bought, a large trade surplus for one product line ¹.

The two countries count the same trade differently. For 2025, US data shows US$12.9 billion of imports from Mexico, US$1.7 billion less than Mexico's figure, and US$4.6 billion of exports to Mexico ¹. In US data, exports to Mexico fell 1.1% in 2025 after four years of growth ¹. Our data gap explainer sets out why the two sides differ.

Chart

Medical instruments 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 instruments cross the border?

Two lines make up most of the trade. Instruments not listed elsewhere were US$7.7 billion in 2025, or 52.5% of the total, as reported by Mexico. Catheters, cannulae and similar devices were US$4.9 billion, or 33.3% ¹. Patient monitoring and other electro-diagnostic devices follow at US$0.8 billion, then needles at US$0.6 billion ¹.

The two data sets differ most on catheters. US data shows US$3.6 billion of catheter imports from Mexico in 2025, US$1.2 billion less than Mexico's figure ¹.

The southbound mix is similar. Instruments not listed elsewhere were US$2.2 billion, or 59.2% of Mexico's imports from the US, and catheters were US$0.9 billion, or 24.6% ¹.

Chart

The largest medical instrument lines Mexico ships to the US

US$ billion and share of the 4-digit total, 2025, as reported by Mexico. Source: UN Comtrade.

03Who makes the instruments, and where?

Baja California is the center of the industry. In March 2026 the president of the state's medical device cluster said Baja California produces 70% to 75% of Mexico's medical device exports. She said the cluster has about 100 companies and more than 100,000 direct jobs ². Its main products are prostheses, heart valves, surgical instruments and parts for medical equipment ².

Many plants belong to US device companies that design products in the US and assemble them in Mexico. Tijuana EDC, the city's economic development group, names Medtronic, BD and Stryker among the companies expanding in the region ³. It reports that design labs in San Diego are about 30 minutes from production in Tijuana ³.

The cluster is also working on a plan to develop local suppliers, so that plants depend less on imported inputs ². Plants that import components for export production commonly use Mexico's IMMEX program.

04How do the instruments get from the plant to the buyer?

Most devices from Tijuana cross by truck at Otay Mesa, which handled 9.1% of the value of US-Mexico truck trade in 2025. Calexico East, which serves Mexicali, handled 3.1% ¹⁶. Our guide to border crossings covers each port. A new crossing, Otay Mesa East, has a late-2027 opening goal ¹⁵.

The US side adds health rules to customs rules. The importer or its customs broker files the entry in the US customs system, ACE, which sends the data to the FDA. Each entry lists the country of origin, the FDA product code, the tariff code and the manufacturer ⁴. The plant ships with a commercial invoice, and the sale contract sets who pays for each leg of the trip.

1. Plant in Baja CaliforniaA plant in Tijuana, Mexicali or Tecate assembles the device for a US device company.
2. PaperworkThe plant issues a commercial invoice. A customs broker files the Mexican export declaration.
3. Truck across the borderThe device travels north by truck, mainly through Otay Mesa or Calexico East.
4. US customs and FDAThe importer files the entry in ACE. The entry data goes to the FDA as well as to US customs.
5. Distributor or hospitalThe device reaches a distribution center or a hospital buyer. The invoice is now due on the agreed terms.

Otay Mesa, the main truck crossing for Tijuana, handled 9.1% of US-Mexico truck trade value in 2025.

05Which rules and tariffs apply?

Two sets of rules apply when a device enters the US: FDA rules on the product and customs rules on the tariff.

Foreign device makers must register their establishment with the FDA each year, list their devices and name a US agent ⁵. Devices also need FDA market clearance, such as a 510(k) or a premarket approval, and must meet quality system and labeling rules ⁴.

On tariffs, the US Commerce Department opened a Section 232 investigation into medical devices, protective equipment and consumables on September 2, 2025 ^6,8. The law gives Commerce 270 days to report ⁶. An industry group said in June 2026 that the outcome was still uncertain ⁷. We found no published outcome as of October 23, 2026.

