A Mexican buyer sources from China like any other buyer: find the supplier, check samples, pay a deposit and inspect before shipping. The Mexican part starts with the importer. Mexico asks for a registered importer, a strict set of papers and Spanish labels on retail goods.
This guide covers the steps and papers. It does not print duty rates, because they depend on the tariff line of each product. For the steps before shipping, read how to source products from China.
Who can import
Two things identify a Mexican importer:
- An RFC. This is the Mexican tax ID. Every import declaration must show the RFC of the importer of record, whatever the value or the transport mode.
- A listing in the Padrón de Importadores. This is the official register of importers. All Mexican importers must be listed in it.
Mexico also keeps sector registries for certain goods. An importer must apply for a listing there before it imports those items. Ask your customs broker whether your product is one of them.
Two bodies run the border together. The National Customs Agency of Mexico (ANAM) runs customs, and the Tax Administration Service (SAT) collects the taxes.
The papers
The basic import document is the pedimento de importación, the customs declaration. It goes with:
- A commercial invoice, in Spanish
- A bill of lading
- Documents that show the product meets Mexican safety and performance rules, where they apply
Mexican customs brokers clear products through customs. Mexico’s customs rules are strict, and an error in the papers can stop the goods. Confirm the Mexican tariff line with a licensed broker before the goods ship.
Duty and taxes
- Customs duty. Duty is worked out on the customs value. That is the transaction value plus additions such as international freight and insurance.
- IVA. Mexico applies 16% IVA, its value added tax, to most sales and imports.
- IEPS. This special tax applies to certain goods, such as alcohol, tobacco, some foods, sugary drinks and fuels.
- Customs processing fee. Mexico charges a fee called the Derecho de Trámite Aduanero. Goods that qualify under the US-Mexico-Canada agreement do not pay it. Goods from China do not qualify for that exemption, so ask your broker for the amount.
China has no free trade agreement with Mexico. Goods of Chinese origin pay the general duty rate for their tariff line.
NOM labels
Most products for retail sale in Mexico must meet Mexican Official Standards (NOMs), and that includes labels in Spanish. Three points matter for a buyer:
- The importer carries the duty. The Mexican importer, or another Mexican entity with an RFC, must carry out the labelling and the wider NOM compliance.
- Customs checks at the border. For some products, the labelling can be completed under customs control through authorised routes.
- NOM 050 sets the general rule. General commercial information and country of origin marking follow this standard.
Send the factory the Spanish label text before production. A label printed in the factory costs less than a label fixed at the border. Our packaging design service can prepare the artwork.
Before you order
- Check your registration
Confirm your RFC and your listing in the Padrón de Importadores. Ask whether your product needs a sector registry.
- Choose a customs broker
Agree the fee and ask for the list of papers for your product.
- Classify the product
Confirm the Mexican tariff line with the broker before you order. Ask for the duty rate and the fees.
- Check the NOMs
Ask which standards apply and what the Spanish label must show. Send the label text to the factory.
- Work out landed cost
Add freight, duty, 16% IVA and fees to the factory price. Do it at three quantities.
- Get the invoice right
Ask the factory for a commercial invoice that the broker can file in Spanish, with a description that matches the tariff line.
How CFS helps
We find and check the factory, manage samples and production, check the label against your text and inspect before shipping. We arrange shipping from Shenzhen through our group business, ParcelFromChina. See product sourcing, quality control and shipping and consolidation. A Mexican customs broker files the pedimento and confirms duty, IVA and the NOM rules.
Bottom line
A Mexican import needs an importer with an RFC and a listing in the Padrón de Importadores, a pedimento with an invoice in Spanish, and NOM labels on retail goods. Confirm the tariff line and the label with a broker before you pay a deposit.
Checked against the US International Trade Administration’s guide to Mexico on 15 November 2026. The Mexican government sites did not load for us on that date, so confirm each point with a licensed Mexican customs broker. This guide is general information, not legal, tax or customs advice.
Questions we get asked
What do I need to import from China into Mexico?
A Mexican tax ID (RFC) and a listing in the Padrón de Importadores, the official register of importers. The import declaration is the pedimento. It goes with a commercial invoice in Spanish and a bill of lading. Some products also need a listing in a sector registry.
How much tax do I pay on imports into Mexico?
Mexico applies 16% IVA, its value added tax, to most sales and imports. Customs duty is worked out on the customs value, which includes international freight and insurance. Some goods, such as alcohol, tobacco and sugary drinks, also pay a special tax called IEPS.
Does China have a free trade agreement with Mexico?
No. Goods of Chinese origin pay Mexico's general duty rate for their tariff line. Ask a licensed Mexican customs broker to confirm the tariff line and the rate before you ship.
Do products from China need Spanish labels?
Most products for retail sale in Mexico must meet Mexican Official Standards (NOMs), including Spanish labelling. The Mexican importer, or another Mexican entity with an RFC, is responsible for this, and customs checks compliance at the border.