Shipping goods from China to Mexico is the easy part. Clearing them through Mexican customs is where shipments get stuck — almost always because the importer is not properly registered, or the paperwork is incomplete. Here is what you actually need to import into Mexico, in plain terms.

The pedimento: Mexico’s import declaration

Every formal import into Mexico is cleared on a pedimento — the official customs declaration filed by a licensed Mexican customs broker (agente aduanal). The pedimento is the backbone document; without a correctly filed one, your goods do not legally enter the country.

To file it, your broker needs, at minimum:

A commercial invoice — Mexican customs expects it in Spanish (or with a Spanish translation), showing a true description, value and the parties.
The bill of lading (ocean) or air waybill.
The packing list.
The HS classification for each product (this drives the duty — see HS codes and tariffs).
Any required permits, certificates or NOM compliance documents (more below).

The Padrón de Importadores: you must be registered

This is the single most common reason a China–Mexico shipment gets blocked. To import into Mexico, the importer of record must be registered in the Padrón de Importadores — the official register of importers maintained by the tax authority (SAT).

If the company is not on the Padrón, a broker cannot file a pedimento in its name, and the goods cannot clear. There is no workaround at the border — registration has to be in place before the cargo arrives.

Two practical implications:

If you are a Mexican buyer, make sure your Padrón registration is active and in good standing before you order.
If you are a Chinese seller or exporter without a Mexican entity, you generally cannot be the importer of record yourself. This is exactly where DDP shipping helps — the import is handled on the Mexican side so you do not need your own Padrón.

Sector-specific registries (Padrón de Sectores Específicos)

For certain product groups, ordinary Padrón registration is not enough. Importing several hundred specific items — including textiles, chemicals, electronics and auto parts — requires additional enrolment in a sector-specific register (Padrón de Sectores Específicos).

If your product falls into one of these sectors and the importer is not enrolled, the goods cannot be imported — even with a valid general Padrón. Check this early, because adding a sector can take time.

NOM: Mexican product standards

Many goods — electronics, appliances, toys, textiles and more — must comply with Mexican NOM (Norma Oficial Mexicana) standards, which can require labeling in Spanish and, in some cases, certification and testing before the goods are released. NOM is a product-compliance requirement, separate from the customs registration above, and it catches a lot of first-time importers by surprise. Plan for it before production, not after the container sails.

Duties and taxes

On clearance you will typically pay:

Import duty — based on the HS code and origin. Note that Mexico now applies higher tariffs to many Chinese and other non-FTA goods; see Mexico’s 2026 tariffs on Chinese imports.
IVA (VAT) — Mexico’s value-added tax, generally 16%, on the customs value plus duty.
Customs processing fees and any broker charges.

A simple pre-shipment checklist

Importer registered and active in the Padrón de Importadores
Enrolled in the relevant sector register, if your product needs it
HS codes classified and duty rates confirmed
NOM compliance and Spanish labeling sorted before production
Commercial invoice (in Spanish), packing list and B/L ready
A licensed customs broker lined up — or a forwarder who arranges clearance for you

The bottom line

Most China–Mexico customs problems are registration and paperwork problems, not freight problems. Get the Padrón (and any sector register) in place, classify your goods correctly, handle NOM before production and have the documents ready in Spanish — and clearance becomes routine. If you would rather not manage the Mexican side at all, we can clear it for you or ship the whole thing DDP. Send us your product details and we will tell you exactly what your shipment needs.

How to Import from China to Mexico: Pedimento, Padrón and Customs Basics