The 10% Section 301 tariff on Mexican goods, in force since July 24, 2026, does not apply to goods entered with a USMCA claim ^9,10. Section 232 duties on steel, aluminum and copper apply at 50% for Annex I-A articles and 25% for Annex I-B derivatives ¹¹. Each instrument's tariff line must be checked against the annexes. Our guide to US tariffs on Mexican goods sets out each measure. 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
FDA registration and listing	Foreign device makers register each year, list devices and name a US agent 5	Ongoing	In force
US Section 232, medical devices	Investigation into devices, protective equipment and consumables. No published outcome found 6,7	Sep 2, 2025	Outcome pending
US Section 301, forced labor	10% on Mexican goods. Exempt with a USMCA claim; goods under Section 232 excluded 9,10	Jul 24, 2026	In force
US Section 232, steel, aluminum and copper	50% (Annex I-A) or 25% (Annex I-B), set by tariff line. Whether any HS 9018 line is listed must be checked 11	Jun 8, 2026	Check tariff line
IEEPA tariffs	Collection ended after the Supreme Court ruled on February 20, 2026 10	Feb 24, 2026	Ended

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

A device plant pays for components, sterile packaging, wages and freight before its customer pays. The cluster said in March 2026 that US tariffs on steel, aluminum and textile inputs have raised its costs ². Higher input costs add to the cash a plant must fund.

Most sales between companies run on open account terms. Atradius reports that half of Mexican firms give terms of up to one month, that two- to three-month terms are common, and that about one fifth of invoices are overdue ¹³. Our guides to factoring in Mexico and supplier finance programs run by US buyers go further.

Public buyers in Mexico can pay slowly. In April 2025 the drug industry body Canifarma said public health institutions owed medicine suppliers about MXN 8,000 million ¹⁴. That figure covers medicines. We found no equivalent figure for device suppliers.

Where the cash goes

From purchase order to payment

1. Before production
   Components and validationThe plant buys components and packaging and validates its process for a new device.
2. Production
   Wages and inputsWorkers are paid and inputs are used. Imported components can enter under IMMEX.
3. Shipment
   Freight and customsTrucking and the customs broker are paid at or near the border.
4. Invoice
   Waiting for paymentThe buyer pays on its terms. Two- to three-month terms are common in Mexico ¹³.
5. Payment
   Cash returnsPayment arrives, unless the buyer pays late. About one fifth of invoices in Mexico are overdue ¹³.

The order of cash needs is typical for a device plant. Actual days depend on each contract.

Before shipmentPre-shipment finance

Funds components and production against a confirmed purchase order.

Components in stockInventory finance

Funds stocks of components and finished devices held before sale.

After invoiceFactoring or invoice discounting

The seller sells or borrows against its unpaid invoices.

Buyer may not payTrade credit insurance

Covers most of an unpaid invoice if a covered buyer fails to pay, a guard against commercial risk.

07What should medical instrument traders watch next?

The main open question is the Section 232 investigation into medical devices. A tariff would change costs for every plant that ships to the US. USMCA stays in force. On July 1, 2026 the US did not agree to renew it in its current form, so the agreement now goes through annual joint reviews ¹². The live list of measures is on our corridor watch page.

• PendingOutcome of the Section 232 investigation into medical devices. No result published as of October 23, 2026 ^6,7.
• 2026 to 2027Projected opening of the Otay II port of entry, according to Tijuana EDC ³.
• Late 2027Opening goal for the Otay Mesa East port of entry ¹⁵.
• Dec 31, 2027Section 232 metals rates under Proclamation 11032 run to this date ¹¹.
• Jul 1, 2036USMCA ends on this date unless the three countries confirm an extension. Annual reviews run until then ¹².

Questions traders ask

How much medical instrument trade is there between Mexico and the US?

Mexico reported US$14.6 billion of medical instrument exports to the US in 2025 and US$3.7 billion of imports from the US, under HS 9018. US data shows US$12.9 billion of imports from Mexico and US$4.6 billion of exports to Mexico.

Where in Mexico are medical devices made?

Mostly in Baja California, in Tijuana, Mexicali and Tecate. In March 2026 the state's medical device cluster said Baja California produces 70% to 75% of Mexico's medical device exports.

Do Mexican medical instruments pay US tariffs?

Goods entered with a USMCA claim are exempt from the 10% Section 301 tariff on Mexican goods. A Section 232 investigation into medical devices opened in September 2025 and had no published outcome as of October 23, 2026. Metal content can carry Section 232 duties if the tariff line is listed in an annex.

What does a foreign device maker need to sell in the US?

It must register its establishment with the FDA each year, list its devices, name a US agent and hold the right market clearance, such as a 510(k). Each import entry sends product and maker data to the FDA through the US customs system.

Why do Mexico's and the US figures differ?

Each country records its own customs declarations, with different rules for value, country of origin and timing. For medical instruments, Mexico's export figure for 2025 is US$1.7 billion higher than the US import figure, and most of the gap is in catheters.

Read next

• Corridor hubThe Mexico to US corridor: what moves and how it is paid for
• Corridor hubHow goods cross: border crossings, rail lines and ports
• Corridor hubCorridor watch: tariffs and rules in force
• Corridor guideIMMEX: manufacturing in Mexico for export
• Corridor guideFactoring in Mexico: how exporters sell invoices for cash
• Product briefWire, cable and wiring harnesses: copper in the Mexico-US auto chain
• Ossiano Trade Finance GuideHow each trade finance instrument works
• GlossaryTrade finance terms in plain English

Trading medical instruments between Mexico and the US? Ossiano Capital works on trade finance in this corridor.

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Sources and notes

1. UN Comtrade, annual trade data 2020 to 2025, HS 9018, Mexico and the US as reporters. Downloaded October 2026; 2025 figures may be revised. https://comtradeplus.un.org/
2. El Imparcial, Medical device industry in Baja California feels impact of tariffs on inputs, March 2, 2026. https://www.elimparcial.com/tij/tijuana/2026/03/02/resiente-industria-de-dispositivos-medicos-en-bc-impacto-de-tarifas-a-insumos/
3. Tijuana EDC, Cali Baja biomedical manufacturing corridor: 8 key facts, June 4, 2026. https://tijuanaedc.org/cali-baja-biomedical-manufacturing-corridor-8-key-facts/
4. US Food and Drug Administration, Importing medical devices and radiation-emitting electronic products into the U.S., current as of January 30, 2026. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/importing-and-exporting-medical-devices/importing-medical-devices-and-radiation-emitting-electronic-products-us
5. US Food and Drug Administration, Device registration and listing, current as of September 30, 2025. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/how-study-and-market-your-device/device-registration-and-listing
6. MD+DI, Trump finds new way to tariff medical devices via Section 232. https://www.mddionline.com/medical-device-regulations/trump-finds-new-way-to-tariff-medical-devices-via-section-232
7. Michigan Biosciences Industry Association, Medical device industry watches key deadlines in federal tariff investigation, June 12, 2026. https://www.michbio.org/news/medical-device-industry-watches-key-deadlines-in-federal-tariff-investigation
8. MedTech Dive, Section 232 probe reignites tariff uncertainty for medtech firms, September 26, 2025. https://www.medtechdive.com/news/section-232-tariff-uncertainty-medtech/761224/
9. Congressional Research Service, U.S.-Mexico Trade Relations (IF11175), August 13, 2026. https://www.everycrsreport.com/files/2026-08-13_IF11175_366b72c3fd2f3ebe10b28bf3feddca0088251bbb.html
10. Tetakawi, Mexico tariffs 2026: what manufacturers actually need to know, updated October 5, 2026. https://tetakawi.com/blog/mexico-tariffs-2026-what-manufacturers-actually-need-to-know/
11. The White House, Further adjusting the tariff regimes for imports of aluminum, steel and copper, proclamation of June 1, 2026. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/06/further-adjusting-the-tariff-regimes-for-imports-of-aluminum-steel-and-copper/
12. 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
13. Atradius, B2B payment practices trends in Mexico, 2026. https://atradius.us/knowledge-and-research/reports/b2b-payment-practices-trends-in-mexico-2026
14. Expansión, Health institutions owe 8,000 million pesos to medicine suppliers, April 3, 2025. https://politica.expansion.mx/mexico/2025/04/03/instituciones-de-salud-acumulan-deuda-de-8-000-mdp-a-proveedores-de-medicamentos
15. SANDAG, SANDAG and Caltrans advance new port of entry, January 10, 2025. https://sandag.org/news/news-release-sandag-and-caltrans-advance-new-port-of-entry-2025-01-10
16. 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

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.